Talk of the potential closing of Over The Rainbow has gone on for some time now. Then there was this letter. Now Phil Read goes somewhere Over the Rainbow to find out if the store is indeed closing (it's not apparent from the article if Read actually ate anything) and how the upscaling of Church Street is pushing folks like owner and good Samaritan Bob Farina out on the street. From the Star Ledger...
Inside, you'll see blankets lining a one-time cooler case, home to a Daisy's raisin bran snack here, an Utz chips bag there. And you'll find a bearded, wool-capped baritone who, when he isn't singing in a church choir, is welcoming not just the regulars but the homeless in from the rain.
"They sit down, watch some TV, buy some tea. If it gets busy, they get up, go outside," he says matter- of-factly.
If Over the Rainbow does lose its lease to rent hikes and close, it will leave a major void in the lives of both the homeless and folks who just aren't flush enough to spring for a $7 salad...
"We're not out to sell a garden salad at $7. For $7, I could get 14 heads of lettuce and feed 30 people," Farina says.
The shop's lease, Farina said, runs out in several months, a situation likely to push up his monthly rent of $1,740 by several hundred dollars.
From Farina's perspective -- father of three, grandfather of two -- the upscaling of his hometown of nearly four decades is troublesome. He's seen the bronze horse at a nearby antique store, priced at tens of thousands of dollars, he said.
"There's so many people in need, what's the purpose of that?" he says.
Comments (32)
Word on the street is that Bangz is moving because the landlord tried to increase their rent at the current location from $14,000 to $30,000 a month.
Talk about yer upscaling.
I think that in 10 years, this town is going to be unrecognizable. The only diversity will be the color of your checkbook.
there's an argument to be made about the changing face of montclair, but i hesitate to have it revolve around Over the Rainbow, a store that sold used jeans and old videos in its dairy section.
Beware the Ides of March
Over the Rainbow is great place. I am so happy that someone in Montclair hasn't forgotten the homeless. If Over the Rainbow closes something will have died in Montclair. I wish that there were more places operated by people with that kind of compassion.
Actually laser, there a lots of people who haven't forgotten. I'd wager they do a better job of it too.
(a partial list)
Interfaith Hospitality Network
for the Homeless of Essex County
Phone: 973-414-9856
Contact: Donna Dickey
The IHNHEC provides shelter and food to homeless families with children at local congregations. Space is limited.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
73 South Fullerton Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042
Phone: 973-744-6220
Some of the services that St. Luke's Episcopal Church supplies to the community are:
• Toni's Kitchen: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 11:30am-1:00pm -The door is open for food and hospitality year round.
• Job Seekers: Wednesdays at 7:30pm. A free service for those entering the job market or making a transition in their employment.
• Second Time Around Shop (973-744-2517)-open Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10am-3pm. Sells gently used clothing and goods.
Human Needs Food Pantry
92 Greenwood Avenue
Montclair, New Jersey 07042
Phone: 973-746-4669
Contact: Deanna London, Director of Operations
The Human Needs Food Pantry, a nonprofit corporation, provides groceries free of charge to those meeting the federal guidelines for poverty. The Pantry will be relocating from 92 Greenwood Avenue to Label Street so call before visiting. Hours of operation for clients picking up groceries are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30-2:00pm. Hours for dropping off donations are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30am to 12:00pm.
Salvation Army
13 Trinity Place
Montclair, NJ 07042
Phone: 973-744-3312
Contact: Annamarie Goglia
The Salvation Army offers a variety of services, including the following:
• Lunch offered on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from Noon to 1:00pm.
• The Cornerstone Homeless Shelter, a 23-bed facility, for individuals and families in transition. After school program for students from ages 7 through 13. Wednesday from 4-7 pm. A meal is provided, along with enrichment activities and help with homework.
• Trinity Cafe for high school and college students seeking a drug and alcohol-free environment. Coffee house that offers music, games, food on the first Friday of the month.
• A food pantry for emergency situations.
• Summer day camp.
Interfaith Hospitality NetworkÂ
117 Irvington Ave
South Orange, NJ 07079
Phone: 973-313-0011
FAX: 973-313-2302
Contact Volunteer: Hadassa Maidenberg
Case Management:Â Cheryl Forbes
The Interfaith Hospitality Network provides services to homeless families,
with school age children, to help them return to housing & gain
self-sufficiency.  Overnight shelter services are provided in conjunction
with local congregations of all faiths. Case Management & Supportive
Services are provided by staff members.
National Housing Institute/Shelterforce
Organization Contact Information
Address:
460 Bloomfield Ave
Suite 211
Montclair, NJ 07042
Contact:
Harold Simon (Director)
Phone:
(973) 509-2888
Fax:
(973) 509-8005
Website:
http://www.nhi.org
Not to say that "Over the Rainbow's" activities should be demeaned in any way.
