A little behind schedule on this but here’s a rundown of some comings and goings around town on the retail front during the fourth quarter of 2015:
Kennedy Jewelers again moved to its downtown location, taking over the corner space and Irving and East Cherry streets, after five years in Park Square, at Elm Avenue and Irving Street. The jewelry store previously was at the corner of Fulton Street and East Milton Avenue for a decade, and before that on Main Street. This will be the jewelry store’s sixth downtown location in 37 years.
The new Irving/East Cherry Street space has been vacant for some time but previously was occupied by a market research firm of some kind and perhaps a mortgage lender at some point. Many years ago — I’m guessing about 15 years, maybe even closer to 20 (!?) — it was the former Eat to the Beat cafe.
Next door along Irving Street also will see some renovations to welcome Rahway’s Finest Barber Shop, which plans to relocate from its current location on East Cherry Street. That two-story building will be acquired as part of The Gramercy project, and the barber shop will relocate to 1467 Irving St.
- Work continues at 1439 Main St., which will be the future home of Wet Ticket Brewing.
- Another work in progress is 78 E. Cherry St., which was briefly home to Village Bistro and D&R’s Deli, after more than five years as Big Belly Deli. I’m told the new eatery will be a barbecue joint.
- My Lil’ John’s Pizza is about the third pizzeria in several years at the corner of Madison Hill Road and Westfield Avenue. It was most recently occupied by Gio’s Pizza.
- Fenomenal Style, a salon, took over the storefront at 1582 Irving St. formerly occupied by Farmers Insurance, which moved down the street.
- The West Main Street space formerly occupied for six years by Kim’s In The Mix, which closed last summer, has been taken over by a new eatery.
- Niece’s Pieces, a home furnishings and other knick-knacks type store, at the corner of Main and Lewis streets, has had Going Out of Business Sale signs in the window for quite a few months.
I’m sure there may be some other four-quarter turnover that I’ve missed. Anyone seen anything else?
Eat yo the beat was more like 15 yrs. I moved here in 98 and had some good years in as a patron. Still miss it’s awesome macaroni salad