| Author | Message | ||
     Neen Citizen Username: Neen Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2004 |
I am new to South Orange, but prior to moving there I was looking at real estate for quite some time. During the last few years there has been a "Coming Soon Gourmet Market" on the empty Village Market site. How soon is "soon"? Also, to me this looks like a business bound to boom if we could get a Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or a Fairway to open there, with hundreds of commuters pouring off the train looking to put dinner on their table as soon as possible. Can someone fill me in? Thanks! | ||
| gozerbrown Citizen Username: Gozerbrown Post Number: 292 Registered: 3-2002 |
As a resident for two years, we've also been looking at that sign. Follow this board for a couple of days (or go to any meeting) and you will soon see "how soon is soon". | ||
| bets Citizen Username: Bets Post Number: 461 Registered: 6-2001  |
Never? There was a story in the Sunday Star Ledger about East Hanover's negotiations to bring a Wegman's to that town. It only took them 18 months (though it's not a done deal yet). Here's the link: http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1073802799177870.xml?starledger? nmr At least that town is open about the process and willing to name the potential developer, unlike South Orange. And a 36-acre site seems much more suitable to a residential development as well, not to mention its hazardous-waste free condition. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 892 Registered: 4-2002 |
We could have any market we wanted if we had the room for a 100,000 square foot supermarket. Wegmans' stated they are not considering the E. Hanover site. We turned down a 50,000 Sq. foot supermarket (A & P and that was stated in public) because there is no way possible that the shop-rite location (or Beifus) could accomodate that size market. That is the main reason that the Shop-rite(well, really village market) did not want to stay in S. Orange. And Bets, we named the potential developers. They were at the planning board meetings. Did you not go? Whole Foods in in Milburn and stated publically that S. ORange was too close to that store for them to consider this location. Trader Joes' while a wonderful store is not truly a supermarket. I would love for them to open here but in an email to me over two years ago when I contacted them they stated they were not looking to open another store in Essex County but would consider us if their plans changed. | ||
| Neen Citizen Username: Neen Post Number: 2 Registered: 1-2004 |
Has anyone looked into Fairway? They are an amazing market on the upper west side of Manhattan, however they have opened a store in Plainview, NY (a suburb in Long Island). They are amazing and would be a perfect fit. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 893 Registered: 4-2002 |
The current developer has approval from the planning board. He has a supermarket operator. The developer has two years from receiving planning board approval to start construction (that is the law and non-negotiable). If he can swing getting Fairway to agree to move in to a small space, then that would be great. Since the developer is the one putting up the money (over twenty million dollars) he has a major say in who he is going to rent out the space to. For those of you who don't know, most supemarket chains look for large spaces (over 50,000 square feet). The Shop-Rite site is about 14,000 square feet. Most small supermarkets are seen as a draw and a destination so they usually get a significant break in the rent. When Fairway first opened in the city it took over a failing pioneer grocery store and changed the way westsiders shopped. They have since expanded. Clearly it would be great if they would consider doing a small market again. However this is not NYC so the volume would be significantly lower and only they can determine if it would work. They know about this location and they are considering opening in NJ. My bet is they will open a significantly larger market than 14,000 sq. feet. Wegman's would be wonderful too, but we do not have any location that is remotely close to their 100,000 square foot minimum (well maybe we could have them take over SHU?). | ||
| Mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 692 Registered: 5-2001  |
Does Wegman's require dugouts?  | ||
| Neen Citizen Username: Neen Post Number: 3 Registered: 1-2004 |
Is there anything that would prevent someone from buying the space and expanding? Does the lot limit the store to that size? | ||
| Capngargi Citizen Username: Capngargi Post Number: 31 Registered: 9-2003 |
Tracey Randinelli of the NJ.com South Orange Weblog suggested putting Balducci's there. Balducci's, an upscale gourmet market, used to be on 9th Street & 6th Avenue in Manhattan and she found that they are looking for a "new home". I believe they may only have one other market in NYC. It would probably fit in the space that is alloted on S.O. Ave. See here entry for December 6, 2003 for more details: http://www.nj.com/weblogs/southorange/ Yes I have been living here fore the past 6month and I have been very disappointed in all the "coming soon" signs and empty spaces on S.O. Ave and especially SOPAC. However, I am unsure or unaware at least, of how I can help the situation instead of just complaining. | ||
| Neen Citizen Username: Neen Post Number: 4 Registered: 1-2004 |
I agree that complaining is not the solution. If anyone knows of any sort of lobbying efforts that might help speed up the process, please let me know. I am happy to help "brighten" up the downtown. | ||
| NCJanow(akaLibraryLady) Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 1146 Registered: 5-2001 |
And while we are at it, why not get Zabar's to open a market as well? Come on, Balducci's in SOuth Orange, Oh I am sure that they would jump at the chance  . If we are going make suggestions, make them reasonable ones. I'd love a Waldbaums, (if they would come to NJ) or Fairway. Maybe even a real Shoprite (not Village Markets but Wakefern)NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it. | ||
| NCJanow(akaLibraryLady) Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 1147 Registered: 5-2001 |
I'm sorry, I'm usually not so nasty. NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it. | ||
| Mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 695 Registered: 5-2001 |
What I don't understand is why weren't all of these issues FINALIZED before the property was taken off the tax rolls for 3 years (& counting) and the taxpayers also left paying the bill for the interest on the $3+ million bonds? | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 424 Registered: 8-2002 |
so looking forward... has the "current" developer stopped showing interest in moving forwrad with the project? seems pretty dead in the water (in contrast, there is at least some earth moving going on at the Beifus Tundra) wouldn't it be prudent to begin getting others interested in developing that property? Pete | ||
| Paddy Citizen Username: Paddy Post Number: 149 Registered: 5-2001 |
What are the consequences to the developer if he does not begin construction on the property in two years? | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 896 Registered: 4-2002 |
Pete: the developer was still working on getting his county approval and his developer's agreement. He is scheduled to come to the trustee meeting on 01/26/04 and give an update. He has stated he expects construction to start this spring. MHD: Read my past posts on the subject. | ||
| pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 45 Registered: 11-2001 |
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what type of business or businesses would be most appropriate in the former Sickley Bros. building? The new owners have asked me to poll local persons for ideas. Someone suggested a jazz club, perhaps a produce market. What do you recommend? | ||
| Jeff Alexander Citizen Username: Jalexander Post Number: 40 Registered: 5-2003 |
I'd love to see a local ACE type hardware store, though I think that is a pipe dream... | ||
| Mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 700 Registered: 5-2001 |
Since the Dancing Goat already covers Jazz...how about a "rock club" like Maxwell's, The Bottom Line, Stone Pony etc? I think there are still alot of young people around here that want to go out at night, but don't want to have to go to Hoboken, NYC or Montclair. | ||
| NCJanow(akaLibraryLady) Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 1148 Registered: 5-2001 |
a 5&10 type store where you can get just about anything. We use to have one in South Orange (and Maplewood, too) but the owners of each retired. Don't know if that type of store is viable, still. A produce market like those on upper Broadway would be wonderful as well! NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it. |
