| Author | Message | ||
     MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3291 Registered: 5-2001  |
I drove past the Blue Moon Diner yesterday & there was a sign in the windows saying something like "Closed - New ownership. Grand Opening Soon" From all the horror stories I have heard about the latest ownership, let's hope the new owners do something really special with the place. Anyone know when it is expected to re-open? | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1714 Registered: 12-2003  |
That is indeed great news. The place occupies the single best location in town for a restaurant, particularly a diner. They had to really go out of their way to drive customers away. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 12180 Registered: 1-2003  |
If you're lucky, Pete will make it the South Orange branch of the Parkwood Diner. Not that I'm betting on it, but it would be great. I would prefer to eat Pete's food there than in the current location. "This is the only thing my signature says." | ||
| Suzanne Ng Citizen Username: Suzanneng Post Number: 607 Registered: 3-2002 |
Although, Tom R, Pete's current location has PARKING! ( I've only been TO ParkWood once, but have had delivery probably to 60 times! ) | ||
| red_alert Citizen Username: Red_alert Post Number: 215 Registered: 3-2005 |
More "coming soon" signs. Unbelievable! | ||
| Sitoyan Citizen Username: Sitoyan Post Number: 133 Registered: 7-2004 |
Where is Pete's? Where is Parkwood? | ||
| composerjohn Citizen Username: Composerjohn Post Number: 675 Registered: 8-2004  |
Parkwood Diner is on Springfield Avenue (about two blocks down from Prospect Street towards 78). The sign is bright green. We love it there, especially my son (free lollipops). Does anyone know the answer to MHD's original question: when will it re-open? Will it keep the same name? | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 12183 Registered: 1-2003 |
And Pete is the owner of Parkwood Diner, in case that isn't clear. Parkwood is the only place that proves that "good diner food" isn't necessarily an oxymoron. The food there is really very good. The portions are still obscenely large. But I can't complain, since we can bring home leftovers. I really like that place. It's a tremendous value. "This is the only thing my signature says." | ||
| Suzanne Ng Citizen Username: Suzanneng Post Number: 609 Registered: 3-2002 |
Tom Reingold -- my colleagues agree... and the lunch specials come with soup (a large bowl worth... maybe a pint?) and a beverage for less than $10.. many of my colleagues get 2-3 meals from one of the lunch specials or one of the great salads! | ||
| seb Citizen Username: Seb Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2005 |
I wish Sal well. He is a hard worker and a decent man. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 3762 Registered: 1-2004  |
Oh STEVE!!! WHERE ARE YOU? This would be the perfect place for you!!! I like Parkwood as well! | ||
| Vertifly Citizen Username: Vertifly Post Number: 187 Registered: 7-2005  |
Without any opinion on the current place... I think whoever takes over needs to seriously consider the ergonomics, get a good menu, completely reconstruct the interior of the place and go-to-town (so to speak). Perfect location but needs to be much more inviting. And please, whoever is opening the new place, consider keeping your garbage off of the sidewalk. There is an alley there, right? | ||
| bettyd Citizen Username: Badjtdso Post Number: 48 Registered: 12-2005 |
Not that I'm happy to see another SO business close but I'll make an exception for the Blue Moon Diner. That place had horrible food and service, and was dirty to boot. | ||
| Josh Holtz Citizen Username: Jholtz Post Number: 242 Registered: 4-2004 |
I actually believe Blue Moon's biggest problem was its ventilation. Whenever we ate there we smelled like the food we were eating - couldn't get it out of our clothes. The food was also too inconsistent. I once had a good salad there (Turkey Cobb) - the next time I ordered it it looked like scraps picked out of the garbage. I was a frequent customer who stopped going completely. I hope they get a great burger/salad joint or an upscale eat in Chinese restaurant in there. | ||
| wnb Citizen Username: Wnb Post Number: 319 Registered: 8-2001 |
No Josh, I'd say Blue Moon's biggest problem was a neck-and-neck race between the abysmal quality of food and the abysmal quality of service. And what kind of NJ diner stops serving breakfast foods -- EVER? | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 366 Registered: 6-2005 |
It beats me how the owners couldn't make a go of it. They have the best location in town. But its no substitue for quality food, great ambiance and cleanliness. I hope the future tenant gets it. BTW, I was having great hopes for that place across the street which is being renovated. I looked in a couple of weeks ago and saw great old brick walls and nice old wooden floors. Looked like it could be a real destination eatery. Then I looked in over the weekend, and they seemed to be covering the walls and I'm not sure in what direction they are going. I really hope they don't flub it and have gotten a professional designer for the place. It could be a real success factor. | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 359 Registered: 5-2004  |
Last time I was there (ages ago, possibly 2 owners ago) we complained about how looonnnnggg it was taking for us to be given our food. The owner quite arrogantly told us something like "we're the only diner in town, where else are you going to go." Needless to say, we haven't been back. (But we like the Maple Leaf, Parkwood and the multitude of great bagel places in the area!) | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 8510 Registered: 4-1997  |
Plus, there's another diner right up the street. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 12206 Registered: 1-2003 |
