| Author | Message | ||
     Elaine Harris Citizen Username: Elaineharris Post Number: 183 Registered: 12-2004 |
The new flower boxes are very tasteful and set a good example for all of us as to how we can make our downtown more attractive with relatively simple solutions. Imagine how nice it would be if all the stores had flowers or other plantings. The Orange Tree also has beautiful flowers, as do a few other stores. Pride of ownership is very effective. Thank you, Leslie! We appreciate your efforts to beautify our downtown. | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese  Post Number: 1626 Registered: 7-2004  |
Where is Bunny's? Is that a pet store? | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 474 Registered: 2-2006 |
Oh yes it is and all the sad little critters in there are from brewery mills. The grow up having to endure drinking beer without being walked in between..staggered maybe but not walked  | ||
| Jersey_Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 974 Registered: 1-2006  |
It's not a pet store, but it IS filled with animals...  (Bad um boom!) Thank you, thank you. Don't forget to tip the waitress, I'll be here all week. J.B. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 5273 Registered: 1-2004  |
Someone asked me once if Bunny's actually sold bunny rabbits!  | ||
| FlyingSpaghettiMonst Citizen Username: Noodlyappendage Post Number: 167 Registered: 11-2005  |
Glad to see Bunny's finaly caught up with Reservoir & Ariyoshi and put some flowers out (non-plastic) on South Orange Avenue | ||
| jeep Citizen Username: Jeep Post Number: 147 Registered: 8-2005 |
First let me say the Bunnys looks great and for years the owners have always maintained their front. But Elaine as the president of the local chamber of commerce you should not be publicly comparing one business to the others. You have not pointed out that Cait and Abbey, Urban femme, Blue Moon, Berk, Reservoir, Little Candle Shop, Antonellas and many other businesses always have nice flower or plant boxes out side their businesses? You should be personally visiting the businesses that you feel could benefit from sprucing up their businesses. You should be helping the businesses that you feel are lacking in " pride of ownership" to understand the benefits that you are talking about here. If you want to comment on how nice Bunnys looks then fine but to say they are setting a good example for the rest of the businesses is just not right. There are many other businesses that look as nice. | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 478 Registered: 2-2006 |
Oh bunnie rabbits at bunnies LOL.. I haven't been in there in years but I always liked going... maybe I pop in incognito ..... | ||
| Steve Hickson Citizen Username: Shickson Post Number: 30 Registered: 4-2006  |
Thanks Elaine for your post---the flower boxes in front of Bunny's look terrific and kudos to Leslie and Blaze---and jeep, I disagree a bit---Elaine did not "publicly compare one business to the others"---she just stated how nice it would be if all the businesses had flowers/plantings to demonstrate pride of ownership---she is right and I agree with her.  Here's a pic taken this morning of Bunny's new flower boxes---pretty nice! | ||
| Soparents Citizen Username: Soparents Post Number: 791 Registered: 5-2005  |
Thanks Bunnys... I drove past this morning, the sun was shining and the flowers looked wonderful. It was a great start to my day. Thanks to The Orange Tree too - a wonderful store with loads of interesting things, and the flowers and colour scheme make it a very inviting place. Nice photo Steve... | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 483 Registered: 2-2006 |
Hey Steve... I am jealous...I want to walk through town too!!! | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 1078 Registered: 7-2005  |
 Lets all go dirtbiking across the street. | ||
| jeep Citizen Username: Jeep Post Number: 148 Registered: 8-2005 |
Steve I think we need to send a clear message if we are sending one. The South Orange Frame Shop, no flower boxes but they do an outstanding job of framing. Great customer service too! Pride in ownership yes, flower boxes, no. Mail Boxes etc. no flower boxes but they also do a great job of satisfying their customers. They have pride in ownership. Ever go to On track Cleaners? Now this is a role model for a business owner they could not be nicer. They remember you all the time and even carry the cleaning to your car. But no flower boxes but tons of pride of ownership. The Gaslight Brewery now they have those flower boxes and planters we speak of. They actually have both but do not go there with children. They will toss you out at a moments notice. I guess their flower boxes and planters are just not working properly. So Steve I really think pride of ownership of a business has very little to do with flower boxes or planters as nice as they might be. Pride of ownership is showing respect for the customers who support your business and running a honest and fair business. Having flower boxes and planters is a very nice bonus for all of us. The flower boxes and front of the business is like the cover of a book. And you know that saying! | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 956 Registered: 11-2001  |
