| Author | Message | ||
     mwsilva Citizen Username: Mwsilva Post Number: 486 Registered: 5-2002 |
Today I visited the new health-organic food store on Springfield Avenue next to the bead store. I found it nice and I am sure that it will improve as more and more stock arrives. I also noticed work going on in the pizza place that burned out. Does anyone know what is going into that store? The workers were removing fire damaged material and did not know what was being built. | ||
| AlleyGater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 1295 Registered: 10-2004 |
tell me more. IS it a health food store? Do they sell pills, herbal remedies? Is it mostly food? Do they have prepared food? Is there produce? How were the prices? Do they have a refrigerator and/or freezer section? More, more, more. | ||
| Grrrrrrrrrrr Citizen Username: Oldsctls67 Post Number: 364 Registered: 11-2002  |
I saw an article in the paper the other day about the owner of the piza place being charged with arson... | ||
| Jgberkeley Citizen Username: Jgberkeley Post Number: 4474 Registered: 5-2001 |
I currently eating my lunch from the store. It is Spring Fields Natural Food Store. I having a chicken wrap with chick pea salad and a spritzer. I'd call it an Organic food store. Milk, bread, eggs, frozen boxed and canned food stuffs. A lot of whole wheat stuff, or that spelt stuff. ( I don't ean no spelt) Not bad. Stock is arriving every day so I'd say check it out. Later, George | ||
| Jgberkeley Citizen Username: Jgberkeley Post Number: 4475 Registered: 5-2001 |
Pizza place. At this point my crew is just doing a demo of fire damage. It is required so that the Township can check for structral, electrical and plumbing systems for fire damage. Once inspected, and any needed repairs made, then we get the C.O. back and can rent it. So far no one has rented the 1,000 Sq. feet space. Later, George | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 911 Registered: 11-2001  |
Let's hope another restaurant goes in! Indian anyone? Or maybe Thai? | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3192 Registered: 12-2004  |
I vote for middle eastern. I'd kill for some good falafel, hommous and baklava! | ||
| doulamomma Citizen Username: Doulamomma Post Number: 1193 Registered: 3-2002 |
Meand, When you say "kill"...aw, never mind - was trying to make some arson joke, but it's just not funny. I vote indian or thai, but middle eastern is cool too | ||
| mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 5862 Registered: 5-2001  |
What's wrong with another nail place? Or how about a hair weave shop? Seriously, we need a gym. Somewhere in town. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6901 Registered: 5-2001  |
I think it's great. But, I'm a little worried about the health food store, Net Nomads and the "coming soon" Meow Cafe all on the same block. I hope that there is enough support for all businesses! | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 912 Registered: 11-2001 |
If the Village can do it why can't SA? People have said over and over again that they want new stores and shops opening up in Maplewood. Well, guess what? They are. Just not in the Village. So, put your money where your mouth is and start supporting the new and upcoming businesses. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 4849 Registered: 9-2001  |
The more businesses that come, the more people they'll bring. The more people they bring, the more money they'll spend...  I agree with Mem, a small gym to work out might be a nice addition to the neighborhood. I think a cell phone sales and service store, or maybe a mini Radio Shack like the one over on Irvington Avenue would also fit well. I believe that store in the mall is only about 1,000 square feet or so... | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 12858 Registered: 1-2003  |
These are all good ideas. And news of what's going on is good, though whatever happened at Pizza Primo is a shame. I'd rather have a local pizzeria than a national chain, but that's how it goes. If my vote counted, I'd vote for a Thai place. That's my latest favorite cuisine. I think my tastebuds are dying prematurely, and I need a lot of spice. | ||
| Mr. Big Poppa Citizen Username: Big_poppa Post Number: 508 Registered: 7-2004  |
a good Indian restaurant...please!!! | ||
| Jgberkeley Citizen Username: Jgberkeley Post Number: 4476 Registered: 5-2001 |
My error. The space is 1,100 Square feet, not 1,000. I measured it today. Art, I has been a long time since you or I have been to a gym. One of us needs it more than the other. I will let you guess who. If you want to build one, call me, I have dibbs on the space. I have the crew. Later, George | ||
