Rock'n Joe is coming to downtown Millburn, and the franchise owner thinks it's the perfect place for the coffeehouse.
The Cranford-based company is opening its newest location at 63 Main St. on Wednesday.
Franchise owner Robert Kurzner a lot of time in downtown Millburn while growing up in Springfield, and he appreciates the value of operating an eatery for residents of both Millburn-Short Hills and surrounding communities including Springfield, Maplewood, and South Orange.
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
Millburn’s central business district offers several amenities that make it ideal for a coffeehouse, including Taylor Park and a NJ Transit train station, he said. He envisions his Rock'n Joe franchise as a great public gathering place for families, friends and people of all ages to meet and hang out in.
“I think it will complement the town,” he says. “It’s the perfect downtown I can think of for a place like this. It’s a nice place to be.”
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
Founded by Kevin Brennan in 1993, Rock'n Joe is a full-service coffeehouse and bistro with a rock and roll theme. Vintage rock album covers and concert posters adorn the walls with rock music playing. The coffeehouse offers food and beverages using fresh, high-quality ingredients at reasonable prices.
The menu features food for all times of day. Breakfast selections include croissant French toast, fresh fruit, scrambled eggs and a variety of omelets flavored with smoked salmon or Portobello mushrooms. Lunch and dinner menus feature specialties such as grilled chicken or crab cake sandwiches and a variety of soups, salads and quiches. There is also numerous cakes, pies, muffins, and ice cream varieties for snacks or dessert.
Kurzner is especially excited about Rock'n Joe’s dessert offerings, saying there has been “no real dessert place” in downtown Millburn.
But Rock'n Joe’s biggest offering, of course, is its coffee. The shops use a special blend of coffee using mild-roasted organic Arabica beans with a hint of dark roast mixed in. The result is a full-bodied flavor without a bitter aftertaste, which won Rockn’ Joe a “Golden Cup Award” from the Specialty Coffee Association of America in 2008.
Other beverages Rock'n Joe also offers include tea, hot chocolate, spring water, sodas, iced tea and iced coffee. Customers will also have access to wireless Internet services and will be served by 20-25 employees.
Kevin Brennan, Rock'n Joe chief operating officer, is optimistic about the Millburn restaurant’s prospects for success.
“Rob is an ideal fit for the Rockn’ Joe franchise system,” Brennan said of Kurzner. “We expect great things in Millburn.”
The Rock'n Joe downtown Millburn location will be open Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. It'll be open 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and on Sunday it will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
