Why NJ Apartment Residents Want a 24/7 Smart Market (What the Data Says)

Apartment residents want convenience close to home. Here is what one of the biggest renter surveys in the U.S. found, and why a 24/7 smart market fits a 200+ unit building.

One of the biggest renter surveys in the country

The NMHC and Grace Hill 2024 Renter Preferences Survey collected answers from 172,703 renters in 4,220 communities across 77 U.S. markets. It is one of the most widely cited renter studies in the apartment industry.

Many renters work from home

The same survey found that 52% of renters work remotely at least some of the time, and the largest group (39%) does so several days a week. That means more people in the building during the day, more lunches, more afternoon coffee runs, and more demand for something close by. A market in the lobby or amenity room serves them without anyone leaving the building.

People like to serve themselves

According to PYMNTS Intelligence (2024), 84% of U.S. consumers prefer self-service kiosks. Tap a card or phone, grab the item, done. That is exactly how a smart cooler or micro market works.

Unattended retail is a real, growing market

PYMNTS puts U.S. unattended retail at more than $31 billion. The 2026 Automatic Merchandiser State of the Industry report found that vending, micro market and smart cooler operators passed $40 billion in revenue in 2025, and that smart coolers made up about a third of the equipment operators deployed.

Amenities keep residents renewing

Turnover is expensive. A 2025 Zego survey reported by Multifamily Executive found only 58% of renters plan to renew, with 23% still undecided. Everyday conveniences are one way to give that undecided group a reason to stay.

Other NJ buildings are doing it too

Parkway Lofts in Bloomfield added a 24-hour, resident-only self-checkout store, covered by Multi-Housing News. The Break Lane brings the same idea to buildings across North and Central NJ, without the build-out cost.

What it costs the property

Nothing. The Break Lane installs, stocks and maintains the market at no cost to the building. Our software tells us when items run low, so we restock as often as the building needs, usually once or twice a week.

Have 200+ units? Check if your building qualifies.