There's also the Maplewood Diner on Springfield Ave, near Irvington and across the street from the bus depot. It's open 24 hours. "This is the only thing my signature says." | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 1688 Registered: 8-2003  |
I am thrilled Blue Moon has closed! Hallelujah! The owner was unnecessarily nasty to me, the food was awful. | ||
| chatterbox Citizen Username: Chatterbox Post Number: 9 Registered: 12-2005 |
i heard they might be opening a new supermarket in the old shop rite. that's great news...how convenient. | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 1324 Registered: 3-2002 |
Blue Moon was good about three or four owners ago (but that owner left for the more stable hours of catering, I believe). Maybe we'll get luck this time! | ||
| Debra Davidson Citizen Username: Peanutslady Post Number: 120 Registered: 5-2005  |
I'm very sad to see the blue moon Diner close. I have never had any problems there. Sal was so nice. The food was always great. I loved that you always got fresh vegetables instead of the frozen or caned you get at some places. I'm really going to miss Sal and The Blue Moon Diner. It was one of my favorites in town. I wish Sal all the luck in his new venture what ever it may be. | ||
| Richard Citizen Username: Rikky Post Number: 65 Registered: 7-2005 |
the blue moon diner was awful. awful food, terrible service and the owner just didn't give a hoot. last time i tried to frequent there with my wife we sat for 15 minutes while waiters walked around us and didn't even bother to give us a menu. i got up and went to sal and said i want you to know we've been sitting here for 15 minutes while 3 of your wait staff completely ignored us. he was 'baffled'. yeah right. i never frequented the place again. to fail as a diner right in the best section in town shows this guy should go into another profession. | ||
| Innisowen Citizen Username: Innisowen Post Number: 1427 Registered: 3-2004 |
There used to be a place in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, with a sign outside saying "Warm beer, lousy food." It was truth in advertising. At least the place had warm beer with its lousy food, unlike the Blue Moon. | ||
| Jersey Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 90 Registered: 1-2006  |
I always felt that any place that called itself a diner should serve breakfast around the clock. The Blue Moon failed in this regard. If you fail to be a diner, you do not reap what you do not sow. However, it was nice to have a functioning business in downtown, South Orange. Should I rent the space to open a "Coming Soon" sign shop? It seems to be what South Orange needs. I'm just playing the market. J.B. | ||
| Ink Citizen Username: Pageturner Post Number: 86 Registered: 2-2005 |
Maybe we can publish a pamphlet of Blue Moon Diner Horror Stories, to go along with the Ghastly Gaslight Chronicles. When we moved here, I took my parents to the Blue Moon because it was convenient to the train, and it was an embarrassment. With the inflated prices, lousy service, blah food - even desperation wouldn't drive me there again. Hopefully, we can only go up from here... | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 3080 Registered: 5-2001 |
And it used to be really good ... when it first opened. So sad. I'm hopeful that the new beginning will be a good one. | ||
| Sean Flood Citizen Username: Campus_sub_shop Post Number: 108 Registered: 6-2005 |
I miss the Bun N' Burger still. | ||
| Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 777 Registered: 10-2004  |
I agree Blue Moon was great when it first opened. The problems started when they sold the place the first time. The food quality was awful. I got sick one night two years back and said never again. I am glad its gone. Hopefully whoever reopens the place will have a clue about how to run a diner. | ||
| Brett Weir Citizen Username: Brett_weir Post Number: 1224 Registered: 4-2004  |
Sean Flood, this could be the location you dreamed of. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 2529 Registered: 4-2002 |
I have been told someone already has signed a lease to take over the space (and to keep as a diner). I do not have any other info (name of owner, etc). | ||
| red_alert Citizen Username: Red_alert Post Number: 218 Registered: 3-2005 |
Is the owner a member of, or related to, someone on the BOT? | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 3794 Registered: 1-2004 |
Bret I asked Sean the same thing about 20 posts ago. No response. Hope he sees yours! | ||
| Stevef Citizen Username: Stevef Post Number: 164 Registered: 5-2005  |
No, you didn't. | ||
| Josh Holtz Citizen Username: Jholtz Post Number: 247 Registered: 4-2004 |
JTA said Steve ... meant Sean ... sh*t happens. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 3795 Registered: 1-2004 |
Okay Steve, so I was off by one post! It was 21.  Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 5:08 pm: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh STEVE!!! WHERE ARE YOU? This would be the perfect place for you!!! I like Parkwood as well! | ||
| Neen Citizen Username: Neen Post Number: 217 Registered: 1-2004 |
Is there any news on what will open in its place? | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 2530 Registered: 4-2002 |
Sign in the window says "Village Diner". I have heard the owner has other places in NJ, but no confirmation of that info. | ||
| Elaine Harris Citizen Username: Elaineharris Post Number: 79 Registered: 12-2004 |
Question: did the landlord of the Sloan Street stores (Cary Heller) ever pay back the village the loan of $500,000.00 that we borrowed to give him so that he could "develop" the property? No one on the BoT ever reported to the taxpayers that this loan was repaid. What is the status? Perhaps Allan Rosen or Marc Rosner, or Eric DeVaries could answer this. Or perhaps, Mr. Gross, the treasurer? |