You know that if we had a SID, then there could be a line item to have planters all along SO Ave with annual flowers planted year round. Thus making everything look beautiful for all merchants and customers. Oh, that's right....SID's are supposed to be bad...look what it's done for SA in Maplewood. | ||
| Nancy - LibraryLady Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 3535 Registered: 5-2001  |
Besides, I'm allergic to flowers and really resent shops planting the stupid stuff all over their storefronts. Think they'd have more consideration for people's health.  | ||
| jeep Citizen Username: Jeep Post Number: 149 Registered: 8-2005 |
Well Growler you do have a point but please do not use Maplewood as a model. Maplewood's retail community is suffering and failing. People always complain about the retail community in SO but if you really take the time to examine our retail community you will find that we are full of wonderful businesses. The overall condition of the town is a issue but we do have wonderful retail and local businesses. | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 9726 Registered: 4-1997  |
Won't people smoking out front harm the flowers?  | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 957 Registered: 11-2001 |
jeep - I'm not saying that SO does not have good businesses. Both Maplewood and SO fail and succeed in different areas. What I'm saying is that if we want to have the entire town look uniform, then we cannot leave it up to the merchants to do it alone. We already have and look what we get. | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 1630 Registered: 7-2004 |
"if we want to have the entire town look uniform" Why would we want that, it would be boring. "Mail Boxes etc. no flower boxes but they also do a great job of satisfying their customers." Bad example. I would say that the two times I have been there I have left much less than satisfied. That is why I have not been back there. "The Gaslight Brewery now they have those flower boxes and planters we speak of. They actually have both but do not go there with children. They will toss you out at a moments notice." I have never had that experience. | ||
| Peter J. Watts Citizen Username: Peter_watts Post Number: 37 Registered: 3-2006  |
From what I remember, Gaslight wants you to bring children in so they can feed them to the troll that lives under the floorboards. | ||
| Tuxedo Citizen Username: Tuxedo Post Number: 18 Registered: 7-2004 |
It's really nice that Bunny's is taking pride in its facade. They always have flowers outside in the summer, at least as long as I've been here. However, if I were a business owner, I might be pressing the Township for an aesthetic code for downtown to attract more business. At least for the interim. There are some weird storefronts on S.O. Ave that need serious urban renewal. I've never set foot in them in the five years that I've been here. So. Orange Ave. is stuck in the 70s, it's depressing, grafitti on the shell of the grocery store at the S.O. train station, chain food stores, like Carvel. Ugh. The candle shop and Japanese rest. are promising along with some others. | ||
| jeep Citizen Username: Jeep Post Number: 150 Registered: 8-2005 |
Growler the answer you are looking for is not a SID although I am not against a SID for other reasons. Every community and city has good businesses and bad businesses. There are businesses that get it and there will always be businesses that just simply do not get it. The ones that get it will survive and flourish and the ones that do not get it will most likely fail and blame the town. A SID if used properly could keep the streets and sidewalks maintained. And maybe add some nice landscaping but it is not going to make a business successful. And in order to maintain a nice and healthy business community we need businesses to succeed. So if there is a business in town you like and you think they are doing a good job the best thing to do for our community is to support them. | ||
| Lizziecat Citizen Username: Lizziecat Post Number: 1258 Registered: 5-2003 |
Bunny's always has beautiful flowers. Thank you, Leslie. | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 958 Registered: 11-2001 |
jeep - I agree however having the streets and sidewalks maintained plus better landscaping will help in making the area look more inviting to new potential businesses. And again, it would be better than what we have now. I know that a SID will not help businesses survive. That's up to the business owner themselves. Some get it and others do not. I feel that to get people to open up new businesses, the area must look like it can support them (along with the local community). Right now, I cannot say that SO looks like anything other than a bomb testing sight (how inviting is that?) with a few merchants that are trying to make their establishment look nice. | ||
| Wendy Supporter Username: Wendy Post Number: 2559 Registered: 5-2001 |
Leslie, thanks for the personal tour of the flower boxes this evening (and thanks for the use of your "facilities" before I headed off to see a ballgame). They look lovely and how nice that the boxwoods will stay green come winter. Cheers and stuff. Wendy | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 23262 Registered: 6-2001  |
Thank you to Bunny's for the beautiful flowers and the gracious service I've always received. This town should hold you up as an example of a long-time business that has always taken pride in its appearance and conduct. I certainly do! | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 1634 Registered: 7-2004 |
