It’s a been a sad week in Baristaville for nostalgia-lovers. Another popular retro-style establishment, The Soda Pop Shop will close its doors on February 10. “Closing shop is a personal decision – so we can have more time for family and get our life back,” say owners Connie and Bobby Restaino (no relation to Dominick)…But there’s another reason the owners chose to close their turquoise doors after eight successful years: Montclair’s “parking problem.”
Bobby Restaino told Baristanet “running a restaurant is grueling work, and Montclair is not a business-friendly town.”
“The aggressive [parking] ticketing policy is frustrating for my patrons. I’ve lost customers who opt for the malls, where they don’t have to worry about one-hour parking meters and the threat of tickets,” Restaino said.
Restaino, who has been vocal over past parking issues, says many local merchants agree with him. [And they're not the only ones upset over parking. Wait 'til you hear soundbites from Baristanet's Montclair poll...] “I don’t understand the town’s mentality on parking. If they really want to support local businesses, parking should be free,” he said emphatically. “I’ve gotten a ridiculous amount of tickets – and it’s going to get worse when they prolong the [meter] hours. I wish the public would go march on town hall about this.”
Restaino says unlike Copabananas, the rent has nothing to do with his leaving. He’s been one of the lucky ones, he says, “Mr. Mun, is a great landlord, he’s nice, he’s fair.”
Good news for the new tenant, Ursula Garcia, owner of Greek Delights who’s taking over the bigger space for her expanding business.
As for the Restainos, after a much needed break, and some time to regroup, they plan to re-open a bigger, grander version of their restaurant “somewhere along a a major road, like Route 46, where I’ll have my own free parking lot.” Viva la kitsch…
Work-life decisions aside, it’s unfortunate that middle-of-the-road restaurants and retail stores face challenges that go unsupported by the town council. Foodies and hipsters flock to Fascino and Blu no matter what the parking situation demands nor what cost to the wallet, but other businesses that collectively form the charm, character, and attraction of the town could use some assistance from the town to maintain their business plans and operation. You can keep the developers happy, but if the renters aren’t happy, no one wins.
Its places like the Soda Pop Shop that were written up in New Jersey Monthly and The Star-Ledger that put Montclair on the radar screen of people all over NJ. It would be a shame if that the very growth that the town desired leads to its demise as well. As Yogi said it, “no one goes there anymore because its too crowded.”
When there are too many deer in the forest, nature starves them
When there are too many people in the world, nature creates a plague
When there are too many establishments for an area to support, fiscal and logistical reasons force some of them to close.
I live in the northern part of Montclair, and while my favorite establishments are down on the Bloomfield avenue stretch, I frequently forgo that part of town because of the inconvenience of parking. It is a problem.
I feel bad for the owners of this shop. As an owner of Marc & Eric, we dealt with the same problem. However, there was a brand new parking garage about two blocks away and that seemed to be “too far” to walk for most people. So you can’t really blame it just on the ticketing. I always thought there were alot of New York transplants in Montclair but it seems they gave up walking when they switched over to cars.
What a shame. We have a son with a peanut allergy and he loved this restaurant because he could order ice cream with out fear (The Soda Pop Shoppe has a great protocol in place for those with peanut allergies). We will really miss you and will look forward to hearing about your new location.
“When there are too many establishments for an area to support, fiscal and logistical reasons force some of them to close.”
I agree with your reasoning but why can’t the establishments we DON’T like close instead of the ones we like?
Bobby should get back to music anyway.
I am new to this area and have been curious about that shop. Planned to go soon, but now i really better.
Peanut allergy. I am puzzled. For the first 40 years of my life I never encountered or heard of anyone with such an allergy. PBJ sandwiches were universally consumed. Where did all the people with allergies come from?
Too Bad . She’s right about the parking gestapo, though.
WHAT?! But I just brought Ava and Zachary there this afternoon! This is terrible, really sad.
