Visions For Vacancies: What Should Move To 313C Millburn Avenue?
What other shopping stop can be added to downtown Millburn?
Let's call this a modern spin on community planning — Patch's version of a charette, a digital drawing board where all ideas are on the table.
In an occasional column, we'll present a new vacant space and ask you to tell us what you think would be the best use. Forget what zone it's in, ignore setback regulations, dump lot coverage rules, and all the other zoning jargon that puts people most to sleep.
We're launching this occasional feature again by focusing on the now vacant space at 313C Millburn Avenue?
Last time we ran this piece we asked the community about 6 Lackawanna Place.
Most who commented agreed the town doesn't need anymore restaurants or nail salons but a few voted for a bookstore. One Patch user asked for 'a good old fashion 5&10 cent store' and another suggested an English pub.
What do you think?
With tons of shopping, restaurants and other eclectic shops in downtown Millburn, now it's up to you to suggest what business should move in. If you had your way, what would you like to see there? What would be the best use for the community?
Let us know in the comments section below! Know of a vacant space/building we should highlight? Email craig.mccarthy@patch.com
Joel
9:35 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
How about a store with high end chocolates, nuts, etc.
Realistic Person
9:35 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
Please, anything but another spa for short hills women who do nothing.
Millburn Parent
9:35 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
I think Millburn needs an economic development effort that looks at downtown from a development perspective. The DMDA does nothing to think creatively about marketing the downtown to retailers. And, the town itself makes the process of coming into millburn so expensive and onerous that it scares retailers away. Take town officials to Summit and Maplewood to see healthy, thriving downtowns supported by the comunity by retailers, residents, landlords and town officials. Quite a contrast from the unfriendly environment of Millburn by everyone of these constituents. People say that our downtown suffers because of the SH mall which is not true. Summit is just as close to the mall as Millburn and there is no sign of trouble there.
Realistic Person
11:01 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
I agree 100%.. not to mention potentially making Millburn avenue into a 1 lane road to boost the "walkingness" of downtown like Maplewood. It would bring a soul to downtown that is sorely lacking.
Kyle Harrow
11:01 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
I agree! My husband owns a business in Madison and they have an organization that is similar to DMDA called "I Love Madison" (sound familiar We Love Millburn folks??) that is constantly sending out e-mails to promote their downtown businesses.
I shopped in downtown Millburn on Black Friday and it seemed like all the stores had specials going on but you'd never know unless you happened to be walking around. DMDA and the Chamber of Commerce need to do some marketing instead of just ribbon cuttings and breakfasts!
Abbie
9:35 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
I think a card shop might be nice. Somthing like a Hallmark or Carlton one.
Leslie
9:35 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
Health food store/ juice bar
Jordan
9:35 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
book and record store!
Beth Barbakoff
9:35 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
A book store would be great. Awesome in fact. What about a place where you can get a cup of coffee and a newspaper.
Craig McCarthy
9:41 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
From an email received " One of the things I so love about Summit is the profusion of great gift/furniture/antiques stores. This is a rarity in Millburn - a town I've spent my whole life in. I'd like to see something of that nature in the afore-mentioned space. "
CHP
11:01 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
All the above stated ideas are great but there is one core issue with that strip of stores and that is the rent. The landlord wants $30,131 in annual rent or $26.50 per foot. Tell me what card store or nut shop can pay that for 1137 square feet. When the economy is doing well boutique stores have a fighting chance. In todays market only the high grossing stores like the spa's with limited labor costs and no inventory can survive.
Claire
12:03 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
How about a Business Incubator?
The rent is probably what prevents any really new and more innovative options, more than anything else. Sorry to think that only big franchise stores will be able to take that plunge.
How about trying to spread that cost to a larger number of ventures?
I would love to see a neighborhood, storefront based, startup business Incubator in that space. Tenants both virtual as well as in the flesh. We have tons of talent and resources locally to share with this market. It fits the history and character of our town, as well as being timely for today. So many in this area are working on startups from home, many parents, who could really use the support services and synergies to make something happen. Space for a coffee machine, wifi, sofas, a few work cubes, and seminars; as well as access to patent advice, etc... It is happening else where. Why not here? The DMDA could sponsor this, if they could get out of their own way.
Leslie
1:00 pm on Saturday, December 1, 2012
What a vey interesting idea claire
Craig McCarthy
12:09 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
"I think our town could use a cool music venue for live performance. My 16 yr old daughter is a singer/songwriter and we travel far and wide for her to perform and we have seen some very cool, small spaces work for local shows. Would be nice to have one in town!" From an email today