Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Maplewood artisanal coffee roasters are moving out of state.
This Town Coffee is leaving this town. That was the news this morning from Gordon and Samantha Pomp, who recently launched their local, micro-coffee roasting business in Maplewood, where they lived for the past two years with their young twin boys. Samantha, an artist, and Gordon, a certified welder and industrial mechanic, are relocating to a suburb of Denver, CO, because of a terrific new job opportunity for Gordon, said Samantha. "It was pretty unexpected," she said in a phone interview. The family will move on April 8. The couple's coffee was the in-house brew at Cupcake Corral. “We started selling This Town Coffee because it is local and is the freshest coffee we can get without roasting it ourselves,” said Cupcake Corral owner Joe …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Local bakeries still have plenty of holiday-themed goodies for procrastinators.
Still haven't figured out dessert for tonight? There are still a few hours left to score some tasty treats for Valentine's Day. Cupcake Corral (410 Ridgewood Road) has gorgeous cupcakes, including Red Velvet w/black currant buttercream. They are open today until 5 p.m. Able Baker (187 Maplewood Avenue) has a selection of iced cookies including the famed Julie-O's, heartshaped and filled with hot pink cream; linzer cookies, heart shaped chocolate shortbread and more -- plus chocolate ganache cakes and a selection of cupcakes. They are open until 6 p.m. Don't forget about Gigi's Cupcakes and Edo's Quality Cakes, both on Springfield Avenue. Happy heart day!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Great ideas for truly last minute shoppers.
It is truly down to the wire now, with only five days left until Christmas. Have no fear, Maplewood Patch comes to the rescue with Part 2 of easy, local gift ideas for the people still on your list. (See Part 1 here.) Find everything from stocking stuffers for kids to gift certificates for the pet lover, knitter or movie buff in your life. Be sure to note where there are special deals exclusively for Patch readers. Holiday Special For Wellness Coaching Risa Olinsky, M.A. Certified Wellcoach is offering a Wellness Coaching Package of 3 hours, $297 (phone coaching offered continentally or in person in Maplewood, NJ), purchased by January 1, 2013. Gift certificates prepared for pick-up in Maplewood in time for Christmas. Email Risa@…
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Maplewood coffee roasters bring homegrown java to SOMA.
Gordon and Samantha Pomp met on an airplane, bonding over former beloved jobs as baristas and a love of a “good” cup of coffee. They dated, got married, and daydreamed of one day being in the coffee business. Now, eight years later, with a pair of three-year-old twin boys in tow, they have finally begun to realize their dream. Samantha, an artist, and Gordon, a certified welder and industrial mechanic, have become local, artisan, micro-coffee roasters, and owners of This Town Coffee. The company was named for their fondness of Maplewood, where they have lived for the past two years. “We instantly loved Maplewood for its unique and creative charm,” says Gordon. “We went to many local events, which we adored, and whenever we referred to how…
Friday, November 23, 2012
Fully recovered from Superstorm Sandy, Ridgewood Row puts on its holiday charm.
In this season of thanks and joy, perhaps no one has more to be thankful for than the NJ survivors of Hurricane Sandy—especially the merchants of Maplewood’s Ridgewood Row (aka “Cedar Ridge”), who lost power for up to two weeks. With their own businesses shuttered, these gracious vendors thought of others: the owners of Milk Money donated clothes to the Sandy Relief Fund for Staten Island, while the proprietors of Cupcake Corral donated hot food, baked goods and supplies to Morrow Memorial Church. Now, just a few weeks later, these merchants are proving that not even the worst storm of the century can keep them down, by happily filling last-minute orders, and dressing their shops and their clientele. “There was a huge feeling of …
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Spooky baked goods, creepy candy jars and freaky photos around town. Share your pics with Patch.
- BUSINESS
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Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Halloween is exactly three weeks away. Local businesses around town are displaying holiday decor and merchandise; some festive, some edible, and some downright spooky. Cupcake Corral has mummy cupcakes; Olive & Lizzy has a spooky purple glitter skull; No. 165 boasts a ghostly candy jar contest (guess how many and win a prize). Perch has a charming George Eliot quote in its window about "delicious autumn" But look more closely, and you will spy some of the creepiest old family portraits you've ever laid eyes on. Walk slowly past them, and be prepared for a fright. (Warning: small children and easily haunted grownups might want to cover their eyes). But perhaps the scariest thing of all is what can currently be found at Kings: on a shelf …
Monday, October 1, 2012
Last month's most popular stories.
Police Report Rash of Burglaries As summer drew to a close, six homes and two businesses in Maplewood were burglarized, according to Maplewood Police. Residents reported burglaries on Elmwood Avenue, Boyden Avenue, Tiffany Place, Highland Avenue, Orchard Road and Franklin Terrace. Woman Punched Train Conductor, Pulled Emergency Brake Nadine Canty, 48, of Plainfield, allegedly punched a conductor and pulled the emergency brake of a train heading to Summit, affecting South Orange and Maplewood commuters. Canty was charged with aggravated assault, criminal mischief and interference with transportation, said NJ Transit spokeswoman Nancy Snyder. The conductor, who wasn't identified, got into an argument with Canty before she punched him, …
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Here's a look at what you might have missed this week in town.
- GOVERNMENT
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Sunday, September 23, 2012
Car Crashes into House Near High School A car crashed into a residence on Valley Street near the corner of Parker Avenue across from Columbia High School Friday afternoon shortly before school dismissal, injuring the driver and causing minor damage to the building, according to police and fire officials. Construction to Start on 7-Eleven Near High School Construction should begin "any day now" on a new 7-Eleven store located at the corner of Valley Street and Parker Avenue across from Columbia High School, according to the developer's attorney. "We are ready to go, as soon as permits are pulled," said Louis Rago, attorney for Ali Enterprises, LLC. The Cupcake Corral Needs You On the week of its second birthday, Cupcake Corral owners …
Friday, September 21, 2012
A letter to our community.
- OPINION
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Friday, September 21, 2012
The following letter was submitted to Patch by Joe Ramaikas and Felice Ecker, owners of The Cupcake Corral in Maplewood. It's hard to believe, but this week marks two years since The Cupcake Corral opened its doors on Ridgewood Road. We’ve learned quite a bit, been surprised more often than not and, now, it’s time to look to the future of our little bakery. My wife, Felice, my son, Hank and I moved to Maplewood in 2006. In the summer of 2008, after 8 years of working in the music industry, I decided to make a career change and launched The Cupcake Corral. Baking had always been a passion. My cupcakes were inspired by generations of my wife and my family’s recipes. Word spread, soon I was catering parties and events for neighbors …
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
The second in a series on how Maplewood's small businesses are faring this summer.
The little strip of Ridgewood Road – aka “Ridgewood Row” – in Maplewood just over the South Orange border has developed a reputation as a retail destination that seamlessly blends the funky with the down-home. Visitors can savor an artisanal ice cream sandwich, score a mint condition Burberry blazer, stock up on deals for back to school shopping, peek at some very cool art, get a haircut and pick up their dry cleaning – all while barely walking more than a few paces. On a steamy summer afternoon, Kim Baugh of Milk Money children’s consignment shop was stocking the store with back to school items. “I’m pretty excited about the fall,” said Baugh, who ticked off Janie & Jack, Lands End, Mini Boden, Abercrombie and Hollister as some popular…
NJisForLovers
1:50 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
People have been leaving NJ for 30 yrs and, know what, they get replaced by Nyers looking for lower cost (until they realize the ridiculous tax levels here too and move out west.) NJ is was and always has been a function of NY. That will never change. Good luck to these folks. more ›