| Author | Message | ||
     algebra2 Supporter Username: Algebra2 Post Number: 3539 Registered: 5-2001  |
Another two nice business -- Street Rock and Commuter Comics. | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 1209 Registered: 8-2002 |
ragazza -- thx for the information! impressive effort. -- Laces is quite a nice store, inside and out, (although my 9 year old son wasn't too happy when I dragged him in there for sneakers -- but they only have women's shoes! ;-) Pete | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 22 Registered: 6-2005 |
Can you please advise as to where the grant money comes from for store improvements. My recollection was that the South Orange Master Card funds went towards that, or is it taxpayer money? If its the latter, I would like to insure that money goes towards those businesses (especially any new ones) who have a shot at a viable business plan, and not just for the asking. I suspect there is a garage full of signs for businesses who have failed in recent years, and I would rather money not be thrown away on a long shot. I remember Stone HIll Creamery & Sweet Apples and Pears off the top of my head, and I suspect there are more. Let's be sure any grant money is given to those who have done their homework first. Secondly, while I admire that students are willing to lend time to help improve the look of the store windows, where is the shopowner in all of this? South Mtn Jean Co. is a good example. Maybe a boycott of the premises would work better than doing the work he should want to do to draw in business. Keeping clean fresh seasonal merchandise in a dust and bug free window is part of owning a retail clothing shop. Who needs them in town if they don't want to maintain it? | ||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1154 Registered: 3-2003 |
Cafe Arugula gets a laurel, both for the outside and interior. | ||
| ragazza Citizen Username: Ragazza Post Number: 8 Registered: 8-2004 |
In answer to some very valid questions by JayJay: The signs that have been provided in the examples that I gave have been provided for many businesses that have been in South Orange for 20 and 30 years. The Fur Salon for instance has been in town for 30 years, received an awning, sign and window redesign. There are not to my knowledge a "garage full of signs" as you mentioned. But I appreciate the input. As of yet we do not link reviewing a business plan to receipt of grant. But it is a matching grant so they do have to put forth their own money. The funding for the signage did come from the credit card program which is no longer operational. We are in the process of looking for other sources of funding, as such the window program has slowed down a bit while we do this. Good point too: as to where the business owners are: In our work with the businesses I've found many are receptive to our input and are over joyed at the assistance. Some are too busy running their businesses to put work into windows, for some its not a high priority and others don't have the awareness. But part of this is a matter of educating the business owner. Often after we do one window they make an effort to change the windows more often. Or after working on the facade they take greater pride in the exterior. Many are up by the boot straps types, they didn't attend fancy business schools, they don't have MBAs. You can't just wish these businesses away, many are here to stay, so we're working with what's there. I agree its not perfect but we've made progress. We have had many great businesses come in and as a general rule the new guarde tends to be pretty savy when it comes to design. Just one example "Sweet Concessions", which is a top notch operation. If you haven't been there yet go, its next to "It's a Wrap". I still encourage whom ever is out there to continue to give input, but to put your concerns in action and volunteer for Main Street South Orange Design Committee. We meet the third Tuesday of every month in village hall at 8:00 pm. If you need more information feel free to email me; rebecca@gelmanarchitecture.com | ||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1155 Registered: 3-2003 |
This is a constructive thread. ragazza - Your comment about some of the store owners not placing a high priority on windows or lack of awareness is informative. Years ago, store owners (and not just the big department stores in the cities) put a lot of effort into decorating their windows. Many even hired window decorators. If South Orange is to become what we all hope it has the potential to become, educating the store owners is a high priority. Thanks for your efforts. | ||
| Mozek Citizen Username: Mozek Post Number: 9 Registered: 4-2005 |
