Another liquor store on Springfield Ave

I attended a public hearing before The Wine Barrel opened where residents warned of loitering, higher crime, and even more murders.  “And what about the children who live near there??!!”   It was all I (and Soul29) could do, not the laugh about the direction of the conversation. It felt like the Music Man warning about a billiards parlor. 

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I have been at regular shopper at Joe Canal's on RT 1, Woodbridge.

They carry a full line of quality wines to rival that of Total Wines in West Orange.

In the past, I had to go to three different wine stores to purchase what we like to have.

Joe Canals has EVERY wine we drink regularly and at prices competitive with Total; Wines.

Like Total, Canals is a wine/spirits supermarket.

I can't understand why some folks think that a place selling alcoholic beverages will have drunks wandering around the streets and dumping bottles!! .

flatbush said:

I can't understand why some folks think that a place selling alcoholic beverages will have drunks wandering around the streets and dumping bottles!! .

 are you new to the internets?

flatbush said:

I have been at regular shopper at Joe Canal's on RT 1, Woodbridge.

They carry a full line of quality wines to rival that of Total Wines in West Orange.

In the past, I had to go to three different wine stores to purchase what we like to have.

Joe Canals has EVERY wine we drink regularly and at prices competitive with Total; Wines.

Like Total, Canals is a wine/spirits supermarket.

I can't understand why some folks think that a place selling alcoholic beverages will have drunks wandering around the streets and dumping bottles!! .

 I was going to suggest that if it was like Total Wines in West Orange or The Wine Library in Millburn it would be an asset. I like to see a large selection of champagnes. There are some good reasonably priced champagnes out there that do not show up at small liquor stores. Some very good sparklers as well. It's also fun to have the wide selection of craft beers that are featured at Total Wines. I love seasonal brews and go on treasure hunts for fun labels around Halloween. I'll take your recommendation and check it out.

ml1 said:

 except for the loitering, drunk driving and broken bottles.

 I hope they sell "Gutter Buddy" wine. Its the only stuff I can afford by the 20th of the month.

ml1 said 

except for the loitering, drunk driving and broken bottles.

Has this been a problem at other liquor stores on Springfield Ave?

I do most of my wine/liquor shopping at A&D/BuyRite on Valley Street in South Orange which is about the same distance from my Maplewood home as the SA stores.  I haven't seen this kind of problem there, but I don't hang around to observe the goings on ... I just pick up my purchases and go on my way.  And, lately, I've been having them deliver, which is awesome!

Where was the OP's outrage when Maple Chek effectively morphed from a convenience store with some liquor into a liquor store with some snacks? 

sac said:

Has this been a problem at other liquor stores on Springfield Ave?

I do most of my wine/liquor shopping at A&D/BuyRite on Valley Street in South Orange which is about the same distance from my Maplewood home as the SA stores.  I haven't seen this kind of problem there, but I don't hang around to observe the goings on ... I just pick up my purchases and go on my way.  And, lately, I've been having them deliver, which is awesome!

 I should have indicated my sarcasm.  It's a reference to a claim from the OP.

ml1 said:

mrincredible said:

 Wow. That's a large space. Could be a great addition if they have a good quality selection and decent prices.

 except for the loitering, drunk driving and broken bottles.

 And gangs. There will definitely be gangs. 

jeffl said:

I attended a public hearing before The Wine Barrel opened where residents warned of loitering, higher crime, and even more murders.  “And what about the children who live near there??!!”   It was all I (and Soul29) could do, not the laugh about the direction of the conversation. It felt like the Music Man warning about a billiards parlor. 

 True story. jeffl and I were drinking before we went, so it was extra hard to keep straight face. 

Soul, was that clarification absolutely necessary?  Those who know us would have just assumed it   

Soul_29 said:

jeffl said:

I attended a public hearing before The Wine Barrel opened where residents warned of loitering, higher crime, and even more murders.  “And what about the children who live near there??!!”   It was all I (and Soul29) could do, not the laugh about the direction of the conversation. It felt like the Music Man warning about a billiards parlor. 

 True story. jeffl and I were drinking before we went, so it was extra hard to keep straight faces 

another of those discussion threads where somebody starts it with great umbrage, and let's call it a "unique" POV, vents for a bit, and then never returns.  Trolling at its best.

Ss

Some of those businesses may have closed because of raised rents. But for a small business to succeed locally, there needs to be a strong commitment from the community to support it, and spend dollars there. I remember people sitting in Net Nomads and Cafe Meow for hours, oftentimes not even purchasing a cup of coffee. 

Joe Canal's is open. I drove (not drunk) past today. 

I did not notice any broken bottles or loitering. Or gangs, but they might have been hiding.

mrincredible said:

Joe Canal's is open. I drove (not drunk) past today. 

I did not notice any broken bottles or loitering. Or gangs, but they might have been hiding.

 I patronized Joe Canel's on Friday afternoon.

As Mr. Incredible reports, I did not have to step over broken bottles or make my way through crowds of loitering gangs. They did a nice job rehabbing the space (an abandoned car dealer/service garage). It's very roomy and bright. 

All in all, I say it's a nice option for booze. 

