After raising their kids in Delran, Fred and Barbara Zucker were ready to downsize from the home they had lived in for 50 years. The retired couple spent several months searching for an over-55 community, but nothing seemed quite right. In March 2020, that changed.
“I was shopping at Nordstrom Rack in Cherry Hill and saw a sign for an open house at the Plaza Grande,” Barbara recalled.
They toured a 1,150-square-foot apartment with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a den featuring a balcony with a western exposure. The apartment was on the top floor, which meant no neighbors walking overhead, and the kitchen had a gas range. There was also plenty of closet space for Barbara’s treasured shoe collection.
Plaza Grande, which opened in 2008, is a sprawling community with 507 units within 16 buildings. Featuring lots of amenities and surrounded by shops and restaurants in walking distance, it seemed like a perfect home to the Zuckers.
While Fred and Barbara were excited to downsize, emptying the house, where they had lived for 50 years while raising their family, was no easy task.
They had to offload most of their belongings, and with the help of a neighbor, they sold their furniture on Facebook Marketplace. Beyond Barbara’s favorite pots and pans, their televisions, family photos, and a few other keepsakes, they made a completely fresh start.
“My stuff was 50 years old, and it was time to go,” said Barbara.
The couple shopped at Raymour & Flanigan to outfit their new apartment, starting with a comfortable, dark gray velour couch, and matching chair and ottoman for the living room. With light pouring in from the balcony, it’s their favorite spot to relax, reading the newspaper and watching TV.
Sliding glass doors lead to the balcony where they enjoy morning coffee, read for pleasure, or gaze at the pond below. The large, bustling community provides ample people-watching opportunity.
The primary bedroom features creamy white furniture with bright white bedding. Family photos from special gatherings decorate the walls.
“Family is everything,” Barbara said.
The Zuckers prefer an uncluttered look, only keeping artwork and knickknacks that have personal meaning. Souvenirs from their travels are also on display.
An avid cook, Barbara appreciates her new kitchen, with dark brown wood cabinets, speckled granite countertops, and a faux wood floor. The layout is roomy and the GE appliances are easy to use. She especially values the ice maker, a new-to-her luxury.
“I don’t know what I was thinking for 50 years. Why I didn’t have an automatic ice maker?” she said.
Barbara can often be found baking cakes or stirring up a pot of hearty chicken soup to share with her neighbors. Her role has become caregiver when her friends and neighbors need some TLC.
“If somebody’s sick, I make a pot of soup,” Barbara said matter-of-factly.
It is the development’s family-like feeling that the couple appreciates the most. Along with their neighbors, they take full advantage of the abundance of amenities the community has to offer.
“Plaza Grande offers a resort-style experience for active adults 55+, anchored by an 18,500-square-foot clubhouse, the largest in South Jersey,” said Billy Procida, CEO of Procida Funding & Advisors, which developed the community.
The complex features indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis and pickleball courts, a golf simulator, a sauna, massage rooms, and lifestyle programming.
“We’ve made good friends in the clubhouse, where we go every day,” noted Barbara. “We play cards and they have exercise classes and movies.”
The couple has become close friends with their neighbors, taking advantage of nearby restaurants to meet for dinner. They recently traveled to Jamaica as a group.
“Our home is a peaceful retreat for us,” said Barbara. “It is sort of like summer camp.”
Added Fred: “We are a giant family. Every day is another day in paradise.”
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