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Sirdar Bey
Citizen
Username: Sirdar_bey
Post Number: 4
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 6, 2004 - 7:59 pm: | 
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South Orange is so sad. No real retail, the stuff that is still here (brushstroke, the frame shop, some of the clothing stores) seems to be run by people that don't know much about retail -- dark stores, dank, dirty, haven't been updated in years. The frame shop, I don't know about you but if I had something nice I wanted to frame and I walked in there, I would probably walk back out for fear it would be destroyed or lost.
I'm in the market to start a retail operation here, since I live in South Srange it would be nice. But there's no daytime traffic because there's no real business here (and all new development is residential, targeted to the Manhattan commuter). Eventually it will be like Irvington or East Orange here with all the apartments and houses on that side of town being divided up so people can get into the school district. It's already happening.
Somehow, and I wish someone could explain this to me, retail rents are cheaper in Millburn. How's that?
Without real business here (not just retail) the retail doesn't have a chance in hell.
The people that own want to sell (the Brushstroke building has an ask of 900k for instance which he will never get) so they won't even entertain leases. They won't sell for that price, because a> they're not worth it and b> the village could at any time could take ownership of your site and shut you down.
So now we have a ghost town with many many empty/abandoned sites. It's REALLY starting to look like East Orange down here. It won't be long before people start moving and then it'll be old hard times here all over again.
Meanwhile, I guess I'll open in Millburn or Summit.
Oh and next election, could we please vote these assclowns out? Before they completely destroy things with their sleazy ways? Oh, and can you guys NOT hire another $100k+ employee to try and bring prosperity to the downtown area? The best thing you could do is fire all those people and use the money to pay off the ill-conceived street narrowing bill.
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crabbyappleton
Citizen
Username: Crabbyappleton
Post Number: 4
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 6, 2004 - 8:33 pm: |
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It would help if there were a supermarket. |
Soda
Citizen
Username: Soda
Post Number: 1167
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 6, 2004 - 9:30 pm: |
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Sirdar Bey:
*What sort of retail establishment have you in mind? (Based upon one of your pevious posts, I'd have to guess that you're looking to start some sort of used electronic game emporium. Am I close?)
*Have you retail background yourself?
*Are you a long-term South Orange resident? Are you a renter, or have you bought? What attracted you to our village?
*You have my sympathy. You're obviously disturbed by what you've just reported, and sound quite pessimistic about the future. |
Mary Gotz-Rother
Citizen
Username: Mary_rother
Post Number: 9
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 6, 2004 - 11:07 pm: |
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I have used the South Orange frame shop for over 18 years and I can tell you that they are talented with putting together anything, pictures, documents, etc. The shop may not look like much put there is a whole lot of talent there. |
Dave Ross
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6060
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 6, 2004 - 11:29 pm: |
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I second the high marks for the SO Frame Shop. I've been very satisfied. |
bets
Citizen
Username: Bets
Post Number: 451
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 6, 2004 - 11:37 pm: |
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Based on those two recommendations, I'll be taking some overdue framing projects there. Thanks!
[Edited to add: And I will be voting against the two incumbents running in May 2005: Stephen Steglitz and Mary Theroux. I urge all living, breathing, CARING residents to do the same. If you're not registered to vote, stop by Bunny's for a slice and a voter registration form.] |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 853
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - 10:37 am: |
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Just some comments to the first post.
First off, the village has never shut down a store nor has it ever just taken ownership of a site nor do we have any plans to do that.
Second, there are some nice retail stores in town and I think Sirdar Bey owes them an apology. For example a retail store like Urban Femme opened up more than two years ago and is doing very well. The store is bright, well lit and attracts customers from many other towns. The Dancing Goat while not retail is certainly a draw, well lit and very nicely renovated. The village sports shop is another very nice retail store and is certainly well lit. Pappilon 25(restaurant)recently opened and I think it is very well decorated. The seafood restaurant and market is working hard to make his place nice and I think it will be a welcome addition. The market will attract daytime shoppers and the restaurant will be a draw in the evening. Or how about mail boxes, etc? I always see people in there during the daytime.
If you were serious about opening a store you would have met with someone from the village or Main Street or the Chamber of Commerce to learn more rather than just make negative comments.
The owner of brushstroke repeatedly told people he was not interested in selling his building. People keep asking so he put a high price on the building. I imagine when he really wants to sell, he will adjust the price. Of course if he gets the 900k, then it means that he could get more than most believe possible.
The landlords charge rents based on what the market will bear.
I do not even know what the comment about the 100k person means.
My guess is that Sirdar Bey is actually a person who has already posted under another name who thinks that a positive contribution is to point out whatever negatives they can post and turn another thread into the same old same old.
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jmfromsouthorange
Citizen
Username: Jmfromsorange
Post Number: 10
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 8, 2004 - 11:50 am: |
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I grew up in South Orange and agree the 'downtown' stinks. When I grew up there was Grunnings, a bakery, GM Starks, Bellings, Becks, Vose Stationary, a bicycle shop, Shop rite, South Orange Music Store, Consumers, Ken's Drugs, Vllage Drugs, Village Music Shop, Pickwick Village and more. Now... Just a lot of traffic, no parking and a lot of empty stores.