What about the caterer across from Antonella's -- I think it's called Sweet Concessions. They have a lovely window. As for Bunny's, we love their pizza and appreciate what they do for the community, but there are two things about the interior that consistently turn me off -- the "air freshener" candles on the tables and the Windex-type spray they use to wipe tables down between diners. I don't mean to be overly picky, but those smells always take away from my dining enjoyment. | ||
| Lucy Citizen Username: Lucy Post Number: 6 Registered: 5-2005 |
What do u expect them to clean the tables with wood shine mozek.. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 23 Registered: 6-2005 |
Ragazza- I guess I don't get why store owners in other towns understand the need to keep their places looking good, and many of those in South Orange don't. I can go into many of the surrounding towns and I'm sure those owners are just as busy. I think its a lame excuse. I think they have taken their customers for granted, and if they are holding on just to make ends meet, well then they have to realize that sometimes you have to spend money to make money, or you're toast. I don't like empty storefronts any more than anyone else, but frankly, I would rather an empty store than something like that awful auction business that was next to Sunny's. Good ridance. One has to ask why saavy business owners are not attracted to the town given its demographics and the willingness of residents to support those who figure it out (like Cait & Abby's). I heard for a long time that it was unreasonable landlords. Don't know if that is true or not. We ought to know the reason and address that. I think a professional development person(s) to get us going like RedBank or Englewood did would put us on the right track. Maybe that's what grant money should be used for. Otherwise its just using BandAids. If calling attention to offenders gets them to change their ways, then we should do it. Its all about listening to your customers. If they take offense, then they will lose in the long run. | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 827 Registered: 9-2004 |
jayjay, How long have you been living in SO? | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 1219 Registered: 8-2002 |
jayjay -- there are some clearly passionate business owners in SO -- but not so many that are savvy, by a long shot. --pete | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 1817 Registered: 6-2001  |
I'm starting to notice a pattern with jayjay. | ||
| kevin Supporter Username: Kevin Post Number: 458 Registered: 2-2002 |
South Mountain Jean is currently for sale. | ||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1163 Registered: 3-2003 |
kevin - Any thoughts on the thread about whether landlords purposely allow stores to remain vacant? | ||
| ril Citizen Username: Ril Post Number: 344 Registered: 6-2001 |
Jayjay, I don't think that auction business/used furniture store was bad--I bought a beautiful antique oak chair at a very nice price, and I believe a number of Seton Hall students furnished their apartments. Certainly better than the empty storefront that's there now. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 26 Registered: 6-2005 |
Ril- Its not that the merchandise was used or all that bad. Its how the place was kept. A good example was empire Consigment which dealt in used merchandise, but the owners always cared about how the place looked and it was an asset to the town. The auction place just looked awful and there was no reason for it to be so. Spitz- The conventional wisdom had it that the landlord who had owned the strip including Sonny"s and the auction house et al was actually doing better by having the places vacant. Maybe it had to do with writing off losses or something, and that he was totally unreasonable in what tenants could or could not do. I understand the buildings have now been sold to another landlord who has raised the rents considerably. Hence, Victor's moved out. Sonny's, I think had more time left on their lease. It will be intersting to see what happens next. By the way, doesn't the mayor own the building his store is in? It looks like two storefronts are vacant in that building too...the travel agency and the doctor's office. With all these and other vacancies, who is expected to occupy new retail space in Beifus, Sayid's, by the new market, and so on? Anybody see a business plan from these developers before approving PILOTS? | ||
| Lucy Citizen Username: Lucy Post Number: 13 Registered: 5-2005 |
Just got back from the Hamptons white lights are the rage on the business community there at night it looks inviting. | ||
| GlassJoe Citizen Username: Glass_joe Post Number: 15 Registered: 6-2005  |
I agree. MORE WHITE LIGHTS EVERYWHERE! I also like the torches at Voro. It's very,well...Voro. | ||
| Grspring Citizen Username: Grspring Post Number: 16 Registered: 6-2004 |
