| Author | Message | ||
     Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 4901 Registered: 5-2001 |
With the relatively large number of restaurants in the Village today, compared to twenty years ago, I think survival of the fittest has something to do with it. There is a limit to the number of restaurants that a healthy Village can or should support. I don't buy the argument that Maplewood residents comprise all or most of the diners in Village restaurants. Maplewood Village has become a popular destination for people from throughout our immediate region. Parking is never a problem if you are willing to park on the other side of the tracks. This is a secret locals have been guarding for years. The increasingly high rents lead to additional overhead costs which impact on the prices restaurants can charge. For a restaurant to do really well in the Village, it needs to have a source of income beyond that which they get from table service. Two of the most in demand restaurants in town are the pub and the Trattoria. The pub does well because they have a fair number of customers who linger by the bar and don't compete for the limited table service. Trotteria does a large take-out business in addition to their eat in service, which is in such high demand in large part because they are so child friendly. To succeed in a relatively small commercial area which is already saturated with restaurants, a new restaurant on the scene has to develop a unique niche for itself. | ||
| Me2 Citizen Username: Me2 Post Number: 97 Registered: 6-2003 |
IMHO, if the movie theater were more attractive, the restaurants nearby would get more business. | ||
| vor Citizen Username: Vor Post Number: 387 Registered: 9-2003 |
Me2 I agree, or should I say me2 | ||
| 1-2many Citizen Username: Wbg69 Post Number: 929 Registered: 6-2002 |
the movie theater needs to be more than just attractive, they need to fumigate that place. it is a total s***hole inside. it stinks, and is literally falling apart. the quality of the place is that of a $1 theater, yet they have the gall to charge full price. what totally blew my patience with the place was witnessing the owners' barking at and being abusive to their help for "being late" right in front of patrons. the employees were black teens. really smacked of, "Boy, whatchoo doin! lazy!" That was the last straw for us. I refuse to go back. If they cleaned up their act, I'd return. but I won't patronize them unless they do. I almost hate to do it, because I want to support MW businesses... but they don't get a free pass to be jerks and run a rip-off operation. | ||
| stubelou Citizen Username: Stubelou Post Number: 17 Registered: 1-2003 |
contrary to popular belief American Fare is not }}closed. I was there wednesday night.}} | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1114 Registered: 9-2003  |
Probably not the norm, but...until recently, my husband, 11 year old and I were highly inclined to eat out twice during the week if (1) the price was reasonable, (2) the atmosphere was casual but up from a diner, (3) the offerings were not too exotic, and (4) you didn't have to wait a long time for a seat/service. We like the pub, but too often (4) came into play. I'm sure Carmelita's suits many, but we didn't care for it and the atomosphere hit (2) for us. Like the Trattoria but some nights (2) came into play. As a result, we went for more takeout, and the occasional splurge at Centanni, which we all like. Always hated Water Lilies food, but like the atmo. I often wish Trattoria had another dining room, less noisy/brightly lit. Wish this town had a Greek restaurant (not a fancy one, but more like what one would find in NY). A sit-down Chinese/Asian. If Freeman's had a restaurant, would definitely eat there! Coming off the train, tired from the day, atmosphere matters to us. Bright lights, slow seating, slow service doesn't cut it. I like the space/seating, comparative dimness and price point of typical chains (Applebee's, Outback) for ordinary dinners out. Guess my suburban roots are showing... | ||
| Bobkat Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7544 Registered: 5-2001 |
Copperfield hit on something I forgot, booze. Years ago I was involved as a service supplier to restaurants and even in "white tablecoth" establishments wine and liquor sales are often 25% or more of the gross. They are also high profit items. Does NJ limit the number of liquor licenses in a community? I remember during the runup to the opening of The Pub the owners had to buy a liquor license from someone else. A few more liquor licenses might help to make a few more restaurants viable. Just a thought. | ||
| Mrs T Citizen Username: Netjack Post Number: 32 Registered: 12-2004 |
We find that most of the places around here are too expensive for us after paying the mortgage (house) HELOC (fixing the house) taxes (extortion to keep the house) living expences (living in the house) transportation to work (to pay all the above) there isn't much left over for upscale meals. I agree with Cynicalgirl in her criteria, also the sheer lack of variety and quality is discouraging coming from the city/Hoboken/even Jersey City. We still go back to JC for Vietnamese. Please.... my kingdom for decent Chinese!!! | ||
| Copperfield Citizen Username: Copperfield Post Number: 117 Registered: 1-2004 |
Joan sez: >>I don't buy the argument that Maplewood residents comprise all or most of the diners in Village restaurants. Maplewood Village has become a popular destination for people from throughout our immediate region. >> But not on the sort of consistent and regular basis you get when there is a destination such as the Paper Mill. Most people going to a show there are going to want to eat dinner first, and this keeps many of Millburn's restaurants in business. People may wander over to Maplewood on occasion, but there's not much in the town to draw them there in the evening on a consistent basis. She also says: >>Parking is never a problem if you are willing to park on the other side of the tracks. This is a secret locals have been guarding for years. >> You've just refuted your own argument. "Secret" parking that only "locals" know about is of no use to people coming from other towns. I know that, especially in warmer weather, we will always go to Summit for dinner and a movie because we know we can easily park there, as oppposed to Maplewood where parking is sure to be limited. (Maplewood & Summit movie theaters tend to show the same movies- no idea why that is, but it is.) | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 161 Registered: 12-2004 |
