After jumping out to an early 9-1 lead in the early days of the latest poll, Thai held off Japanese to be the choice of Rahway Rising readers:
“What type of restaurant would you like to see downtown?”
Thai 38 percent (17/44)
Japanese 27 percent (12/44)
Indian 15 percent (7/44)
American 9 percent (4/44)
Chinese 4 percent (2/44)
None; plenty as it is, 2 percent (1/44)
Other 2 percent (1/44)
French 0 percent (0/44)
The poll results were record setting, smashing RR’s previous high of 30 votes — a 46-percent increase! (Of course, there’s no way to know if someone just ran around voting from different computers, but we’re on the honors system here!)
The choices in the poll leaned Asian as I tried to avoid offering choices that are already in the area (Portuguese, Mexican, Irish, etc.). Not sure if there’s a Thai, Japanese or Indian place on the way, but the four readers who favored American might be in luck. And to those two who favored Chinese, there’s still hope.
2008 could be the year of the restaurant in Rahway. On top of Cubanu and Luciano’s, another new addition could join the scene. Developers of Carriage City Plaza are in “serious talks with a steakhouse operater that is a New Jersey institution,” according to a representative of Elizabeth-based Silcon Group. “New Jersey institution” — any guesses? My first thought was Tiffany’s, but that’s more known for ribs, no? Another reader suggested Arthur’s, which has three New Jersey locations, none very close to Rahway.
UPDATE: You’ll have to come up with some new guesses. According to a representative of Silcon, they were approached by Tiffany’s and “rejected the concept as not being upscale enough.” Same goes for Arthur’s, though “we never talked to them.”
A 6,000-square-foot steakhouse (more along the lines of a Lone Star) also is planned to accompany a new 72-unit Sleep Inn to be built near the Best Western at East Milton Avenue and Routes 1&9. That project was re-approved by the Planning Board last month after several years of being tied up at the state for waterfront development permits, among other things.
Speaking of the hotel, Silcon is in the final stages of negotiations with a fitness center/spa that will open along with the Hotel Indigo in June. Other potential retail tenants might include a bank, dry cleaner and “several coffee house concepts,” among others. Homeowners are expected to be moving in some time in May. More than 100 of the 209 condos at Sky View have been sold, the representative said, and expect “to be sold out very soon.”
P.S. In case you’re interested, here are Rahway’s presidential primary results from Tuesday night.
Of course, Ruth Cris seems like an obvious choice. There are 3 in NJ. But not sure if its considered a “NJ institution” if the place is all over the country? Plus its not as if it started in NJ, it originated in New Orleans. My other guess was Morton’s Steakhouse, its also upscale. But again, they’re all over the country and originated in Chicago. I’m stumped…maybe its because I’m a vegetarian!
“More than 100 of the 209 condos at Sky View have been sold, the representative said, and expect “to be sold out very soon.”More than 100? How many more? That is a strange stat to throw out for a development that will be “sold out very soon.” Pre-RE bust you would see developers hang signs on their properties claiming “only 2 units left” or some such thing. When will they toss that sign up?_Considering Rahway_ mentioned a few weeks ago that Silcon said there were only a handful of units left back in September. Someone else said there were only 10 units left in November. Is 100+ units a handful?As for the steak, maybe River Palm? No way you can consider Morton’s or Ruth’s Chris NJ-based institutions.
Many apartments were not available for sale during construction and were to be sold when the building was completed. That could be the discrepancy.As for the steakhouse, as long as its a classy joint then it doesn’t matter to me.
I was hoping for a Chuck E. Cheese…. I guess that’s Italian?There was some Skyview discussion buried in yesterday’s usual comment deluge at NJ Real Estate Report which pointed back to RR. 100 out of 209 condos sold a few months before completion is a far cry from the boom years when condo flippers camped out to plunk down deposits. Skyview ran their ad again today on NYC Craigslist, and I’ll report back if I hear about more open units.My concern about a Rahway condo purchase, Skyview or elsewhere, is that the market may very well become flooded this summer once Skyview is done. Assuming that Skyview deals were made with 2006 and first-half 2007 lending standards in place, in other words, free money for all, I would be shocked if units didn’t come up for sale after buyers realize it’s better to leave their deposit on the table than to close, plus consider the mortgage deals that will fall through now that banks are actually assessing a borrower’s ability to repay before issuing a loan. Up until now the relative strength of the NYC market has propped up NJ, but if NYC falters (Wall Street subprime mess layoffs, anyone?) NJ will also stall.
Any truth that The Gap has signed on as a retailer? Wouldn’t seem likely, unless it’s going to be Banana Republic, but anything’s possible.
I heard back from Skyview. They have 2 available 1-BR units on the lower floors. They have also released the top three floors for sales, which confirms information already posted. I was hoping to get more concrete price information and unit availability for the top three floors. Again, I was under the impression that the building was almost entirely sold out back in September, which is now not the case. I’d go to the sales office but I don’t want to waste their time or my time since I don’t plan to buy there, however if I her anything more I’ll post it here.
I purchased a 1BR condo at Skyview last Spring and at the time they were in talks with a Brazilian steakhouse,Churrascaria Plataforma. I’m not sure what the deal is now.I also heard that as of last October there were maybe 6 2BR units left, and no 1BRs (excluding the upper floors).
Churrascaria Plataforma? There is one in NYC and if these are the same owners, I could personally guarantee their rent money every month – LOL. The CP restaurant in NYC is absolutely delicious and the atmosphere is upscale and terrific.
As far as the steakhouse I guess Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse.
Churrascaria Plataforma would be delicious. Meat lovers could do no wrong with a decent rodizio!