I'm confused - this guy helps the homeless by giving them something to eat, but then where do they sleep? Where do they get medical attention? What do they do to begin to find something better for themselves? Does he help them find a job, or some version of a job? How many homeless people are in our area?
There has got to be more to do then giving them discount sandwiches. I'm not saying helping people out with a meal is bad, but it reminds me of the give a man to fish/teach a man to fish thing.
Maybe when the Watchung/Grove street houses don't sell for that 1.7 mil the town can make one of them a half-way house.
I believe that Bob Farina had a place on Bloomfield Ave many years ago before he opened at his current location....
where he did the same thing "help feed
people who needed it".
Trying to recall, there was some dispute w/ the lease/renovation then he opened the current place on Church street.
He did. It was in the location above Al-Di-La on Bloomfield Ave. A vitamin shop is there now.
Yup, JT, the previous location was on Bloomfield Ave. across from CVS near Park Street. There was a dispute but I can't recall if it was over back rent or some other cause.
Thanks for the info ROC.
you're welcome.
If you ever want to volunteer at a charity or non-profit this is a outfit which matches you up.
http://www.volunteermatch.org
"I think that in 10 years, this town is going to be unrecognizable. The only diversity will be the color of your checkbook."
Are you saying that people of color don't have any money? I hope not. That would be racist, no?
Farina was also very nice to a lot of the kids in town.
He would let them play music out front, and if they needed electricity they could plug in inside his shop.
I'd like to thank him for that.
Of course the more conservative Montclair becomes, the less things like this will be allowed to happen.
So, hrhppg, what is so confusing about this man helping by feeding the homeless? Does it then become his responsibility to shelter, bathe, train and provide medical care for them? He does what he can. I don't get your point.
Martta, The Vitamin Shoppe has always been above Al Di La, Mr. Farina's old location was half a block down on the same side of Bloomfield Ave. It was where Mesob stands now. Somehow, back in the day, the two health food shops coexisted in such close proximity to each other. I remember that Farina's old place (wasn't called Over the Rainbow then) had a nice old-style lunch counter. He did well with a lunch crowd or with people coming in for fresh wheatgrass or carrot juice. Ah, the old days.
Sorry, my bad...I do remember the counter, though. Good food, too.
He would let them play music out front, and if they needed electricity they could plug in inside his shop.
I for one will miss those free summer evening concerts. They always gathered a crowd. They were one of those things that made Montclair a special place.
Sorry to confuse Bob, my point was more like what can the rest of do to continue where he started. Also I was curious about the number of people he helps - and is there a better maybe more permanent solution to help them.
"Are you saying that people of color don't have any money? I hope not. That would be racist, no?"
No, Walleroo, just that money can elevate some things and level others.
Okay. So what does money elevate, and what does it level?
money...elevates...wealth?
did i win?
walleroo, it sounds as if you've written a zen koan above. A funny one, even. And wit can be a great leveller.
I'm sure Cate' will be playing there again this summer...I believe once, they got power from Church Street Cafe.
I'm sure Greg would let them again...we all love their sounds.
I absolutely cannot believe that someone actually had something negative to say about someone feeding the homeless.
He's not looking for recognition. Cool it on the negativity. We all do what we can.
Who said anything negative DM?
hrhppg.
Perhaps I'm just grumpy, but I get so tired of those rhetorical (read: snoozy) questions of "Why aren't we helping them? Blah blah blah."
I think it would be very cool if one of the other landowners in town found him a place to run his store if he can't afford to stay there. It is not only homeless people who can't afford $7 for lunch. $1500 a month is not peanuts for a store that size, particularly in parts of town that haven't been "colanderized" yet.
maybe if ralph would buy his videos at a video store and stop ripping off great stores like this, the town could have its original vibes and not his type of neo-nazism. get a life and get healthy ralph, cut the cigarettes and the recreationals
Change is inevitable. Being a prosperous community is a good thing if we use our wealth wisley and for the good of many people, not just an elite group. I don't think asking market rents for buildings with high maintenance and taxes etc. is wrong. The problem I see is that Mr. Farina is basically running a charity, not a business from a high rent district. His heart is in the right place, but he can do his work elsewhere, like many others do in this community. Selling day-old bread and out-of-date produce is sort of like a "thrift store" approach to a grocery store in my view. And I won't even get into the hygiene issues.
I agree with Maryellen.
This is a hot spot realty zone and trying to feed the poor with Church Street rents will not work.
Our shop has been on the street for over 10 years and we are trying to keep up with the changes but not be another exclusive, yuppie, expensive shop.
I used to get some descent vegetarian food, groceries and vitamins from there a few years ago but it seems the place has really gone down hill and I do not frequent there anymore. If only they fixed the place up I think it would do ok.
It is a shame and I will be sad to see it go.