"on a nice summer night, parking in Maplewood Village is as tough as finding on-street parking in Greenwich Village." "on a nice summer night" why the heck aren't you walking? | ||
| drewdix Citizen Username: Drewdix Post Number: 824 Registered: 7-2001 |
The liquor license limitations are state law, and based on per capita. Maplewood's licenses are maxed out. | ||
| Copperfield Citizen Username: Copperfield Post Number: 118 Registered: 1-2004 |
"on a nice summer night" why the heck aren't you walking? Because we live in Millburn, Meandtheboys, and 3 miles is a bit of stroll  } | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 164 Registered: 12-2004 |
Copperfield: LOL. Just a bit.  Well, if all of us who live within walking distance of the village where to do so "on a nice summer night," then those of you who live too far might find parking!  | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 5425 Registered: 1-2003  |
You could park two blocks from the center of the village and walk. And thank you for choosing to visit Maplewood! I definitely reciprocate often. | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 4909 Registered: 5-2001 |
Copperfield: The fact that you live in Millburn and choose to participate in this discussion of problems with Maplewood restaurants staying in business supports my argument that Maplewood's restaurants have a draw beyond Maplewood's own borders. I agree that Maplewood does not have the draw of a Paper Mill Playhouse but we do have the resident theater companies, concert series, gallery openings and other special events which if properly marketed could help give a boost to our restaurants. Special restaurant-specific promotions such as the just announced MOL days at Carmelita's could also help those restaurants who are having trouble filling their tables. | ||
| Miss L Toe Citizen Username: Miss_l_toe Post Number: 165 Registered: 10-2003 |
Joan: I live in Millburn township too (moved to the US just as our son left primary (elementary school) and we had to look ahead to secondary education. If it wasn't for the reputation that MHS has I wouldn't be living here ....Maplewood village reminds me of being home in England and it's lovely - even more so now the pub is there LOL! I virtually never shop in Millburn (unless you count ShopRite, Millburn carwash and the 12 Springs Dry cleaners). There is absolutley nothing that I would particularly want to buy there; for instance I wouldn't be seen dead in a fur coat - there are 2 fur retailers on Millburn Ave, Gito Girl is way overpriced as is Deborah Gilbert Smith which has frumpy clothes to boot, I never get my nails done (wear contact lenses so keep nails short and varnish always chips) I don't want a fake tan, I don't buy musical instruments or expensive works of art and I don't need scuba diving equipment! Other shops are places one wouldn't often purchase anything from on a regular basis if at all (ie. there are two kitchen design shops, a photography studio, 2 photo developers - I use Walgreen's - an oriental carpet shop, optician's, 2 bridal shops, hearing aid and numerous jewellery stores. I guess everyone has noticed just how many nail salons and 'spas' there are now in Millburn Avenue...I daresay it's even worse than Maplewood in the way they are proliferating!!! Most of the other shops are places to dine or buy takeout food....Millburn diner is dire, but I do like Sampan/Ginger Taste and Tingga and we do go to Charlie Browns sometimes. I do go to Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, the cinema and once in a blue moon...Buncher's hardware store. Occasionally I'll go to Cait and Abby's but it's not in the main part of the downtown. So what draws me to Maplewood? The bookstore, the diner and trattoria, sometimes I'll catch a movie there and get a slice of pizza from next door, the cafe next to the parking lot - nr Anthony Garubo's and above all - St. James' Gate! I've also been to quite a few Underground concerts and the pantomime at the Burgdorff cultural center. My son graduates from MHS in a couple of years...if we're still in the States we will seriously consider moving to Maplewood...  | ||
| Copperfield Citizen Username: Copperfield Post Number: 119 Registered: 1-2004 |
Why so angry Joan? It's purely a financial thing. Not a "Maplewood is bad" thing. The hundreds of people who come to Millburn on a more or less nightly basis to go to the Paper Mill create a boon to restaurant owners in a way the dozens of people coming to the more intimate cultural events in Maplewood never can- no matter how heavily these events are promoted. And while I'm sure Miss L and I are not the only non-Mwooders to enjoy visiting the village, you're still not drawing several hundred people of a Tuesday night in January, which (in addition to liquor profits) is the sort of traffic that helps restaurants survive. And while my presence in this debate is mainly a result of Magma's website closing down, of course I'd like some better restaurants in the towns surrounding mine. Who wouldn't? | ||
| Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 5235 Registered: 4-1998  |
(I didn't read Joan's post as angry.) | ||
| Copperfield Citizen Username: Copperfield Post Number: 120 Registered: 1-2004 |
You're right Dave. I read it quickly and misread her tone. Mea Culpa | ||
| AlleyGater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 55 Registered: 10-2004 |
Just for the record, I think the Milburn diner is pretty good. I really only have blueberry pancakes and grilled cheese sandwiches but still compared to every other diner in all of the neighboring towns Milburn's really isn't so bad. Oh yeah, and I hate diners, as a general rule. |