I’ll be sad to see the Soda Pop Shop close. Our family had a lot of nice times there. Does anyone know what is happening with the space that Greek Delights is in?
ah, the greener pastures of rt 46. i’m sorry to see a locally-owned business go, but aren’t we getting our issues mixed up? are people concerned about the lack of parking (which we’ve all heard quite a bit about) or the lack of FREE parking? if the latter, i don’t understand why someone would expect such a thing in the downtown of a medium-sized community. the point is that we’re NOT rt 46 and we’re NOT a bastion for malls or big boxes, thank god. parking meters are a fact of life in most non-aesthically-disgusting communities. surely there are other means by which the township could be more “business-friendly.”
Byron: lots of children today have peanut allergies, for the same reasons why different strains of bacteria and viruses affect lots of people today and not any time before. Some people blame all the anti-bacterial soaps we all use, others all the antibiotic prescriptions that are more commonly issued these days.
Perhaps Montclair should consider offering free parking in their garages to some extent to help draw people to downtown, and cultivate an environment where small business owners can thrive.
And Bloomfield should consider the same thing if and when they build their garage (are you listening, Mayor McCarthy?). The revenue they forgo by not nickel-and-diming people for every parking space may very well be recovered by increased tax revenue generated by a vibrant downtown.
While it was not my favorite for food, it was nice to have a cheap meal and a big sundae. I really liked the Elvis. What a disgusting yet tasty concoction.
If some trendy nouveau bullshit opens there I’m going to go vomit on the window.
So now it’s Baskin Robbins if I want ice cream?
How a town with so many little ankle biters can’t support a non-chain ice cream shoppe is beyond me.
re: peanut allergies
Another possible factor is said to be wider use of peanut oil — in fast food and packaged food (cookies, etc.) — and something about how babies get excess exposure in the womb, and emerge with a peanut allergy.
But I was just remembering today how I ate 3 snicker bars a week and ate lots of peanut butter, with a spoon straight from the jar, while pregnant. And not a single peanut allergy in the offspring.
That is cool that the Soda Pop Shop had a protocol in place. You’ve got to know your demographic! I bet there are some Home & School committees that would like to consult with them.
Sad for those who liked it. I appreciated it when I was prepping for pre-cancer surgery and when on chemo I had continual cravings for their raspberry sherbert floats etc. They were just so decent about everything.
I find it rather intolerable, now. When I am dragged by friends with grandkids or kids, the general misbehavior of many of the little cherubs makes me sick. I find the food barely edible.
Now that so many places seem to be shutting their doors, I wait for new ventures who will open, and most likely, close. As for Greek Delights, that is good!
You’ve also got a larger population, ergo a larger # of people with allergies & they get more vocal about it.
You’ve also got better diagnostic tools than we had in the 1950s.
Whether the actual % of the population with peanut allergies has increased, I don’t know. I’m sure the info is out there somewhere if anyone cares enough to find it.
Would somebody please explain to me how making parking “free” would solve the parking problem? If parking were free, the problem would be worse because there’d really be no parking space–people would move their cars even less, making it harder to find a space. Am I wrong?
Peanut allergy. I am puzzled. For the first 40 years of my life I never encountered or heard of anyone with such an allergy. PBJ sandwiches were universally consumed. Where did all the people with allergies come from?
Posted by: Byron | February 2, 2007 5:41 PM
They are the ones who survived- the rest died of anaphalactic (sp) shock
I had the Elvis today, delicious! The food never impressed me, but today I was dazzled (after being disappointed at the small size) with their egg salad sandwich. I brought my brother there a few months ago and he had a much bigger version of the little thing I had. It was still tasty!
Please, parking is just an excuse. There is a new parking deck in the back, not that far away at all and reasonably priced.
The reality is, the town is changing, and the chains are moving in. Apparently some sort of ice cream chain is taking the place of Bangz Hair Salon (forget the name, but it was mentioned on here elsewhere). The Soda Pop Shop just saw the writing on the wall, thats all.
You da man, Stan. That sounds right to me.
Its all DO DO to me
How a town with so many little ankle biters can’t support a non-chain ice cream shoppe is beyond me.
Applegate!
This will be my first and only post on this Rona Barrett gossip group.