Soul_29 said:

jeffl said:

I attended a public hearing before The Wine Barrel opened where residents warned of loitering, higher crime, and even more murders.  “And what about the children who live near there??!!”   It was all I (and Soul29) could do, not the laugh about the direction of the conversation. It felt like the Music Man warning about a billiards parlor. 

 True story. jeffl and I were drinking before we went, so it was extra hard to keep straight face. 

You went drinking before going to a hearing about The Wine Barrel & loitering and murders? Brilliant!

Jaytee said:

STANV said:

Years ago there was an "Adult Bookstore". Now in the same area there are the Police HQ-Municipal Court and the Mormon Church.

I do not see how one more liquor store will make much of a difference. People who abuse alcohol will go to wherever they can get it. Supply does not always increase demand.

 Stanv , there was the adult movie and toys store that’s still there. Past the police on the left. Liquor stores come and go on Springfield ave all the time. I was particularly upset when the fireplace guy left and a liquor store went into that space. Maplewood does not want fast food restaurants on Springfield ave. They have been trying for years to make that area attractive for residents to go. Sadly it does not get the foot traffic. 

 Having walked Springfield Ave many times, I can tell you some of the newer buildings do a LOT more to dissuade pedestrian traffic than fast food restaurants do.  The newer tall buildings that are close to the street act like amplifier so traffic noise, already loud, becomes disruptive to the point where conversation becomes impossible when in the vicinity.

Nothing can be done now, the buildings are already there.  But the town is foolish to think that fast food restaurants will drive away foot traffic when they’re allowing buildings like those to go up.
 

spontaneous said:

 Having walked Springfield Ave many times, I can tell you some of the newer buildings do a LOT more to dissuade pedestrian traffic than fast food restaurants do.  The newer tall buildings that are close to the street act like amplifier so traffic noise, already loud, becomes disruptive to the point where conversation becomes impossible when in the vicinity.

Nothing can be done now, the buildings are already there.  But the town is foolish to think that fast food restaurants will drive away foot traffic when they’re allowing buildings like those to go up.
 

 We need a 4 lane Springfield Ave tunnel from Chancellor to Millburn Ave. 

It will happen at the same time the South Orange Avenue tunnel from Ridgewood Road to Center street gets built.

spontaneous said:

Jaytee said:

STANV said:

Years ago there was an "Adult Bookstore". Now in the same area there are the Police HQ-Municipal Court and the Mormon Church.

I do not see how one more liquor store will make much of a difference. People who abuse alcohol will go to wherever they can get it. Supply does not always increase demand.

 Stanv , there was the adult movie and toys store that’s still there. Past the police on the left. Liquor stores come and go on Springfield ave all the time. I was particularly upset when the fireplace guy left and a liquor store went into that space. Maplewood does not want fast food restaurants on Springfield ave. They have been trying for years to make that area attractive for residents to go. Sadly it does not get the foot traffic. 

 Having walked Springfield Ave many times, I can tell you some of the newer buildings do a LOT more to dissuade pedestrian traffic than fast food restaurants do.  The newer tall buildings that are close to the street act like amplifier so traffic noise, already loud, becomes disruptive to the point where conversation becomes impossible when in the vicinity.

Nothing can be done now, the buildings are already there.  But the town is foolish to think that fast food restaurants will drive away foot traffic when they’re allowing buildings like those to go up.
 

The new apartment buildings add little to no character to the Springfield Ave corridor.  I know, the corridor may have not had much character to begin with but at least it wasn't generic.  I find the restaurants and individual businesses to be far more interesting.

I'd rather have a Joe Canal's than another mixed-use apartment monstrosity that's getting a multiple-year tax abatement.

I don’t even care what they look like, it’s just the noise.  They way some of the new buildings were constructed they amplify traffic noise.  My son went to a small school that was located in the old St Joseph’s school for awhile, when we would walk there on occasion we would walk Springfield Ave from the library down to Edo’s.  There were sections where regular conversation was just impossible due to the increased noise being bounced back on you from those buildings.

I have always felt a combo KFC and Coffee place would be perfect for Springfield Ave...

Best Regards

Ron Carter

;>)

rcarter31 said:

I have always felt a combo KFC and Coffee place would be perfect for Springfield Ave...

Best Regards

Ron Carter

;>)

 Dunno. I've always been partial to Popeye's.

Kenya's Finest Coffee?

The new liquor store is owned by the same guy that owns Morgans, or whatever the new name is on Irvington Ave in SO. Nice enough guy.

KFC in Maplewood would be a dream come true. Nothing against Popeye’s, but those KFC mashed potatoes...Oh, my...

We almost had a KFC on SA about 20 years ago. The neighbors went ape **** and got the whole thing shot down. Result was the anti-QSR zoning ordinance in Maplewood. 

COMMUNITIES; Fast Food? Not So Fast, Town Says

ml1 said:

We almost had a KFC on SA about 20 years ago. The neighbors went ape **** and got the whole thing shot down. Result was the anti-QSR zoning ordinance in Maplewood. 

 I seem to recall that rcarter31 led that charge.  His above post should be interpreted with that in mind.