Thursday, February 7, 2013
Owner Aida Hajjar tried retiring from the restaurant business, but she couldn't stay away.
If you think there's something familiar about the new Aida's Cozy Kitchen diner on Main Street, you're not entirely wrong. Aida Hajjar opened her new restaurant four years after she sold her original business, the Fairmount Country Store. "I got so bored," she said. "I just couldn't stay away." So she opened this new, "cozier" restaurant in the space formerly occupied by Farley's Place. The diner features Lebanese entrees and desserts, which Hajjar learned to cook from her mother while growing up in Lebanon, and an American menu. Hajjar opened the diner in late October, just in time for Hurricane Sandy. When most of the Chathams and neighboring communities were without power, the kitchen was packed with people looking for a hot meal. Aida'…
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Co-owner Mark Weisberg said the business hopes to open by mid-September, if they can obtain all town permits and approvals by that time.
Another vacant storefront in the Chatham Mall has an occupant. IYO, a new frozen yogurt company, recently placed signs up in front of No. 7 at the Chatham Mall along Shunpike Road in Chatham Township. The signs say the store is "coming soon." Mark Weisberg is one of six owners of the new business. The other co-owners are Weisberg's wife Pamela, Tommy Loconte, Paul Panzarino, Cindy Malonchak and Doug Vagell—all have experience in business ownership, restaurant management or ownership or both. "Obviously when you’re dealing with towns and regulations and the permit department, you can’t give a definitive answer as to when you'll open, because obviously each town is different. But I’m hoping to be open in six weeks or less," Mark Weisberg …
Friday, June 18, 2010
The restaurant replaced New Main Taste at 225 Main St.
A new Thai restaurant on Main Street has opened its doors. Thai Passion, which is at 225 Main St., replaced New Main Taste in the spot. It opened today. The first day at a new restaurant can be quite hectic, and the restaurant's owner wasn't available today to discuss his new venture. But we will talk to him soon. In the meantime, we grabbed a copy of the menu. Some items that stick out: A sauteed wild boar tenderloin served with chili peppers and Thai basil for $23.95, a grilled mango shrimp for $22.95, a curry puff pastry with chicken and sweet onions for $7.95 and a mascarpone cheesecake brulee for $8. There is also a lunch menu, and entrees are in the $9 range.
40.74042
-74.38145
/articles/thai-passion-open-for-business
/locations/1415963
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Main Street restuarant serves Northern Italian-inspired fare.
It's the good food and warm ambiance that should drive you to D'Oro, Main Street's new Italian restaurant that opened on Thursday. At least that's how owner Sam Bruncaj sees it. "We are local. We don't have a big name or a cook," Bruncaj said this afternoon inside the restaurant space, which formerly housed Fuoco until that restaurant closed in January. "But we are good quality." D'Oro is the first restaurant that Bruncaj has owned, but he brings an impressive restaurant pedigree with him. He has worked at Da Benito in Union, Il Capriccio in Whippany and Tosca in Hanover, and in the meantime built up his knowledge of what makes a restaurant tick. When the space at 219 Main Street opened, he decided to fix it up a bit and put in his own …
40.74034
-74.38121
/articles/new-business-doro-brings-italian-charm-to-main-street
/locations/340441
Monday, March 29, 2010
Realtor says company hopes to become a strong part of the Chatham business community.
Turpin Real Estate began 50 years ago in Mendham, so it's by no means a new business. But its recent foray into Chatham—it opened up a branch here earlier this month—makes good sense, according to President John Turpin. "For a long time, the Chatham market has fed the markets we've had previously," Turpin said. "When I got into the business 10 years ago, some of my first transactions were in this area." The Turpins have owned the building at 186 Main St. since 2006 but only opened their branch at the beginning of this month. The company also has offices in Bernardsville, Oldwyck, Mendham and Far Hills. And it was now, he said, that it made sense for the group to open up here. "Chatham is a relatively brisk market compared to the rest of …
40.739944
-74.38014
Turpin Realtors
186 Main St, Chatham, NJ
/articles/new-business-turpin-real-estate-ready-to-make-its-mark
222707
/locations/325864
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Watchung Avenue deli formally opened last month.
The Pascarella Brothers Delicatessen held its official grand opening on Saturday on a perfect, sunny day as many came to watch Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan cut a ribbon with owners Gino and Anthony Pascarella. The deli officially opened in early February, but the formal ceremony commemorating the opening was held Saturday. Photos appear at right.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sheri Washington, the owner of the new floral shop in Chatham, has run her business out of her home for 15 years.
Sheri Washington knows weddings. After all, she's been providing flowers to marriage ceremonies and to people organizing other happy occasions for nearly 15 years, running her business, Botanical Blooms, out of her home in Denville. But Washington, who is the preferred florist for the Newark Airport and the Park Ridge Marriott hotels, was looking for a central location from which she could bring her flowers to weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs and other celebrations. "My husband told me, 'You're getting too busy,' Washington said with a laugh as she sat in the Roosevelt Avenue store on Friday, as the sun brightly shined through the windows and glanced off the Hawthorne yellow-painted walls. "You need to stop doing it in the house." So Washington …
40.740223
-74.375506
Botanical Blooms
13a Roosevelt Ave, Chatham, NJ
/articles/botanical-blooms-blossoms
222776
/locations/321028
Connie Morgan
12:09 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Aida, The good news of your return to the cafe business has traveled all the way to Florida! How I wish I could have a piece of your baklava. Better yet, come open a branch in Clearwater! Connie Morgan more ›