March 10
...serving up your daily dish.
A new awning with the word "Thread" hangs over an empty store front next to Bluestone Café at Watchung Plaza. Some of you may already know what's going on, but we got the word from Kendra Lanzo, that she's opening a new store of her own "after 12 years of listening to what the customers need want." Kendra, a Baristaville resident, who used to work at Barbara Eclectic, has taken over the old Suzanne's space. Her clothing and accessory boutique will be stocked with some new preppy lines a la J. Crew, she said. Look for their grand opening in a couple of more weeks.
Baristanet intel found out that Thread's new neighbor, formerly Flannery's Art Supply Store, will be reborn as Watchung Plaza Home. The store will feature (get ready) "beautiful traditional home accessories with a funky twist... decorative pillows and table runners adorned with beautiful tassels and trim, crystal chandeliers, French market baskets with leather handles, Eze petite perfume bottles, jeweled mirrors and frames, specialty gift baskets, cashmere and faux fur throws, rich and ornate footstools, feminine ottomans, fun damask animals," ok, you got the picture? The owners, who also own this floral business, are targeting the Grand Opening for May.
It's hard to miss the orange neon signs announcing that West Coast Video is leaving their Watchung digs -- it's been closed for inventory ... but tonight at 6 p.m. the doors re-open for a huge liquidation sale so stock up your DVD collection!
Bradner's Pharmacy is also now in liquidation mode. They're giving stuff away (some Old Spice, anyone?), And we hear that the amazing old apothecary, which gives a lot of us the I-gotta-open-my-own-whatever-store-here feeling, can be yours to lease for a pricey $4,000 a month.
And around the corner (next to Peau) at the empty 42 Fairfield, there are only a couple of lonely antique chairs in the window.
Ok, this will expose me as not a Baristaville resident, but where exactly is Watchung Plaza?
Posted by: talliewoo | Mar 10, 2006 1:45:37 PM
Get a globe, and find the center. That's Watchung Plaza.
Posted by: walleroo | Mar 10, 2006 1:47:14 PM
It's the roundabout area between Park Street and Watchung Avenue in Montclair (non-Upper but close to it).
Posted by: Krys O. | Mar 10, 2006 1:47:17 PM
There's a nice bookstore over there too.
Montclair may be one of the few towns in Jersey with two really cool independent bookstores. I've always liked that.
Posted by: crank | Mar 10, 2006 4:22:25 PM
Montclair (or Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Verona, West Orange---not to offend anyone!) may be one of the few towns in Jersey where people can read without moving their lips.
Posted by: Miss Martta | Mar 10, 2006 4:25:29 PM
I assume the new Thread is not related to the store of the same name that was once located on S. Park where D. Marie, now also defunct, was situated.
Posted by: Real Estate Freak | Mar 10, 2006 9:08:15 PM
If you added an 's' to the name would it then be a store that sold car tires?
This conversation has me in stitches!
Posted by: Franklin | Mar 11, 2006 2:49:32 AM
Seriously, I welcome a preppy store. Preppy always looks good and never goes out of style.
Posted by: Miss Martta (8T) | Mar 11, 2006 7:39:00 AM
Has anyone had dinner at La Couronne (spelling?)also in Watchung Plaza? Food is great w/good service as well.
Posted by: Sandie | Mar 11, 2006 7:51:29 AM
"Preppy always looks good and never goes out of style."
Yes, the sort of clean, classic preppy by way of Ralph Lauren look is great, but the lime green corduroys printed with pink baby whales, no socks and Bass weejun loafers kind of "old school" preppy look -- not so great.
Posted by: Skipwith | Mar 11, 2006 8:48:11 AM
Thread opened last week, and it is absolutely fabulous. I cannot believe how amazing it looks compared to the old clothing store that used to be in that location. I live just up the street, and will definitely be doing a lot of shopping there.
Posted by: Fashionista | Mar 28, 2006 5:05:52 PM
And the good news is that in a few short months you will be able to walk across the street and go to two different banks, including a two lane drive through. Or around the corner to a third!
Posted by: carya | Mar 28, 2006 5:10:45 PM
as my dear old Grandma (RIP) used to say:
"you'd bitch if they put a new rope around your neck!"
What, on earth, do people have against banks? Would you rather have a Burger King? Banks sound nice to me. In fact WestCoast video is a dump and I bet a bank will look nicer!
Posted by: Right of Center™ | Mar 28, 2006 5:15:23 PM