And I thought the village condemned Shop-rite? |
Starr
Citizen
Username: Starr
Post Number: 18
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, January 8, 2004 - 1:41 pm: |
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Re the SO Frame Shop, I concur that they do a good job with framing projects. I have to agree with the first poster though that the store looks terrible. It's extremely cluttered and disorganized, not warm and welcoming at all.
I think the stores on SO Avenue would look a lot better if they had a more unified look to the facades, like the strip of stores by the train station.
We would like to patronize local businesses but find ourselves patronizing very few - just Cait and Abby's, On Track Cleaners, Sonny's Bagels and Haru. There's not even a decent place to buy a greeting card. (I know Rite Aid carries them but their selection isn't very impressive.) |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 858
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, January 8, 2004 - 1:54 pm: |
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Starr: The general store (on S. Orange Ave next to Bagel's Abroad) has some greeting cards as does Urban Femme (Sloan Street) as does Prescription Counter. Somehow I always find one that I like despite the fact they all have small selections.
JM: Shop-Rite actually closed on their own. Shop-Rite had been in disrepair for many years. They lost the right to use the Shop-Rite name (they changed to "village market") and they were planning to lease to a Bravo or C-Town. The village threatened to condemn unless they fixed up the store. They chose to shut down and eventually agreed to allow the village to take over the property. We are all waiting patiently for the developer who received planning board approval last May to get started with the development of the property.
By the way, everystore you mentioned above is currently occupied. In fact, there are very few empty stores.
In my opinion, Grunnings had deterioated so far that the memory of the place was far superior to the product that they were serving in the late 80's and early 90's.
The bakery became Vose Stationers which became village kids and is now the location of the Dancing Goat.
Consumers was a dump. Anything was an improvement. Village drugs was a wonderful store and I was sorry to see the owners sell but they were ready to retire and there are very few independent drug stores left (in the country). Pickwick village closed both his shops (he had one in Montclair too).
I have read minutes of trustee meetings from the 60's and parking has always been a problem. Despite the fact there are far more spaces today, it is still an issue. |
Starr
Citizen
Username: Starr
Post Number: 19
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, January 8, 2004 - 7:14 pm: |
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Mark - Thank you for that info! I went into South Mountain General Store after reading your post and bought two greeting cards. The selection was surprisingly good. I didn't realize they carried cards. |
jmfromsouthorange
Citizen
Username: Jmfromsorange
Post Number: 16
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 8, 2004 - 8:21 pm: |
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mrosner-my mistake about the shop-rite. i and a lot of people i know, thought the village did closed them down. you're right they were a mess.
i think you misunderstood me when i named the old time stores i did. i wasn't saying those buildings were empty, i was saying there use to be a lot of great stores.
parking might have been a problem, but traffic on south orange ave is now a nightmare! to be honest, i much rather shop in maplewood!
does south orange still have the pet store on village plaza? |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 863
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 9, 2004 - 9:30 am: |
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The pet store is now chinese take-out.
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SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 255
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 9, 2004 - 9:46 am: |
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And VERY GOOD chinese take out! NJ Pets on the corner of Valley & Third is a fine pet store with courteous, helpful employees. |
Waldo
Citizen
Username: Discowaldo
Post Number: 4
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 9, 2004 - 1:42 pm: |
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Hi, I'm relatively new to the area and I was just curious to why there are no large name fast food places in South Orange. I'm not saying that we need any, its just that I'm from an area where these places are seen everywhere and it was just different from what I used to. I realize that there are some located out of town but from my understanding I hear that most of them are in not so nice areas. Just curious thanx... |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 866
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 9, 2004 - 1:47 pm: |
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Most towns in the area including S. Orange and Maplewood have an ordinance that makes it difficult for a fast food place to open, especially in the downtown areas.
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mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 678
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 9, 2004 - 1:51 pm: |
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Can we create a similar ordinance for beauty supply stores, dry cleaners and nail salons???  |
Waldo
Citizen
Username: Discowaldo
Post Number: 5
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 9, 2004 - 1:54 pm: |
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Is there a specific reason for these ordinances? I have heard that some places complain about more traffic problems and increased littering around areas with fast food restaurants. Once again, just curious.  |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 869
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 9, 2004 - 2:21 pm: |
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Waldo: I was not on the BOT when the ordinances were passed but I think you picked two of the major reasons that were given at the meetings when it was discussed in full.
By the way, a fast food establishment can apply for a variance if they think there is some reason why the village should allow their establishment at a specific location.
You will note there is a lot about this type of ordinance discussed on MOL when KFC was considering opening a store on Springfield Ave. You might want to do a search to read some of the discussions. Mapelwood and S. Orange have very similar ordinances regarding fast food places. |
Waldo
Citizen
Username: Discowaldo
Post Number: 6
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 9, 2004 - 2:28 pm: |
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Thanx, I'll look into that. |
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