Would love to see a Chipotle, a pharmacy, a coffee shop & a French restaurant come to Maplewood!

Just to expand upon the comment "The plan calls for fashioning the village into an "entertainment destination" with a mix of high-end boutiques" -- the plan recognizes that we already have a theater, an arts center and excellent restaurants, all of which could be enhanced, when the opportunity presents itself, with additional upscale browsing boutiques, additional restaurants/bars and marketing efforts to support and leverage what already exists.

Clarification: The consultant made the following comment: "We are looking to avoid check cashing, tattoo parlors, nail salons and pizza places. We have plenty of those." Maplewood does not permit check cashing facilities and does not have any tattoo parlors. The comment "we have plenty of those" is not accurate because we have none now.
Mayor Vic De Luca

This is a good initiative.

But I would love to see the data and reasons underlying the conclusion that there is "$2.2 billion unmet retail demand among people living within a 10-mile radius of Maplewood".

Moving forward, I would be skeptical of anything this consultant has to say. Already, the Mayor had to make corrections to his comments regarding tattoo parlors and check cashing facilities. More money being flushed down the toilet all in the name of finding more ratables. 2.2. billion. The guy is an idiot.

Now they want chain stores? Didn;t this town have an extreme anti-fast food ordinance not too long ago? This town should have looked at these options many years ago. Also, not sure why the Mayor looks down his nose at nail salons etc. while consistently allowing these mom and pop failures like cupcake shops and endless bakeries that nobody goes to. There's a reason franchises work, because they're proven business models.

One small but looming question: where the heck is everyone going to PARK!?????

While I would like to see higher volume ratables to create non property tax revenue for the town I am also troubled by this Idea. It is the very absence of national chains like Chipotle and Pier 1 that contributes significantly to Maplewood's charm. I'm perfectly happy to drive to route 22 oe 10 if it spares ua all yet another GAP or Pottery Barn.

I must admit I am under-informed when it comes to how all of our taxes truly work. I am still a fairly new resident to Maplewood. It was my understanding that the charm of Maplewood was it's lack of big box stores and chain restaurants. And that factors into our very high taxes (or so my realtor explained). It's been on my mind as friends consider a move to the area. It's a bit of a joke that we're a town of mom and pop shops- which I love... while a mile up the road is Home Dept, Best Buy, Target, etc. So the idea of inviting Bertucis brick oven pizza into a town that has Arturo's seems absurd- unless we're all going to see a significant tax break from it. A fried just left South Orange to save thousands a year in taxes for a marginally longer train ride. Is the long term plan to turn Maplewood into every other town? Please feel free to educate me. At the moment I have 30 years to learn. :).

There are 24,000 people in Maplewood and we are creating shopping choices that we have heard residents want through years of surveys, focus groups and meetings. No one is suggesting that we will change Maplewood Village into a chain store place. That is not going to happen. On the other hand, there can and should be a mix of mom & pop, chain and franchised businesses in our other shopping districts - Springfield Avenue, Valley Street and Irvington Avenue. These are long stretches of roadway with minimal lot depths that require a mix of business types. We have created a more pedestrian friendly area at Prospect and Springfield but that cannot be the model for the rest of the Avenue. It just will not work. Likewise, we need to attract auto destination stores on Valley. Maplewood now has Walgreen's, Subway, Papa John, 7-Eleven, Dunkin Donuts, Blimpies, Quick Check, and Kings that are "larger than local" chains. I do not think their existence has diminished the town's charm.

Lastly, decisions about opening up a business are made by the business owner under a free market, capitalistic economic system. I too sometimes wish these prospective owners would have a stronger business plan but I am not in a position, legally or practically, to quash their dreams. We will continue to support small business openings and seek more established and well funded regional and national chains and franchises with our business recruitment campaign.

Regarding parking, we are discussing additional changes, including a parking structure for Maplewood Village. On Springfield Avenue, we have two miles of street parking (2 hours by the way) and over 100 parking spots in off-street public lots. There are hundreds of other spots in off-street private lots. In general, parking on Springfield is less of a problem. For the other districts - Valley Street and Irvington Avenue - we will rely on off-street private lots and minimal on-street parking.

This all sounds very exciting. Glad the township is taking such an active leadership role in this enterprise! I am personally eager to determine - along with many other members of the community - how we integrate all of the amazing arts organizations into this plan. An entertainment destination implies... well, entertainment. And there is nothing more vibrant to a community than an active, supported arts scene. Sign me up!!

What about a wine bar there are none in the area, perhaps the franchise the wine loft? Smoothie bar, or what about a healthy food franchise like Energy Kitchen?? These lack in wider than a 10 mile radius and people who have lived in the city...well this brings some city aspects closer to them!

I get there is coffee around but I do feel that a Starbucks would be amazing and adds a high end sense to an area.

I applaud the efforts of the township to bring in new franchises. My questions are: Would these franchises be obligated to hire a percentage of residents from the township and offer summer employment to our youth? I have visit the 7Eleven's on Springfield and Parker and noticed the one upcoming by the high school and it doesn't appear that either has hired any resident youth!! Oh by the way something other than Burger King would be nice!!