| Author | Message | ||
     jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 18 Registered: 6-2005 |
Why do so many of the businesses in town look shabby, and why would they expect customers not to care? So, in the spirit of trying to get them to clean up their act, here are some nominees for a "business hall of shame" along with some suggestions for improvement: Bunny's: Ditch the plastic flowers and take down the christmas decorations well before Easter. South Mountain Jean Co.: Clean up your window displays. Take out the faded clothes. Use professional signage to advertise items, not magic marker on cardboard. Prescription Counter: How about an interior redo so you can walk into the place, and straigthen up the surgical supply area so its not just a pile of stuff. Sunnys: Fix the front door so the metal shards don't spike you, and paint up the inside. Post Office: How about taking down those "Wait to Be Called" signs. Its very offensive, and does it really matter anyway if one doesn't wait to be called, but waits at the service desk. South Orange Frame Shop: It looks like someone's basement with all the stuff piled around inside. Some organization would go a long way here. This is a start. Feel free to add your nominees. Maybe some of these owners read this site and will take notice. Its all about improving the town. If you had an out-of-town buyer interested in your house, would you suggest that they visit these places to get a feel for the downtown. That should be the acid test. | ||
| LibraryLady(ncjanow) Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 2589 Registered: 5-2001  |
You know JayJay, I have found most of you previous posts confrontational, but in this one hits the nail right on the head. Excellent suggestions. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 19 Registered: 6-2005 |
Library Lady- Don't mean to be confrontational. Maybe the tone of prior messages is born out of frustration. Will keep it in mind. Meanwhile, thanks for the acknowledgement on this one. | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1925 Registered: 11-2001  |
As we do every year, we plant real flowers. You'll have to excuse the delay this year, there was an illness in the family and some recuperation needed. Where in town do you live? | ||
| gotcha Citizen Username: Gotcha Post Number: 11 Registered: 5-2005 |
Speaking of the library, when will the roof stop leaking? Those tarps at the entrance way are soooo very attrative. The library peeps are terrific, wbut the place looks crummy. | ||
| Parkingsux Citizen Username: Parkingsux Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2005 |
I'm new to this Maplewood Online, but I think the outside of Bunny's looks nice compared to some of the other establishments in South Orange. There is no where to park in this town. It took me 30 mins. the other day to find a parking spot. Old shop rite has been closed for like almost 5 years come on trustees. Got Milk? Not in South Orange. | ||
| Lucy Citizen Username: Lucy Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2005 |
i think the people that go around inspecting and critizing the working businesses in this town need to find a hobby. what about the appreance of all the vacant bulidings in this town. why doesnt the town take care of those horrid "coming soon" signs before passing judgements on the open establishments. | ||
| Parkingsux Citizen Username: Parkingsux Post Number: 2 Registered: 6-2005 |
I agree, Lucy. This town does need to grow up. (S.O.D.A) | ||
| red_alert Citizen Username: Red_alert Post Number: 127 Registered: 3-2005 |
I don't see a problem with Bunny's fake flowers. In fact, it is consistent with the fake ivy hanging on the train overpass just 50 feet their establishment. Anyone complaining about the south orange avenue ivy? | ||
| SO Refugee Citizen Username: So_refugee Post Number: 467 Registered: 2-2005  |
I agree with all except regarding Bunny's. Add: Family Buffet All the businesses in the Cluck-U "strip" Exit Realty (that is if you can tell it's a business) Cleanway Car Wash But, for a positive, how about some businesses that are doing a good job of representing themselves and the community - Sayan Living Blockbuster (it used to be a hell-hole when the Dude from the Big Lebowski was the manager, but it's turned around) Dancing Goat Any other nominees? | ||
| red_alert Citizen Username: Red_alert Post Number: 129 Registered: 3-2005 |
I nominate the following businesses Beifus SOPAC Poor fencing during the construction. Compare with Livingston downtown district. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 20 Registered: 6-2005 |
Agree with kudos for those doing a good job: Here's some laurels: Papillon: for outstanding interior design Antonellas: nice use of the small place Mail Boxes Etc: Well kept and well managed and Empire Consignment sadly bestowed posthumously! | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 2517 Registered: 5-2001  |
