What's new and Coming Soon to Maplewood?

max_weisenfeld said:

Personally, I support mid-rise housing-over-retail on Springfield Ave, and hope that the whole Maplewood run fills in, with all those empty lots getting small apartment buildings (and folks, these are small apartment buildings) with storefronts.

For what it's worth, this is my neighborhood.  I can see Walgreens from where I sit right now.  So this is a YIMBY issue for me.

When we moved here 30 years ago, Springfield Ave was a dying strip of too-small car dealers and empty storefronts.  Restaurants, except Gary's, would come and go every two years in some slots.  Now Springfield is becoming a viable urban byway, with a self-supporting ecosystem of desirable small businesses such as the bike shops, Gage and Tolner, clothing stores, and General Store Cooperative; services like yoga studios, 1978 Art Center, and salons; and over a dozen restaurants.

These businesses are supported in part by an increase in adult population housed in what they clearly find to be attractive apartments that appear to offend some MOL poster's bougie taste.  In the meantime, they replace eyesores like defunct used car lots and the Verjus building with a consistent streetscape of 3 and 4 story useful buildings.  Don't get me wrong, I loved Verjus, at least what was inside, but the building?  You really care about the building?  Are we going to start a preservation movement for the Sherwin Williams store next?

The average house in Maplewood is $655,000!!  The market has priced everyone except upper middle class folk right out of town.  The diversity we prized, that many of us moved here for, is fast dissolving.  Teachers and town employees cannot afford to live here.  We are compelled by court order to provide more affordable housing, and we are compelled by ethics as well.  These apartments make it possible for retirees and people just starting out to live here as well as providing a level of economic diversity.  Buildings like this are necessary and proper, and I say keep them coming.

 Amen!

I do wonder a few years from now when they look back on this time what the architects are going to think about their multi-surface facade pseudo California beach Mid Century 2020s building style. (I know you can’t regulate taste, and it’s a highly personal, aesthetic thing, but I say, “Yuck.”)

max_weisenfeld said:

Personally, I support mid-rise housing-over-retail on Springfield Ave, and hope that the whole Maplewood run fills in, with all those empty lots getting small apartment buildings (and folks, these are small apartment buildings) with storefronts.

For what it's worth, this is my neighborhood.  I can see Walgreens from where I sit right now.  So this is a YIMBY issue for me.

When we moved here 30 years ago, Springfield Ave was a dying strip of too-small car dealers and empty storefronts.  Restaurants, except Gary's, would come and go every two years in some slots.  Now Springfield is becoming a viable urban byway, with a self-supporting ecosystem of desirable small businesses such as the bike shops, Gage and Tolner, clothing stores, and General Store Cooperative; services like yoga studios, 1978 Art Center, and salons; and over a dozen restaurants.

These businesses are supported in part by an increase in adult population housed in what they clearly find to be attractive apartments that appear to offend some MOL poster's bougie taste.  In the meantime, they replace eyesores like defunct used car lots and the Verjus building with a consistent streetscape of 3 and 4 story useful buildings.  Don't get me wrong, I loved Verjus, at least what was inside, but the building?  You really care about the building?  Are we going to start a preservation movement for the Sherwin Williams store next?

The average house in Maplewood is $655,000!!  The market has priced everyone except upper middle class folk right out of town.  The diversity we prized, that many of us moved here for, is fast dissolving.  Teachers and town employees cannot afford to live here.  We are compelled by court order to provide more affordable housing, and we are compelled by ethics as well.  These apartments make it possible for retirees and people just starting out to live here as well as providing a level of economic diversity.  Buildings like this are necessary and proper, and I say keep them coming.

Thank you.... I remember all too well. The auto repair shops. The gas station. The car dealerships. The tarot card reader. The ice house. People were complaining about the church of Latter Day Saints, the police headquarters, the bump out sidewalk, the liquor store... I remember the terrible “sage” diner also. 

mrincredible said:

I like the idea of pocket parks, but I'm not sure where one would best serve the community. Maplecrest Park is there and the green space around the Hilton Branch library.

If they're going to build something on the Verjus site it would be great if they could do kind of a split restaurant. Maybe a burger and beer joint on one side with some kid-friendly menu items (you know, lighter beers like Rolling Rock), and a higher-end dining experience on the other side with your specialty cocktails and truffle fries and neat nachos. 

There are hundreds of families within walking distance of that spot who could be a loyal customer base if the price is right.

I also wonder if they'll plan in some kind of outdoor dining space. This pandemic may be under control by the time they open, but memories are long and pandemics have a way of surprising us.

 Divide the space into 3: $20 hamburgers $12 hamburgers and $6 hamburgers. The $6 hamburger space should include Mac & cheese and cheeseburgers. 1st and 2nd space are likely to be kid free.

max_weisenfeld said:

Personally, I support mid-rise housing-over-retail on Springfield Ave, and hope that the whole Maplewood run fills in, with all those empty lots getting small apartment buildings (and folks, these are small apartment buildings) with storefronts.

