New coffee shop opening in SO

Or it may be already open.

RIGHT. NEXT. DOOR. to Jackie & Son's.

Is it me or is that a peculiar location? 

I noticed that as well. It does seem strange. They've been open for a little while. 

They don't show up on a Google search (I can't remember the name). Maybe I will stop in and check the place out. It might be distinct enough from J&S to be viable in that location. 

I believe it's called Elitist. Apparently they also sell jewelry and art. At least that's what a friend reported from a walk-by this morning. 

Yeah. Elitist coffee. They're either incredibly dumb or incredibly smart. Either way, that corner gets much more foot traffic thanks to Jackie & Sons, and if J&S are full and you need a coffee, there's a place literally right next door. This is the old Burger King model.

I thought THIS guy was the old Burger King model...

I imagine it's a bit awkward when the proprietors see each other. Seriously I'm all for free enterprise and all but if I were Jackie I would be like what the actual (expletive deleted). 

Elitist Coffee actually signed for its space on South Orange Ave. before Jackie & Sons. Jackie & Sons managed to open earlier than Elitist.

June 29, 2017: https://www.placenj.com/2017/06/new-coffee-shop-coming-to-south-orange.html

eta - It's great that that block is seeing so much activity.  

My anger would be with the landlord --- and why when you sign a lease ask for an exclusive on your type of business.  

From a yelp review it seems like Elitist is more of a coffee hangout. Jackie and Son is a Mediterranean restaurant that serves coffee and pastries.

This seems more like having a Starbucks open near Village Coffee in Maplewood. There might well be demand for both.

mrincredible said:
From a yelp review it seems like Elitist is more of a coffee hangout. Jackie and Son is a Mediterranean restaurant that serves coffee and pastries.
This seems more like having a Starbucks open near Village Coffee in Maplewood. There might well be demand for both.

Starbucks in the Village looks quite a bit like study hall if you go there after school or on weekends.  

From what I've gathered Elitist is a coffee-first establishment and a Jackie and Son is a food-first establishment. At Elitist they have some food to go with the coffee, at Jackie and Son they have some coffee to go with your meal.

From what I've heard the coffee is quite good. I haven't been there yet, since I'm not a huge coffee fan, but we do go to Jackie and Son for breakfast often enough.

mrincredible said:
From a yelp review it seems like Elitist is more of a coffee hangout. Jackie and Son is a Mediterranean restaurant that serves coffee and pastries.
This seems more like having a Starbucks open near Village Coffee in Maplewood. There might well be demand for both.

 On a short term basis yes Village Coffee and Starbucks have existed in proximity.   I notice that when people enter Village Coffee,  they are smiling as if they are with a friend.  Most everyone greets the owner, even staff by name.  He greets probably 80 per cent of his guests by name and inquires as to their families and activities.  Having had tea at Starbucks in South Orange,  Montclair and Hershey Pennsylvania......something I never saw from a Barrista.

Interesting,  I have heard about the seating in  Maplewood Starbucks.  People are saying it is sort of communal..........coaches, tables for four etc.  Village Coffee is getting some of the Starbucks customer who crave that which is the basis for many in a coffeehouse.

Also of course Village Coffee is a restaurant featuring many style omelettes....try number 14......Mexican and Indian dishes as well as sandwiches, wraps etc.  Home fries are made with turmeric and are addictive.

Tell them you are a friend of Author.  They will inquire what is wrong with you ?

wow people, a new coffee shop. You folks talk about it as if you are wearing smoking jackets and sporting a waxed moustache. Come down to earth folks, it's a coffee shop already!!!

I don’t LOVE the food at village coffee but I love that it exists and always enjoy the experience. That is why I keep

Going.  I have NEVER gotten anything at Starbucks except gift cards.  . And I do not plan on doing so hate their coffee

ticee1 said:
You folks talk about it as if you are wearing smoking jackets and sporting a waxed moustache. 

I tried that once and regretted it. When my jacket was smoking, my mustache melted.

ticee1 said:
wow people, a new coffee shop. You folks talk about it as if you are wearing smoking jackets and sporting a waxed moustache. Come down to earth folks, it's a coffee shop already!!!

 Over 50 per cent of adults drink coffee.  The mom and pop coffee shop on the corner has morphed into more of the European mode.........that is a place to slowly enjoy coffee and meet with friends.

Can't tell you how many business meetings or committee meeting I have witnessed at Village Coffee

Heard one today as two fellas tried to talk a woman into investing in an IPO.

And it will go on and improve.

If this means little to one.......coffee to go is always available.

For crying out loud! Why all the cynicism, criticism and seriously bad Karma??! It’s a great new place in town to meet for coffee etc and the owners are lovely. Every business has something different to offer our town. Isn’t that what we want? Why not just support them and wish them well? A little kindness goes a long way. 

I can highly recommend the place: very friendly staff, great coffee, nice pastries and great atmosphere. Go try for yourself

Looks great. There's also another shop opening in Maplewood on Elmwood at Boyden and Orchard

https://truesalvagecafe.com/?fbclid=IwAR35H4AVq_EQbT9P_9BiG1Z7N3uG6dS2Q3p8Sb_ieS5g8ORKzFX6NrwbLlE

Coffee shops are becoming the nail salons of the 21st century.

yahooyahoo said:
Coffee shops are becoming the nail salons of the 21st century.

 They are the things that cannot be Amazon'd to your door.

Oh I hope that True Salvage Cafe does well. Lots of people live within walking distance from that spot.

I'm hopeful that all these places find success. Yeah, Elitist and Jackie and Son are right next to each other but they seem pretty distinct. 

There has to be room in the market for them.  Starbucks is always packed.  I hope they all do well.

I'd just like to say how lucky you folks are that you have a downtown with interesting new businesses, and venerable old ones, that you can talk about and that get you excited to visit.

I live in WO, and while it has a number of great shops, there is no neighborhood to them. They're places you go to individually by car, rather than on a street where you can stroll and spend some time perusing. We're missing something here that you guys have got.

drummerboy said:
I'd just like to say how lucky you folks are that you have a downtown with interesting new businesses, and venerable old ones, that you can talk about and that get you excited to visit.
I live in WO, and while it has a number of great shops, there is no neighborhood to them. They're places you go to individually by car, rather than on a street where you can stroll and spend some time perusing. We're missing something here that you guys have got.

 Yes. I noticed that when we lived in W.O. There are three distinct shopping areas, but each is at the border of W.O. and another town: Essex Green, Main Street, and Pleasant Valley Way. Somehow none of them seemed like going "into town." The Main Street area meets the minimum definition, but just never felt like a place to spend time.

drummerboy said:
I'd just like to say how lucky you folks are that you have a downtown with interesting new businesses, and venerable old ones, that you can talk about and that get you excited to visit.
I live in WO, and while it has a number of great shops, there is no neighborhood to them. They're places you go to individually by car, rather than on a street where you can stroll and spend some time perusing. We're missing something here that you guys have got.

 People who can take issue  with anything?

tjohn said:

drummerboy said:
I'd just like to say how lucky you folks are that you have a downtown with interesting new businesses, and venerable old ones, that you can talk about and that get you excited to visit.
I live in WO, and while it has a number of great shops, there is no neighborhood to them. They're places you go to individually by car, rather than on a street where you can stroll and spend some time perusing. We're missing something here that you guys have got.

 People who can take issue  with anything?

 I was going to ask: what do you complain about then?

Yes, so much of suburbia seems dysfunctional, and Maplewood is a nice exception. When we moved in, we chose it because people do walk. Not enough, but some. And when people walk, you run into people. Or at least you pass them. It's better on foot than in a car.