As of late, the rumor mill’s been churning with chatter of going up for sale. To cut through the buzz ‘About Town’ made a beeline for the Big Cheese himself, :
“It’s not a rumor,” reports Crane, with signature straightforwardness. “It is what it is; I’ve put it up for sale and we’ll see what happens.”
The reason? After six years as a Maplewood Avenue mainstay, Crane’s the business is viable, but Crane the man is tired:
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“When I first opened I had a partner and we were open until 8 at night,” says Steve. “Once I was on my own, with the downturn in the economy, we started closing at 4. I’d love to bring dinner back but I’d need someone else on board to make it feasible. If I found another partner, I could keep things going — it’s just too much alone.”
Crane also says the financial environment — and the competition — isn’t making his solo status any easier. “There are 22 places to eat in this town and we’re all vying for foot traffic.”
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Time will tell what the future holds for Crane’s, but one thing will remain steadfast regardless of changes: “No matter what happens, the
quality at Crane’s will remain,” Steve promises.
So if you’re looking for a slice of this business, a slice of great cheese, a serious serving of gourmet goods or just great coffee — NOW'S the time to get into Crane’s.
Alright, as I’m sure Steve would say, ‘Nuff said!
: 175 Maplewood Ave,Maplewood|973-763-2050