| AlleyGater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 1311 Registered: 10-2004 |
A cheap, but good Italian pasta shop (als Peppe Verde, Peppe Rosso, Peppe Jiallo in the city). A $10 bowl of phenomenal pasta is a sure fire way to make me eat there AT LEAST once a week. | ||
| Jersey Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 320 Registered: 1-2006  |
This should be moved to the MSOBI thread. I'm tellilng. DAVE! | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 4850 Registered: 9-2001 |
...interesting, but I'm really trying to wind down my business ventures. As you know I recently sold my interests in H2TA, but I still enjoy the challenge of starting up a new business... So, how about a community run gym? The first thing that comes to mind is forming a co-operative type business. To do this we'll need some information and a few of us to work out the details. Mind you, I'm not thinking about this as a money maker, just a community gym where friends and neighbors can get together to exercise and save some money in the process... I know it's more, but let's say for argument sake the rent is $1,000 per month. If 10 of us got together and paid $100 a month for our gym membership, ($25 a week, $7 per day) we could cover the base cost... Now if 100 of us got together the cost would only be $10 per month, do you get the point? I know a dozen or so guys and gals who regularly go to local gyms in the area. So why don't we start another thread to see how many people out here are interested... If we do find a few who are, we would have to put together a business plan to compare a few gyms to see how many members they have and what they pay per month, etc. etc. etc. We’ll talk. BTW Tom, a national chain like Radio Shack would add an interesting twist to the development on the Avenue... | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 12862 Registered: 1-2003 |
Art, the cooperative gym is a very interesting idea. I find it novel! There's some rule about chain retail stores in Maplewood, but I don't know how it works, nor do I understand how it allowed Papa John's. I could say 100 bad things about Radio Shack, but they do a few things that no other business does, and I would welcome it. Anyway, I understand that the beginnings of improvements on Springfield Ave were planned years ago, and the fruition is quite visible now. In the less than three years I've lived here, I have seen substantial progress. There is momentum, and I'm imagining a very happenin' place ten years from now. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 3221 Registered: 5-2001 |
What is MSOBI? | ||
| Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 3298 Registered: 11-2001  |
maplewood south orange business incubator | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 913 Registered: 11-2001 |
A gym would be nice too. | ||
| Lou Citizen Username: Flf Post Number: 86 Registered: 8-2005 |
i find very interesting the cooperative gym idea. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 4851 Registered: 9-2001 |
"There is momentum, and I'm imagining a very happening place ten years from now." ...so why wait Tom, let’s do it now! I'll put up the first $1,000 and "suggest" an initial first meeting for next Saturday at noon at my place, or anywhere the majority would like to meet to talk more about this idea as a possibility. It's a great location, I think the space is large enough to begin with, and maybe it could be run like the community pool, only for 12 months a year... George, please call me to give us some input on rent and other costs needed to get going... One thing is important however, and that is that the landlord not bind us with a lease. I'm sure a guaranteed 90 day prior notice would be OK, but until we get a year under our belt, I doubt we would want to be bound to a multi year commitment... BTW, how about you Mem? I mean this is really your idea you know!!! | ||
| Suzanne Ng Citizen Username: Suzanneng Post Number: 653 Registered: 3-2002 |
>I'd kill for some good falafel, hommous and baklava! meandtheboys: the Parkwood Diner makes a great baklava. | ||
| WendyP Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3200 Registered: 12-2004 |
Good to know Suzanne, but it's realy the falafel and the hommous I want! | ||
| Suzanne Ng Citizen Username: Suzanneng Post Number: 654 Registered: 3-2002 |
I know Greek isn't exactly Middle Eastern, but try the Parkwood -- and tell Pete and Agnes that I sent you! | ||
| Jgberkeley Citizen Username: Jgberkeley Post Number: 4477 Registered: 5-2001 |
The bread and bagles just arrived at the Organic-Health food store on Springfield Avenue. Fresh from Eli's in NYC and smelling very good. Later, George | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 914 Registered: 11-2001 |