I’ve been reading this baristanet on and off for a few years now but found it not necessary to ever say anything. Too many people create their own opinions about things without knowing any facts.
I’ve been here almost 8 years now and have given my sweat, my life and a lot more than I care to mention. I am not and have never been afraid to do anything and take risks. I create the Soda Pop Shop and built it from the ground up and watched it flourish.
Not everyone liked the food and not everyone liked the ice cream. No establishment can please everybody. Even the most successful places have critics showing thumbs down.I’ve been written up in newspapers, magazines and I have been mentioned by Pete Genovese of the Star Ledger as the most fun restaurant in New Jersey.
I’m going to set the record straight for all the people on this site who feel they know everything.
Me and my wife are tired. It’s been 8 years and right now, we have nothing left to give. I AM NOT AFRAID OF ANYONE OR ANY STORE THAT MIGHT SERVE THE SAME PRODUCT AS I. I just signed a new lease and it was in my best interest to sell the lease and I did, so I can go live my own life for a while. I DID NOT decide to close because Rick’s Cones, Candy and Chaos is coming to town. It’s a no big deal(chain ice cream parlor) that is already in trouble and they are closing stores in towns they have been in. I’m going to predict for you now that IF they go in Bangz space next to Bus Stop Central, they won’t be there that long . Cold Stone is in trouble with a lot of their stores as well. Being in the ice cream business for 8 years, I know a lot of what’s going on with these warm and cozy chains.
I wouldn’t have been afraid if Applegate moved next store to me. They would have had their customer and I would have had mine.My place was something unique that doesn’t really exist in America anymore. And if anyone read the main article, the answers for my reason to close are right in front of you. I have seen things being in Montclair that I couldn’t begin to tell you about.
I lived here for a while, got married here and chose to open this place in 1999 cause many of the positive things this town offers.
Well, I can tell you now that It was a mistake coming here. Montclair is busy unfriendly and they could care less who comes and who goes. Nobody has to like my place and even like me for that matter. Montclair will NEVER get it’s act together and after I take a long 2 year rest, I will decide at that point to open a more lavish and involved Soda Pop Shop as far away from Montclair as possible. I’m sorry if anyone is offended by what I’ve said if you happen to like or love this town.
Hey man, no one was saying they hated your restaurant, nor did I see any terrible negative commentary. Your description of Montclair is rude and offensive to those of us who still live in the town, enjoy the town, and hope the best for the town. Why would you choose to make immature statements such as “after I take a long 2 year rest, I will decide at that point to open a more lavish and involved Soda Pop Shop as far away from Montclair as possible.” And that last sentence doesn’t make up for the ridiculous and terrible things you’ve said. I’ve patronized your restaurant for years but I’m regretting all the time and money spent helping your business grow.
I don’t know what gets into people like Mr. Soda Pop. Running a business is hard. Succeeding in almost any profession is hard. He put his heart into his business and lasted 8 years and now is taking a break. Good for him. No reason to criticise the people of Montclair. No reason to act as if he knows all and everyone else, be it shopkeepers, national chains, or the citizenry, are beneath him. And, as for the parking, what is the big deal? The parking garage holds hundreds of cars and is filled up on the weekends with people who seem to have no trouble parking there. In NYC, parking is even worse and people manage to buy ice cream where they choose to…Mr. Soda Pop’s crankiness is just unbelievable; indeed, it’s time for him to leave and find a nice little place to open a business on charming Rt. 46.
I’ve heard the same comments as “doesn’t matter” makes time after time from businesses closing their doors and leaving Montclair. Nice businesses on Church Street, nice businesses on Valle Road in Upper Montclair.
They all say “Montclair isn’t friendly to business,” and by business they mean the unique stores that have defined Montclair.
Did ANYONE from the MEDC work with Soda Pop, or listen to the owner during his years here? (and I’d be pleasantly surprised to see a representative from that group comment in the positive!).
Think ANYONE from the Township, including the Mayor and/or appropriate Town Councilor ever stopped by to see how things were going? Shouldn’t that be part of their job?
But when some fancy consultant wants hours of the Council’s time in special “Conference Sessions” to pitch the latest developer hype, yes, the doors are swung open and it’s “How can we help?” from the town.