I like the coffee there. mmm... coffee... | ||
| newtoallthis Citizen Username: Newtoallthis Post Number: 261 Registered: 2-2003 |
Why doesn't South Orange do something like this? June 10, 2006 Maplewood Village Spring Cleanup & Flower Planting Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Information: Come help get Maplewood Village spruced up for summer! Volunteers will plant flowers in flower pots and planting areas, as well as remove litter and weeds. Supplies and refreshments will be provided. Meet at Ricalton Square(opposite Movie Theater) at 9:00 am. Groups welcome. RSVP to maplewoodvillagealliance@yahoo.com or 973-762-4556. | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 960 Registered: 11-2001 |
Good question. Maybe the Chamber of Commerce could get something like that together. They say that "The Chamber is a major contributor to the Village's economic prosperity and the community's well-being. South Orange Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to creating programs and projects in the Village of South Orange that will better both the community and business community at large." Sounds like something right up their alley. | ||
| Elaine Harris Citizen Username: Elaineharris Post Number: 184 Registered: 12-2004 |
Don't you just love people who have no problem assigning jobs to others but take no responsibility themselves? How about you, Growler? Why don't you volunteer to organize the people of the village into this project? Sounds like you have too much time on your hands. This way you can work off some of your misplaced anger. | ||
| jeep Citizen Username: Jeep Post Number: 155 Registered: 8-2005 |
OUCH! Growler I guess the president of the Chamber Of Commerce told you! | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 3323 Registered: 5-2004  |
That didn't sounds like anger. It sounded like a decent suggestion to me. It's much easier for an existing group to organize something like this than an individual. | ||
| FlyingSpaghettiMonst Citizen Username: Noodlyappendage Post Number: 168 Registered: 11-2005 |
Isn't the activity Growler suggested something a Chamber would and should do? Sort of like the Maplewood Alliance? Never saw anything like that arrange from individual citizens, only from a community group. | ||
| Erin Cartman Citizen Username: Carnac Post Number: 65 Registered: 5-2005  |
Don't you just love people who have no problem pointing out when their friends do something "good" -- even though others had done it before? Why don't they volunteer to USE THE ORGANIZATION THAT THEY CHAIR to "creating programs and projects in the Village of South Orange that will better both the community and business community at large." Sounds to me like they already have too much time on their hands. This would most certainly help! | ||
| jeep Citizen Username: Jeep Post Number: 156 Registered: 8-2005 |
Rasto, Growler get this! This is a quote from the chamber site! Sounds to me like they do a ton for the local businesses and the town. Membership in the Chamber means that many people will work on your behalf to help foster an environment where your business can succeed and South Orange will continue to thrive. The Chamber has a dynamic Board, hardworking committees, and dedicated staff who welcome your membership and your involvement. Plants...planters...flowers sounds like something they would want to do especially since Ms Harris has so successfully pointed out by creating this thread for Bunnys that their flower boxes look great ( which they do). I would think that since the chamber has pointed out that flower boxes and planters enhance the frontage of businesses and show pride in ownership the chamber would work with each of its business members to get flower boxes. | ||
| jeep Citizen Username: Jeep Post Number: 157 Registered: 8-2005 |
Erin great point but we all know that Elaine Harris is a dear friend of the owners of Bunnys and will at any chance complement them. Which is a very nice thing for a friend to do. It is true that there are many businesses in our town that have beautiful flower boxes and maintain a nice business. It is sad that the Chamber of Commerce singles out any business. | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 1637 Registered: 7-2004 |
jeep, I uderstand your point, but don't completely agree. It was not as though Elaine posted this comment under the name of the chamber. She posted under her own name. | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 961 Registered: 11-2001 |
Thank you Rastro. It was only a suggestion. If the Chamber has too much on their plate this year then maybe they can fit it in next year. And if suggestions are not welcome, then maybe that should be taken into consideration too. | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 1638 Registered: 7-2004 |
But, I also wouldn't have a problem with the chamber saying a business is a good model for others to follow either. | ||
| FlyingSpaghettiMonst Citizen Username: Noodlyappendage Post Number: 170 Registered: 11-2005 |
Several posters affiliated with places in the community put a disclaimer on their posts that they are posting as individuals and not as representatives. Perhaps the head of our Chamber of Commerce should do the same when posting for herself |