How about developing new business or revamping old ones along South Orange and Irvington Avenue near Seton Hall. Coffee shop, book store, burger resturant. Students wouldn't need a shuttle to get to town center. We could get rid of half the nail and hair salons and nobody would notice. By the way, is there an ordinance on the type of sign that can go in front of a store. A couple of the Irving Avenue stores just hang a hand painted banner attached with string. I won't even ask about EXIT Realty. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 31 Registered: 6-2005 |
grspring- This is why I think we need a professional development person(s). Someone who can work against a set of strategic objectives and with the landlords, while trying to get businesses to locate in the town. I could see a set of objectives that went something like: 1. Create a restaurant destination town for the main part of town. 2. Develop Irvington Avenue into "college square" with businesses which primarily focus on the Seton hall population. If they could do it, we would have a vibrant town which would not have to compete with the malls. | ||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1165 Registered: 3-2003 |
Grspring - Excellent post. And I won't ask about Exit Realty.  | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 6676 Registered: 4-1997  |
Jayjay, Your irresponsible post about Bunnys has caused live plants to be pulled from their roots, as people have been testing them. Please check before you post something like that. | ||
| gotcha Citizen Username: Gotcha Post Number: 14 Registered: 5-2005 |
Dave, There HAVE been plastic plants there and if people are dumb enough to pull em up by the roots to test em, that ain't JayJay's fault. No way. | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 6679 Registered: 4-1997 |
Well, I left out the smiley, but the plants outside Bunnys are definitely real (hydrangeas). If you look on the tables, the flowers are plastic, but the *large* containers of plants next to the tables are real. If you only pay attention to what's on the table, I can see how you were mislead. | ||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 3375 Registered: 5-2001  |
You can't eat ambiance... -s. | ||
| Sheena Collum SHU Citizen Username: Sheena_collum Post Number: 165 Registered: 4-2005  |
Oh gosh... Soda's back? (sigh)  The plants (real or fake) at Bunny's are just fine. Let's take a look at all the vacant store fronts and then we can talk about existing stores. Grspring - what a grand idea - we're finally in agreement. | ||
| SO Refugee Citizen Username: So_refugee Post Number: 497 Registered: 2-2005  |
As a resident of the Irvington Ave. area near SHU, I would even support a pub (Gaslight-like, without all the negatives). Additionally, I would support a business that provides meaningful product or service to the community (I haven't gotten my nails done lately or bought a T-shirt sized 6XL, though I have eyed that Elvis statuette in the window...) Oh, when I say community, that includes the university as well...we know some folks do not. | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 681 Registered: 11-2001  |
I have to agree with jayjay on one point. "I think a professional development person(s) to get us going like RedBank or Englewood did would put us on the right track. Maybe that's what grant money should be used for. Otherwise its just using BandAids." Maplewood has two people that deal with their redevelopment. They are SID (Special Improvement Districts) managers. One for the Village and one for Springfield Avenue. In the past 5 years the Springfield Avenue Partnership has totally turned around the way SA looks. New shops are all over SA right now and more are in the works. It takes one dedicated person that liaison with the developers and the town officials and knows what the master plan is to totally turn our town around. Also that person can work with small businesses to find correct space, grouping of business that compliment each other, etc. Without someone like this, South Orange will always have what we have now. | ||
| LibraryLady(ncjanow) Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 2603 Registered: 5-2001  |
Let's take a look at all the vacant store fronts and then we can talk about existing stores Sheena, Is there any reason that these two situations can't be looked at at the same time? Improving the appearance of current, occupied storefronts might very well improve the prospects of filling the vacant ones. | ||
| Sheena Collum SHU Citizen Username: Sheena_collum Post Number: 166 Registered: 4-2005 |
