With my coffee shop rant out of the way, welcome to Part II on the most recent poll results, which had grocery/specialty food store garnering 44 percent of the vote, ahead of brewpub/bar/restaurant, 32 percent, and coffeehouse/bagel shop, 20 percent.
Downtown has more options when it comes to bars or restaurants than
coffee shops: The Waiting Room,
Flynn’s,
Cubanu, Luciano’s, El
Bodegon,
David Drake (on a different level, but an option, maybe just not very often). I understand there was an effort in the early ’90s to bring a microbrewery into the
Arts Guild building (the former city library) on Irving and Seminary, but it never materialized. If you’ve been to
JJ Bitting or
Triumph, (both near train stations…hmmm…), that’s the kind of place that could work in
Rahway (though
this place recently became my personal favorite — despite the lack of a nearby train station). Maybe it’s just me , but can’t you just picture those giant brewpub vats in a big storefront window downtown?
There are still a few liquor licenses in the city that are inactive or on the market, so there could very well be more options in the future, though some aren’t currently downtown. The Hotel Indigo currently going up will have a liquor license (anything 100+ rooms gets one), as will any hotel that will be part of the Town Center project on the City Hall property. Whatever you’d like to see downtown, whether it’s bars, restaurants, brewpubs, grocery stores or coffeehouses, remember the people who make the decisions are asking you’re opinion too, so check it out.
I’m open to any suggestions for future polls (above, right). I’m thinking maybe a more specific poll about restaurant options downtown. There’s Italian, Cuban, Portuguese, Irish, etc. Do you want to see different options? Thai? Greek? Canadian? Ruby Tuesday’s?!? Another poll question altogether?
The current poll will be up for a shorter period than usual, rapid-fire style, as I’m sure to be inundated with my call for suggestions for the next question. Get those ballots in, and don’t be afraid to write-in (just use the comments section of the current, or any, post); the list in the current poll could’ve gone on and on.
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I’m going to stick with my vote on saying that what Rahway needs is more restaurants to build up the downtown and give it some sense of life. I keep saying the same stupid thing regarding all the new condos being built, and if people really are expecting this to be more of a commuter town (I love that “next Hoboken line”) and attracting such people, there need to be more options to eat locally, be it dining out or having take-out/delivery. If people want to use their fancy new kitchens in these places (which I suspect most people don’t even use them), there are enough supermarkets 10 minutes in any direction to get the necessary fixins and most people around here are going to need a car anyway, which if you’re living here, chances are you’ve got a ride. That of course begs a different question regarding the Station Cab company, but I’ll raise that another time.As for future restaurants, while it’s not such a new idea anymore, it seems like a decent Thai or Japanese/Sushi place adds a certain amount of dare I say hipness to an area. I saw this when I lived in Park Slope before it was what it is today, and the same thing in Forest Hills Queens which is where I lived up until 4 months ago. It just lends to a slightly more esoteric feel than having a Chinese food joint. And this is without even having a decent one around here as they all are of the see the picture of the food on the wall kinda place, a la Denny’s menu style…but much less appetizing than Denny’s because these pictures are often caked over with years of grease which has made its way forward from the kitchen. What was my point again? Ah, I forgot already, but a Grand Slam breakfast sounds awfully good right now.
I’m kind of split between the option of grocery store/specialty shop as I love the Trader Joes in Westfield and often travel there for various things. I am also in favor or more variety on the restaurant and lounge area. My wife and I live in River Place and the nightlife here has yet to come alive. In one sense I want variety on places to eat and enjoy a drink but in the same manner much of this may be determined by the type of crowd these new buildings attract. I’m all for being the next Hoboken but maybe without the young college crowd or it’s high cost of drinking. I’m more keen to attracting young professionals to this area as I think it will add to the culture of Rahway. In this respect variety is key and attracting more upscale spots may attract the young professional crowd. All and all my concern is the immediate future that in my hopes will include a place to get the great tasting bagel as well as a place that has closed down the back porch for good!!….(or at least renovate it).Again, bagels yes, drinks yes, and back porch NO..
Alexis, I take it you face the parking lot and have to listen to the riff-raff out there all night? That was one of the requirements when I was looking at apartments there and ultimately took one in the 190 building which faces the Golden Age Towers (or whatever it’s called).I was just having the discussion with my wife this morning while standing on the platform waiting for the train with regards to noise… Considering how loud the horns are and I’m a block away, how are the people that live right over the station at the new condos going to cope? Has window technology advanced that far that it can shut it out?
Larry you have guessed correctly. We are considering switching apartments. In regards to the condos opening up I guess they would just have to deal with the horns. Unless NJ transit figures out a better way of alerting people that their trains are coming…(maybe easier for them to be on time then do that). On a separate note I saw on a website somewhere (I forget where) that Rutgers is advertising to their students Rahway as an alternate place for apartments. Not looking forward to having college students fill the area if this catches on.
Rutgers students? Gasp. ok, I’m packing my things. Then again, I still haven’t unpacked most of my boxes.You don’t happen to be one of the suckers like myself that gets to the platform at 7:10am every day, only to have the 7:12 arrive 5 minutes before the 7:33 which often shows up at 7:30, would you? (I think that has it pull in around 7:25 by my watch)
As someone who works in New Brunswick, albeit at another institution of higher learning, I think there is slim chance of Rutgers students finding Rahway palatable, particularly given the lack of anything going on downtown. However, as I’m often telling people, Rahway *is* an attracive place for professionals working in NB – its a great commute by train or car, cheaper rentals/homes compared to NB.
Larry, I fortunately left my job in Manhattan for one in Hoboken. So as of yesterday I no longer take NJ Transit and starting Monday I drive to work. But when I was taking the train I was out there early only to find that the trains run on their own schedule (or each crew interprets the schedule slightly differently). My wife on the other hand still takes the train since she’s a grad student in Manhattan. Mary I hope what I read about this being an alternative for students was incorrect but do you think this will be a viable option once the downtown area is further developed? I invite young professionals to the area as it presents a great opportunity for early investment in condos and apartments alike. I keep hearing about how this area was 5 years ago and am anxious to see what a few years will do to further enhance the downtown area. I myself have only been here for 3 months. There is much speculation and excitement around here…I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Alexis, Personally, I just can’t see it happening – Rutgers students moving to Rahway. I think its simply too inconvenient and student housing within walking distance of campus is still afforable and available. But I would like to see more affordable housing in Rahway to attract first time home buyers and young professionals – the prices for The Lofts (over $300K for 1 bedroom) and other properties are simply inaccessible to most folks!
When I think about what would be best downtown, my thoughts turn to foot traffic, since that is what is missing, IMHO. Rahway will never be Westfield (and who wants a Baby GAP, anyway?), but it has a long way to go to even be a Clark. Downtown is *deserted*. I think one of the reasons people are concerned for their safety, AND that downtown is perceived as being dangerous (hence my previous comment about the actual rate of personal crime) IS that lack of traffic.I think some specialty shops might do well, as a start. By that I mean stores that are rare, or cater to specific interests. Something like a gluten-free bakery (you’d be surprised how many people are becoming aware of gluten allergies), a gaming store, homebrew supply (the nearest one is in Red Bank), etc. I don’t know what commercial rents go for, but maybe they’re just too high for some of these things, too. I can’t believe there’s no good coffee shop, though.
To any and all those who complain about the noise at the back porch i just have one question, Did you not notice that you were moving next door to a bar when you moved in? The porch was there long before your apartments.