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Places to go to get your drink on.
You don't need to wear green on March 17. Nobody's going to blame you if instead you stuff your face with bangers and mash, clap along with clog dancers, and maybe even slam back a pint (or two). Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with these Cranford events, deals and entertainment:
Two friends decided to leave their careers behind and start a restaurant; Ole Fire Grill opens this week.
Friends Enrique Outeiral and Manuel Martinez have a lot in common. They both are from northern Spain, attended college at Rutgers University (where they met and became friends) and both pursued careers in finance. And, just recently, both realized they weren't exactly happy in their professions. "I got tired of the daily grind," Outeiral said. Martinez, meanwhile, was tired of working for other people. He wanted to be his own boss. So about a year ago the two decided to do something about it – agreeing to use their savings to open up their own restaurant. They both had experience working in restaurants over the years as waiters and busboys. They chose downtown Cranford as the place to start their business, and now, after months upon months…
The owner of Donna Toscana Chocolate Lounge has closed her store in order to join a growing local restaurant group.
Diane Pinder of Cranford has watched people go through many milestones in their lives. She's seen teenage girls go off to college and develop into young women. "I've seen people have babies, people who get engaged and married," Pinder said. And they are all people she met while working at her chocolate store, Donna Toscana Chocolate Lounge on Eastman Street in downtown Cranford. Pinder opened the store five years ago after switching careers from nursing to selling medical devices and then finally to chocolate-making. So imagine how difficult it was for her to decide at the end of February to close the store. "It was really hard to say goodbye to them," Pinder said. But Pinder is hoping a new venture will allow her chocolates and the joy …
The United Way of Greater Union County event benefited Cranford Family Care.
Over 30 restaurants and local sponsors dished out their finest at the first ever Taste of Cranford held Sunday in a packed Cranford Community Center. Ticket sales went to the United Way of Greater Union County's Special Response Fund designee, Cranford Family Care. The official fundraising totals have yet to be calculated. Cranford Family Care is a nonprofit organization that helps Cranford residents make bill payments and fill their pantries with food on a temporary and confidential basis. Ticket holders enjoyed a varied selection of appetizers, entrees, delectable desserts and fine wines from Cranford restaurants and shops. Sponsors of this event included Cranford Patch, Downtown Cranford Management, and the Cranford Chamber of Commerce…
Thanks to United Way and Cranford Family Care. Congratulations on what sounds like a successful event, and keep up the great work. more ›
24 new businesses have opened in downtown Cranford in the last 13 months.
A gourmet food shop has signed a lease for 26 Eastman Street, becoming the 24th new business to open in downtown Cranford during the last 13 months. While 10 businesses closed during that time period, the new businesses and subsequent investments signal a confidence in the business district. "The current vacancy rate of 5.3 percent is better than respectable and we expect leases to be signed at two more locations in the coming weeks," said Downtown Director Kathleen Miller Prunty. The cheese shop joins two other new businesses opening this week, Ole Fire Grill at Cranford Crossing and Dollar General on South Avenue, with Cafe Lia slated to open at 117 North Union Avenue in the spring. In addition, two long time businesses expanded and …
Dollar General replaces Drug Fair.
Dollar General opened on February 18 at 8 South Ave. in the space formerly occupied by Drug Fair. Despite some outcry against the store's opening, Cranford residents now have another place to shop for toiletries, paper products, toys and food. "I think we'll bring something different (to Cranford)," said manager Sabreen Wight. "We will bring great customer service and name brand products for cheap prices." Most of the current Dollar General employees are from Roselle and Elizabeth, according to Wight, but she says the hiring process is not finished and she has received applications from Cranford residents. Many Cranford residents and business owners were leery when it was first announced that Dollar General would be coming to town, but the…
Free parking for downtown and Centennial Village shoppers will last from December 10-27.
Visitors to downtown Cranford and the Centennial Village shopping area will have one less thing to think about – finding a quarter for parking. The township is offering free parking for shoppers in both areas from December 10-27. "We want to encourage people to shop at our businesses but this is also a gesture to say "thank you" for supporting the local economy," said Downtown District Management Corporation Director Kathleen Prunty. Shoppers and diners can use any of the street meter spaces downtown and on Centennial Avenue for 90 minutes, shopper spaces in the parking lots for three hours and the downtown parking garage for four hours. People are encouraged to use the parking lots, which are located throughout the downtown, or the garage…
Still Cranford remains far below the New Jersey and Union County foreclosure averages.
While the housing market has certainly showed signs of recovery in our area, the fact remains that with unemployment at a 25-year high, many homeowners in our area are struggling to afford their monthly mortgage payment due to either job loss, income cuts, mortgage payment increases due to interest rate "resets," or some other type of life hardship such as a family illness, which happen in any economy. Although many local towns like Cranford have not experienced nearly the amount of foreclosures and "distressed" property sales as areas such as Las Vegas, South Florida, or California, the financial crisis has still had an effect on the local distressed property numbers. Distressed properties include those homes that have already been …
A holiday committee was created to plan to improve, and possibly fund, next year's holiday decorations strategy.
A new holiday committee will help determine the 2010 downtown decorations plan amid what is expected to be a tough budget year. Commissioner of Public Affairs Dan Aschenbach expressed concerns about the feasibility of funding decorations in the future due to economic concerns. "We needed a plan," he said about this season's decorations. "The budget was short and the Department of Public Works was overworked with leaves. While the 2010 municipal budget will be very tight, we will now have a volunteer coordinating committee to focus on improving the decorations for the next holiday." Town officials started setting up a committee to oversee the holiday budget in February. The committee was approved in October. It will hold its first meeting …
Board grants two parking waivers and schedules reorganization meeting for January.
Cranford's Planning Board unanimously approved two parking waivers Wednesday night for properties housing businesses in the downtown area. The first applicant, Spiros Goros, owner of the property on 536 South Avenue East, was seeking approval to permit the addition of second story while maintaining the current number of parking spaces. According to Goros and his attorney, Albert Stender, the additions would not affect the number of parking spaces needed at the property. Both also reminded the board there is on-street parking available on South Avenue East. Goros said the second story addition was to provide office space and storage for the embroidery company Uniform Creations, which makes uniforms for schools in the district. He maintained…
It's good to see that so many others will be able to enjoy what those in Cranford have. There aren't many who are able to successfully follow their dreams, it's wonderful that you have bucked the odds. Good Luck Donna!!! more ›