LibraryLady, You have a great point. I just wish more people would contact the stores directly and suggest improvements rather than post it on MOL on a thread entitled "Business Hall of Shame". It's been my experience, with several businesses discussed here, that the owners are genuinely nice and receptive individuals. Two times this year, SHU students went to the businesses and asked them to decorate their windows with a Pirate to launch our Village 'Pirate Pride' campaign.   Our intentions were to increase foot traffic of students to come check out the businesses in S.O. instead of going to other places (i.e. Livingston Mall). The business owners were fantastic to us (with the exception of a few that I won't mention). I'm sure it's my "young age" and "idealism", but I feel our existing businesses are fabulous and we should reach out to them in a more constructive manner. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 1417 Registered: 1-2004  |
SO Ref\ Please not another Gaslight type place! Yuck! A pub would not be such a great idea as most the SHU students aren't old enough to drink. BUT maybe something like an AppleBees, TGIF, Hoolagin's which also caters to families? | ||
| Matt Foley Citizen Username: Mattfoley Post Number: 262 Registered: 6-2004  |
Bunny's had torches on the veranda tonight. It was soooooooooooooooooo.... cool. It felt very...uh...Voro! Bunny's is soooooooooooo...Voro! Honestly, If I owned a SUV I could just lean out the window and light my favorite cigar in traffic. Way to go Leslie! | ||
| SO Refugee Citizen Username: So_refugee Post Number: 501 Registered: 2-2005 |
I distinctly said without a Gaslight-type without all of the negatives.... However, does it sound better if I say, um, a Bunny's-type or St. James Gate-type?? There's isn't enough space for a chain as they would want/demand more parking. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 1424 Registered: 1-2004 |
Sorry Ref. I should stop reading the board so late at night. I thought at one point we were told an Applebees type place was going to open where the old Stuft Shirt use to be? You have a point about the parking. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 1425 Registered: 1-2004 |
Sheena- What stores were those pictures from? | ||
| Sheena Collum SHU Citizen Username: Sheena_collum Post Number: 168 Registered: 4-2005 |
JTA - those specifically were Cold Stone and I believe Dancing Goat... but most of the windows on S.O. ave were painted (well about 30 or so). | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 855 Registered: 9-2004 |
I just wish more people would contact the stores directly and suggest improvements rather than post it on MOL on a thread entitled "Business Hall of Shame". It's been my experience, with several businesses discussed here, that the owners are genuinely nice and receptive individuals. GOOD POINT! And KUDOS to Main Street South Orange! Since moving here (over 10 years ago) they've made great strives, endless contribution and improvements to our South Orange area. I thought it was TASTELESS to post certain businesses as a "Business Hall of Shame." And, the talk of boycotting because of how the place LOOKS? (Especially those stores who've been in existence for years.) When I saw Bunny's mentioned, I thought how tackey to post a business who has contributed to our community in other ways than just a restaurant. Over 10 years that I've lived here, this town has a made GREAT improvements to our train station, which had no existing stores underneath, before it was develop. The improvement to Valley street, South Orange Ave. (new awnings and facades, brick walkways, etc.). And various other projects in the works. If anyone wants to complain about existing businesses, put those negative energy into something positive. JOIN this group or volunteer your services to the planning board. Since Main Street org. exists, any complaints you have about an establishment, make your them to this organization, perhaps THEY could work with the owners on improvements. You have M Rosner who often post here, PM him with your suggestions. They also have the Town Hall meetings, go there to voice your complaints or suggestions. | ||
| Sheena Collum SHU Citizen Username: Sheena_collum Post Number: 170 Registered: 4-2005 |
ditto on that Wow - MOL is slow today... nothing to keep me entertained through class.. common folks, lol | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 88 Registered: 6-2005 |
Okay, maybe its me, but can someone explain why "Manny's Texas Weiners" features the faded picture of the Gyro lady in the window? Sort of a disconnect. What is thier cuisine? And what is with the name "Hot Bagels Abroad?" What does that mean???? | ||
| Josh Holtz Citizen Username: Jholtz Post Number: 43 Registered: 4-2004 |
Everyone knows sexy gyro ladies are known to entice customers ... Hot Bagels Abroad can be found in Montclair, SO, Bloomfield and Clifton. Owned by a few Mid East guys. |
