| Author | Message | ||
     SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 281 Registered: 9-2003 |
Jeff - we used to have a lovely old-fashioned "hardware and more" store where the Blockbuster now resides - enter Home Depot......{{{sigh}}} Something like the Eclectic Cafe in Montclair would be good - a variety of music/artists, comfy sofas/chairs, pastries & coffee. My own desire would be a good Irish/Celtic shop so I don't have to schlep to Cranford or Summit. | ||
| shh Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 863 Registered: 5-2001 |
The area desperately needs a good produce market! A place w/ some prepared foods too. The place in the Millburn MAll is "reopening", but I've been in there twice this week and no broccoli rabe! | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 399 Registered: 3-2003 |
pizzaz: I noticed this morning the "for sale" signs were not on the windows. Based on your post, has the new owner decided not to sell but instead rent out the space? | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 902 Registered: 4-2002 |
SoOrLady: Isn't the Dancing Goat a little like the eclectic cafe? There are very few independent hardware stores left anywhere (I assume Home Depot is to blame). NJanow: The old owners of the 5 & 10 in maplewood said that if they were not at retirement age, they probably would have had to close anyway since business was just now what it used to be. I do not think Woolworth's exists anywhere any longer either. | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 283 Registered: 9-2003 |
I thought the Dancing Goat only offered Jazz - the Ecletic Cafe is more - well, ecletic and offers different music styles - we've heard both "plugged" and "unplugged" there. And - I thought the Maplewood 5&10 closed because the landlord raised the rent to a level that they felt was unfair. "Everyone" shopped in that store - it couldn't have been for lack of business. | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 427 Registered: 8-2002 |
considering the Sickley location is right at the train station -- a *really good* convenience store -- yes, the basic coffee and bagels, for sure -- but for me far more attractive -- good prepared dinners, maybe even lunches (and kids lunches for the next day!). fresh produce, milk, etc -- all the things that if I could buy before getting in my car, I probably would. a great selection of newspapers and magazines (and this could be at the "coming soon gourmet market," though, too) maybe there is a way to combine this with a book store? yes, my practical side would love a hardware store like the one in West Orange (near the Edison buildings) -- that place is incredible! i do agree that a club type place could be appealing -- but then we need better restaurants and the SOPAC to offer more destinations in total. Pete | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 903 Registered: 4-2002 |
SoOrlady: The Dancing Goat definitely has different types of music but Jazz might be there more often that other types. I know the owner will consider other music if there is any kind of demand and he can get them to play there. I think they did get a large increase in rent, but when I asked they said they did not see the business lasting anyway. Maybe they needed to redecorate or modernize, but then again they could not find anyone to buy the store either. I think it would be great for an old fashioned 5 & 10 to come back, but I don't think I would risk my savings to see if it would be successful. Pete: It seems like we have plenty of places to buy coffee or to get a newspaper already. I really wish we had a hardware store. I always want to Sickley. I can't remember the last time I saw a new one open anywhere (other then a mega store). | ||
| Neen Citizen Username: Neen Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2004 |
I vote for a produce market with some prepared foods! Every night when I get off the train I keep wishing there was a place to stop to pick up some fresh vegetables. | ||
| Capngargi Citizen Username: Capngargi Post Number: 33 Registered: 9-2003 |
a prepared gormet foods market - again, like Balducci's, Fairway, Zabars, GOURMET GARAGE (not yet mentioned) - would be SUPER by the train station b/c there are enough coffee shops. A "non-chain store" hardware store and real news stand (something along the lines of Hudson News) would be great too. I think more "nightspots" would be greatly appreciated. In addition (in conjunction with this), a real diner that is open later hours (with a delivery man) would also be GREAT and probably be frequented often by the "after bar" crowd on the weekends. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 906 Registered: 4-2002 |
Capngargi: Gourmet Garage was discussed in another thread sometime back. They look to rent space that is ready to go without having to make an investment. We tried to broker a deal with them but they stated they were looking for a more densely populated area in NJ. More nightspots would be great but the ones that are open already need to be supported and show other potential investors there is a market. Based on history in suburbia, there is very little market for nightspots other than towns which are very densely populated with a younger single crowd (i.e. Hoboken). Although the news stand on Village plaza could stand some renovations, they have a fairly large selection of magazines (I was very surprised at how many were there). I know Blue Moon did try staying open later for a while but there was not enough business to justify the later hours. I thought they delivered. | ||
| Neen Citizen Username: Neen Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2004 |
Where do the high school kids in South Orange go for a late night bagel and coffee? They must go somewhere after spending the evening drinking in the reservation (I was so dismayed to see the remnants of their festivities littering the Reservation!) | ||
| Jeff Alexander Citizen Username: Jalexander Post Number: 41 Registered: 5-2003 |