For what it's worth, this is my neighborhood.  I can see Walgreens from where I sit right now.  So this is a YIMBY issue for me.

When we moved here 30 years ago, Springfield Ave was a dying strip of too-small car dealers and empty storefronts.  Restaurants, except Gary's, would come and go every two years in some slots.  Now Springfield is becoming a viable urban byway, with a self-supporting ecosystem of desirable small businesses such as the bike shops, Gage and Tolner, clothing stores, and General Store Cooperative; services like yoga studios, 1978 Art Center, and salons; and over a dozen restaurants.

These businesses are supported in part by an increase in adult population housed in what they clearly find to be attractive apartments that appear to offend some MOL poster's bougie taste.  In the meantime, they replace eyesores like defunct used car lots and the Verjus building with a consistent streetscape of 3 and 4 story useful buildings.  Don't get me wrong, I loved Verjus, at least what was inside, but the building?  You really care about the building?  Are we going to start a preservation movement for the Sherwin Williams store next?

The average house in Maplewood is $655,000!!  The market has priced everyone except upper middle class folk right out of town.  The diversity we prized, that many of us moved here for, is fast dissolving.  Teachers and town employees cannot afford to live here.  We are compelled by court order to provide more affordable housing, and we are compelled by ethics as well.  These apartments make it possible for retirees and people just starting out to live here as well as providing a level of economic diversity.  Buildings like this are necessary and proper, and I say keep them coming.

 Louder for the people in the back!

Anyone try Scratch Taco yet?

https://scratchtaco.com/

Don’t think it has been mentioned here, but I read elsewhere that a liquor license has be transferred to Maplewood Theater. Sounds like the plan is to do something like the New Parkway Theater in Oakland.

Could be BIG!

jimmurphy said:

Don’t think it has been mentioned here, but I read elsewhere that a liquor license has be transferred to Maplewood Theater. Sounds like the plan is to do something like the New Parkway Theater in Oakland.

Could be BIG!

 It was announced during yesterday's TC meeting that two bids were received for the liquor license.  The movie theater group's was the higher bid.  The license has not yet been awarded to them since the approval process is not yet complete.

jamie said:

Anyone try Scratch Taco yet?

Intended to for dinner tonight, but a sign on the door around 6 said no tacos. Sold out, maybe? Don’t know.

I called them on Cinco de Mayo.  They said no tacos because of technical difficulties in the kitchen.  Tried again tonight -- they won't be serving tacos until next weekend.

Thanks for the details, Elle_Cee.

Taco Technical Difficulty would be a good band name.   Not as good as The Flying Burrito Brothers, though.

Were they able to get the kitchen glitches worked out?

Don't you think it's about time for a KFC on Springfield?

rcarter31 said:

What about the apothecary on Springfield and Yale??? Our first legal "joint"

 "They'll stone you when you're trying to get home,

And they'll stone you when you're there all alone,

Everybody must get stoned"

Any updates?  I heard there was some possibilities for the King's location.

jamie said:

Any updates?  I heard there was some possibilities for the King's location.

 there is a cardboard sign in the window that says Maplewood is getting a grocery store again.  but until there's an official announcement, who knows for sure?

It was announced at last evening's TC meeting that Greenway had signed a lease for the former Kings location in the Village.  The business will be a full service supermarket similar to the offerings at Kings.

Workers in there tearing up flooring as I walked by an hour ago.

Cool, looks like they made a similar move into Ridgewood:

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/ridgewood/sections/food-and-drink/articles/specialty-grocery-store-green-way-markets-opens-in-ridgewood-0fac3fc3-80ad-4298-8825-0a4b7c79d74e

Website: https://www.greenwaymarkets.com/

DaveSchmidt said:

Workers in there tearing up flooring as I walked by an hour ago.

 Well, knock on the door and tell ‘em to hurry up.

I assume the Greenway cold craft beer isn't going to apply in Maplewood.

jamie said:

Cool, looks like they made a similar move into Ridgewood:

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/ridgewood/sections/food-and-drink/articles/specialty-grocery-store-green-way-markets-opens-in-ridgewood-0fac3fc3-80ad-4298-8825-0a4b7c79d74e

Website: https://www.greenwaymarkets.com/

 looking forward to it!

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

 Well, knock on the door and tell ‘em to hurry up.

Not while they had those tools to wield. Maybe when they’re mopping.

I've seen people in the former King's in the village this week. Is anything planned to go in there?

Just read above.

galileo said:

Just read above.

 Currently mocking myself! I swear those comments weren't there when I posted. Much too young for this sort of senior moment. My bad.

More on Green Way Market:

http://maplewoodvillagenj.com/uncategorized/green-way-markets-signs-lease-for-maplewood-village-location