A one-time shoe store and later a banquet hall on Irving Street Main Street that has changed hands a couple times in recent years is expected to be transformed into a wine bar.
The three-story property on Irving Street Main Street has been undergoing renovations of late. Recent work on the facade uncovered an awning for “Schwartz Shoes,” which operated in the storefront until about 1980, I’m told. A sign in the front window still has a sign for the Paramount Banquet Hall, which was the most recent occupant of the site several years ago.
The Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) board in January approved a transfer of the liquor license formerly held by Koza’s Tavern. Koza’s was demolished in 2009 and the West Scott Avenue site was approved for a 10-unit apartment building that was completed last year.
The three-story, mixed-used property at 1519 Main St. was sold in November 2015 for $70,000 by Warren-based HFP10, LLC, to 1519 Main St., LLC, which lists a North Wood Avenue address in Linden that also houses DenVal Realty.
The property had initially been bought by HudsonFive, which was targeting infill properties in Rahway, for $90,000 in October 2014, according to property records. A fire in March 2015 damaged parts of the building.
In other retail and commercial turnover:
- Sticks Cigars is in the works nearby at 1513 Main St. while Smoker’s Den on Irving Street recently
closed. - D’Oh! coffee, bagels and doughnuts, opened at 77 E. Milton Ave., after several months of renovations. The space had been vacant since Wickâed Flame closed about three years ago. A coffee/bagel shop or bakery both drew high interest in one of our polls over the years, asking readers what type of store they would like to see downtown, even going way back to our first year of RahwayRising.com. And there’s been some turnover among coffee-focused retail downtown, seeing the likes of Java Shop, Kataluma Chai, Cuppy’s and Mr. G’s all come and go for varying reasons.
- Loria Music on West Grand Avenue, which closed last summer, reopened in June as Loria Music Lesson Center, offering music lessons, instrumental rentals and repairs, and guitar setups. The center has reduced retail inventory and added a dance studio and now m
ostly offers accessories and beginner instruments, according to Joe Loria. - Just Plain Dave’s on St. Georges Avenue plans to reopen on Wednesday after several weeks of renovations, and under new ownership.
- Sabor Peruano peruvian cuisine had its grand opening last week for its new location at 1576 Irving St., next door to their former location. They acquired the former Gino’s Pizzeria building for $200,000 in January 2015 and underwent extensive renovations.