I got bagles and tuna salad there yesterday. Really good. I was glad not to have to go to Whole Paycheck for a couple of things that I needed. Can't wait to see the produce come in. | ||
| BGS Citizen Username: Bgs Post Number: 728 Registered: 10-2003 |
Keep the news coming of a reasonably priced community gym...... | ||
| phyllis Citizen Username: Phyllis Post Number: 477 Registered: 6-2001 |
The family walked from our house in the College Hill neighborhood down Springfield to the Parkwood for breakfast Saturday morning and it was just a great feeling seeing all the great businesses on the Avenue that have come since we moved here 6 years ago. The sidewalks were great for our 5 yr old on her scooter, the random people we passed all said "hello" and I thought how wonderful that we have both the Village and now Springfield Ave for this community feeling. I know there is still work to be done - but certainly seems like we're going in the right direction. Does anyone know anything about the store Anny's, near or where the old Ladies Auxiliary shop used to be? Looked like they had some funky stuff - couldn't tell if its consignment or new goods or a combo. Haven't tried the new food store. As far as fears go regarding Cafe Meow being near Net Nomads - hopefully they will be able to just bring double the people over to the Ave and they will both do well. | ||
| John Muccigrosso Citizen Username: Jdm Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2006 |
Phyllis, My wife Chris and I are the owners of Café Meow and we hope to do exactly as you say and bring more people to SA. You'll find that the two cafés are fairly different from each other, I think, and we expect that, like the Village, SA will support a bunch of businesses. Judging from the activity these last couple of warm days, that's already happening. We're also very excited about Spring Fields opening up, since it's nice to be able to just walk up to the avenue to get a bunch of our staples and some other goodies too. That the owner is a neighbor is just a bonus.  Hope to see everyone when we open up later in the spring. As for the spot a few doors down, well, a gym sounds good and so does a restaurant. My wife has to travel too far for her liking to get good Indian food, so that would certainly be nice. John Muccigrosso | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 916 Registered: 11-2001 |
Any more interest in the gym idea? I'd pay for it. | ||
| BGS Citizen Username: Bgs Post Number: 744 Registered: 10-2003 |
me too....(I mean I would pay for a membership) if I could afford to pay for the gym, I would build it!!! | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 917 Registered: 11-2001 |
Ditto. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 4860 Registered: 9-2001 |
Welcome John and Chris, good luck and very best wishes with Café Meow. No growler, I haven't seen much more interest in the gym idea. Actually, after checking around a little on my own for insurance, equipment, and necessary renovations for showers and co-ed changing rooms, unless this idea has substantial support it won't fly... In a sense, the suggestion comes down to ideal vs. real. I still think it would be nice to have a local gym we could share as a community, but unless we get the amount of rent from George and how many people are really interested, I afraid this idea will fall by the wayside... | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 4861 Registered: 9-2001 |
I forgot to add that with the weak response, I decided to cancel the Saturday meeting at my place. Tomorrow night at the F2F at Jesse's place there will be 30 some MOLERS and we can talk about it then if anyone is still interested... | ||
| Eponymous Citizen Username: Eponymous Post Number: 132 Registered: 6-2004 |
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| John Citizen Username: Jdm Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2006 |
ajc, Thanks for the welcome. Glad to be here As for the gym, at 1100 sf could it have showers worth mentioning? Why don't we float some numbers here? I don't know what the rent would be (I might guess), but what else is there? Monthlies Rent Insurance Utilities Professional fees (accountant, etc) Cleaning/Maintenance Equipment upkeep Salaries (1 monitor at all times?) Loan payments Startup Design Buildout Equipment (maybe this is a lease?) Income $75 a head? That's about what a 12-month membership at the club in Millburn is. | ||
| mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 5873 Registered: 5-2001 |
Ajc, Sorry Saturday was no good for me but we can discuss the gym idea at Heart & Soul. |