I have got to go with the hardware store.. Home Depot is too darn crowded. I would definitely utilize a local hardware store, especially one that provided contractor/handyman services.. Maybe I'm just dreaming.. I remember that old hardware store.. thought it was great. I also miss the Book Stop. I could go with a produce market also, but what happens to that when (IF) the supermarket ever opens practically across the street. For the most part, I can't ever see myself being a big user of downtown SO.. the parking is a disaster and outside of the dry cleaner, The Resevoir, and the Ice Cream store, there really isn't much down there of interest for me - at least not enough to battle the parking. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 907 Registered: 4-2002 |
I find it so easy to park in the evening in S. Orange that I just don't get the complaint. I often pull in the NJ transit lot and have always found a space - even on a weekday afternoon. Ok, so who knows someone who wants to open a hardware store? I will do whatever I can to help make sure the village does whatever possible to help get it going and keep it going. | ||
| NCJanow(akaLibraryLady) Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 1150 Registered: 5-2001 |
I'm with you Mark, I really have no trouble parking in downtown. Maybe because I am willing to put a dime in the meter and walk one or two blocks. Anyway, rather than go to Home Depot, I use Orange Valley Hardware in Orange as much as I can. They always seem to have have I need, and it rarely is blisterpacked. I went in there at Thanksgiving loooking for a replacement plug for a 50 year old roaster and in a minute, a new one was in my hand. However, I doubt a store like that would survive in South Orange. The sale of nails and screws would not be sufficent to support the high cost of rent and maintainence in this community. NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it. | ||
| chocoholic Citizen Username: Shrink Post Number: 88 Registered: 2-2003 |
I don't mind going to downtown SO. Maybe because I am a transplant from Manhattan but I find the parking relatively easy. The meters are only TEN CENTS, for petes sake and you don't have to pay at night. I have read posts about others going to West Orange for dry cleaning and the like. My spouse and family use and like what is here, Dry Cleaners, Blue Moon, magazine shop, Dancing Goat, Starbucks, Cold Stone, Blockbusters, Sonny's Bagel, (some of the best bagels I have ever eaten West of the Hudson), the 2 Chinese restaurants, Lotus Tree naturals ( Nice hand made toiletries). yes, I think Maplewood's downtown is a cuter, but my spouse declares that " There's not enough there!" I think that SO downtown has the potential to have more stores and handle more traffic, but the planners should think about what can be instead what we would all like it to be. I see SO as more like the nicer part of Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. Accordingly, I notice that the businesses that tend to do well are resturants, and small places that offer entertainment. So, we know that people like to eat here and have quiet entertainment. We could cater to that demand in that we could have a gourmet food shop, a book store that hosts lectures, book readings and poetry nights would do well. The old furniture shop does decently, so similar to Montclair there seems to be a demand here for antiques. We should cater to that demand. The nails shops do well... There is clearly a demand for a sort of personal grooming shops like Day Spas, etc. No. SO will not look like Maplewood's downtown, it could actually be better, have more stuff, and have less of a problem with parking | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 908 Registered: 4-2002 |
NJanow: They would have to sell small appliances to make it go. The problem with that is that most people want the lowest price and will drive to circuit city/best buy/costco, etc. to save a dollar or two. That is the reason downtowns are all becoming restaurant/food places and very little retail (I know threre are exceptions, but for the most part in suburban NJ/Westchester/, etc). It is the same for stationery supply stores which all gave up competing against Staples or Office Depot, etc. I hope the next time someone needs sneakers or a tennis racket they consider going to the village sport shop even though the selection might not be as big as a place like Dick's. Otherwise they will be gone too. Same can be said for any retail store that is in the village. | ||
| lnt Citizen Username: Lnt Post Number: 18 Registered: 6-2003 |
I'd love to see a nice bookstore downtown. Maybe one with a little cafe... | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 431 Registered: 8-2002 |
the kids go to MAPLEWOOD! and frequently, so do I. South Orange village offers nothing to do at all for them. I hope that SOPAC does not have entirely esoteric programs that families and kids won't have movies and other venues to attend. Pete | ||
| guessagain Citizen Username: Guessagain Post Number: 9 Registered: 12-2003 |
They go to MAPLEWOOD where they hang out on the street corners and cause threads to be written like previous ones in the Maplewood section on how to get the kids to STOP hanging out. My kid goes to the Dancing Goat for hot choc after the movies. Nice atmosphere, good drinks and he's off the streets. | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 433 Registered: 8-2002 |
ok -- they go to Maplewood because there are reasonably priced movies and reasonably priced drinks/snakcs (even if the place is a bit dumpy). they go because there are lots of places to eat, get a drink that are not expensive (pizza, ice cream, coffee, bagels, etc). they go because there are a lot of inexpensive options very close by. they go because its more of a gathering place atmosphere. they go because their parents can usually find convenient parking. they hang out because their parents don't set limits or don't know where thy are... it astonishes me how many of teens do not have to check in when they come over to our house, or if i drive them someplace. and then there are those friends who seem to think (on school nights) that its ok to stay until whenever... Pete -- wearing the mantel of "mean father" with pride! |
