Tag Archives: East Cherry Street

East Cherry Street eatery closes

After about 18 months in operation, Casa Borinquen on East Cherry Street closed last week. The eatery specializing in Puerto Rican fare opened in March 2010.

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A deli for a deli

Another deli has arrived on East Cherry Street to fill a space vacated just a few months ago by another deli.

GK’s Big Belly Deli shut down in March amid charges that the owner was illegally hunting deer.

It was just a few weeks ago that a “Coming Soon” sign appeared in the window at 78 E. Cherry St., and now there’s a new, permanent for D&R’s Gourmet Deli and Catering.

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The Star-Ledger’s Munchmobile stopped in Rahway again, this time at The Waiting Room (just a few dooors down from the new deli).

The garlic pork chops that were “the juiciest of the day” and the “right mix of saltiness and properly cooked,” according to the Munchers. The baby lamb chop were even better: “So tender,” and the seasoning was “remarkable” and “dynamite.” The Room’s most popular dish is the Buffalo shrimp and Buffalo wings but the Munchers said it was the voodoo chili, “with bubbling-over cheese and plenty of meat,” that deserves to be more famous than those wings.

The link includes video of owner Chris Wenson (2:42 in length)  explaining some of the renovations to the former McCrory’s building before they moved into it in 2006 and an outdoor patio in the back that’s planned for next year (which was approved two years ago by the Planning Board).

Cops begin moving into police center

The Police Department is expected to begin moving into the new police assistance center on East Cherry Street this week. Police Chief John Rodger said the Police Auxiliary, which had typically used the basement of City Hall, already has started using the facility.

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East Cherry Street demolition tab = $75,000

The City Council tonight approved an emergency contract for the demolition of 65 E. Cherry St., which occurred last month. Frank Lurch Demolition Co. of Asbury Park was awarded the $75,000 contract.

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Almost $42k in property taxes canceled

Almost $42,000 in property taxes have been canceled for 2011 in connection with redevelopment projects downtown and the Arts District.

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Dornoch declared in default

The Redevelopment Agency this month declared Dornoch Holdings in default of its redevelopment agreements on The Westbury and The Savoy, which has entered the foreclosure process with Wachovia Bank/Wells Fargo for failure to repay construction financing.

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Demolition expected this week

Monday

Demolition started this week on an East Cherry Street building, almost six years after a fire destroyed much of it. The Fire Department responded last Wednesday afternoon to a report of the back corner of the second floor collapsing into the first floor, according to this report on mycentraljersey.com.

Wednesday

The two-story building at 65 E. Cherry St. has been a vacant eyesore since a beauty supply store went up in flames in the summer of 2005 and in February, the first-floor facade collapsed into the structure.

At one time, Dornoch Holdings, which acquired the property from the Parking Authority for $65,000 and had plans to renovate it, presenting plans in November 2007. Dornoch owns several East Cherry Street properties, along with a couple of dormant developments on Main Street.

The City Council approved a $200,000 bond ordinance in April that included funds for the demolition of 65 E. Cherry St., as well as improvements to create an interim parking lot at the former Westbury site on Main Street.

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Could repairs to the NJ Transit Train Station be forthcoming? Yellow tape surrounded the center stairs a few days ago, and since been replaced by fencing. Perhaps that means repairs are coming soon — or maybe the fencing was installed in time for Saturday’s Hot Rods & Harleys. The stairs have been closed for more than a year.

Bell Building a shell of its former self

Construction began last month to turn the Bell Building on Hamilton Street into a black box theater, a little at a time (photo left), until last week when several of walls were knocked out (photo below).

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