For positives: Cait & Abbey's always looks clean and inviting (I think their food is excellent, too, though the people working there never seem terribly friendly) Pappilon, Voro, Antonella's and Cafe Arugula all look great The new Washington Mutual looks much better than the shabby deli that preceeded it. | ||
| red_alert Citizen Username: Red_alert Post Number: 132 Registered: 3-2005 |
I am glad the thread has moved to the positive. | ||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1151 Registered: 3-2003 |
http://www.johnnymercerfoundation.org/intro.html | ||
| Sheena Collum SHU Citizen Username: Sheena_collum Post Number: 154 Registered: 4-2005  |
Speaking of Christmas Decorations (1st post)... are those really Christmas decorations on the businesses (including bunny's) or is it just a fad for lighting and whatnot? Along South Orange Ave a lot of businesses do that... heck, Village Hall still has some kind of lighting going along 1/8th of its top perimeter... They're the solid light color (as oppose to the blinking red and green) so I don't think those types look bad... | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 21 Registered: 6-2005 |
Here's a few more laurels: -Valley National Bank (or has it changed again?): on Valley Street for excellent upkeep to the site -Natural Cleaners: Really clean and nicely kept And a few more thorns: -Zayda's: what's with the awful lighting and horrific display cases? Very off-putting, despite the great cole slaw. -South Orange Vacuum: Have you ever gone in there? There's nothing else to say. | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 825 Registered: 9-2004 |
i think the people that go around inspecting and critizing the working businesses in this town need to find a hobby. what about the appreance of all the vacant bulidings in this town. why doesnt the town take care of those horrid "coming soon" signs before passing judgements on the open establishments. DITTO! Too many vacant bulidings. And the eye sore boarded-up gas station on Valley St. SO should concentrate on filling in the vacancies. BTW…leave Bunny's alone. The fake flowers are minicule compared to what Bunny's contributes to this town. They've been supporting our local recreational sports teams for years. And IMO, they make the BEST pizza in town, besides being a family FRIENDLY establisment! | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1991 Registered: 4-2002 |
Other nice looking businesses: Little candle shop, Urban Femme, Lot 15, Cold Stone (although he needs to clean the sidwalk out front more often). Main Street has met with several of the places listed above that need work. Some of those establishments claim they cannot afford to make improvements but obviously in some cases, money is clearly not the issue. Plus NJ transit which is currently renovating the station but has done a poor job in the past of maintaining their property. | ||
| ragazza Citizen Username: Ragazza Post Number: 7 Registered: 8-2004 |
I'm glad to hear everyone's opinion about the storefronts in South Orange. I just want people to know there is a committee that is working hard on rolling up their sleeves and doing something about it. If anyone whom has posted is interested in taking part in the MAIN STREET SOUTH ORANGE, DESIGN COMMITTEE please give me a call. I am a co-chair: Rebecca Gelman 973-761-8702. We are a committee made up of professional architects, planners, lawyers, realtor, interior designers and just interested citizens, whose mission is to work on improving the look of the downtown. We have a program for both windows and fronts. Much of the improvements that you've complimented have not been accidental, they have been due to the hard work of both members, volunteers and the local businesses. There are matching grants available for awnings, painting & signs. And an outright grant available for "window designs". These are some of the projects that we've participated in the last two years: Facades: Sayan Living, Taste of Asia, Yeva Hair Salon, Dancing Goat, Toro Loco, The General Store, Irvington Avenue Improvements, Other Mothers Windows: Texas Weiner, The Fur Salon, The Frame Store, The General Store (previous display), GioTech Computers Upcoming Window Display Design: South Mountain Jean For our window displays we have professional interior designer that donates time and high school students & Seton Hall students that do the installation. Installations have take high school and college students 16 hours of work on average. Most recently we've been working together with the graphics department of Seton Hall exploring the idea of beautifying the West side of the train tressle. They have also donated countless hours towards coming up with graphics for local businesses. If you'd like to be part of the solution and donate your energies to getting things done, please join us. |