I don’t understand the “full” reasoning behind the closing, but it would be nice if someone paid attention to the small business owner and not just to the chains and the guys with the big bucks!
Why doesn’t the Council invite HIM to one of their Conference Meetings to tell his story. It won’t matter for his leaving, but the Council might get educated!
Wow. Good thing he was in the ice-cream business and not teaching grammar at Montclair High.
I own a business on Church St. Our customers come from both Montclair and beyond. It’s funny that the out-of-towners RAVE about the Crescent parking garage, but the locals are more apt to get frustrated trying to find on-street parking.
The complaints I heard re. parking weren’t the “lack” of parking, but when people parked in the meters they did find, or in the Y deck, they complained about the aggressive enforcement of the meter maids.
I can’t believe it’s parking that’s frustrating business owners … just what is it?
Paige?
Okay, so the problem is locals want on-street parking? Entitlement, that’s what it’s called. Montclair is essentially a small town. There just isn’t that much parking on the street. So, get over it.
As for the shop owners: Retail is a difficult slog, even at the mall. I doubt there is anything local fathers can do to make people want to shop downtown…or anywhere else. That is the challenge of opening a business, marketing it to the right people…and being nice to them…the Soda Pop Guy’s defensive posture suggests he looks down on Montclair and perhaps he is conveying that along with his ice cream.
Connie and Bobby,
I am really sad to hear that The Pop Shop is closing. I love your restaurant — not only the food and atmosphere, but the kind, courteous service as well.
It was always nice to see that you employed local teenagers to work at your place. I also appreciated the fact that you served kids, but weren’t afraid to put boisterous shrimps in line when they caused a ruckus.
Contrary to what you might think, a lot of people in Montclair really appreciate all that you’ve given to the community. I understand this town isn’t friendly to small businesses. But please understand that there are many people in the town who are heartsick over the huge chains that are overtaking the town. Your establishment added considerably to Montclair’s charm. Unfortunately, that charm is rapidly fading, now that you and so many other small businesses are leaving (with good reason.)
It is exhausting to run your own business. Enjoy your time off and good luck with all of your future endeavors. Your food and friendship has sustained me through some pretty tough experiences.
Thanks.
i gotta say it. man. that headline is a gem.
Years ago, I saw a cartoon hanging in Keil’s Pharmacy: a bleary-eyed man was locking up his store on a moonlit night, saying to a dog-walking passer-by, “The beauty of owning your own business is that if you want to work 16 hours a day, you can!”
Dear Mr. Soda Pop Shop owner,
It seems like a little rest would do you good. I hear the Overlook hotel is in need of a caretaker for the winter.
All work and no play makes Mr.Soda Pop Shop owner a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Mr.Soda Pop Shop owner a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Mr.Soda Pop Shop owner a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Mr.Soda Pop Shop owner a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Mr.Soda Pop Shop owner a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Mr.Soda Pop Shop owner a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Mr.Soda Pop Shop owner a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Mr.Soda Pop Shop owner a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Mr.Soda Pop Shop owner a dull boy.
Mr. Restaino:
The first paragraphs of your post are perfectly clear. Then you lose us with:
“And if anyone read the main article, the answers for my reason to close are right in front of you. I have seen things being in Montclair that I couldn’t begin to tell you about.”
I understand some of the reasons why you are closing. I don’t understand why you think Montclair is unfriendly to business, despite your repeated assertions.
I for one wish that you would begin to tell us about the things you’ve seen.
Surely Janet Gold is behind this.
My wife’s grandfather gave her one good piece of advice- never go into the restaraunt business unless it’s primarily a bar business and even then money is going to end up in a lot of other pockets. Can you think of any restaurant that’s been around for 20+ years that’s not a pizza joint or bar? Try it, it’s hard. My kids & I liked the Soda Pop shop. Good luck going forward.
Leave the guy alone already!!no wonder he wants out, YOUR TOWN SUCKS, you liberal, heart lacking, annoying PEOPLE! Montclair is a joke, & he sees that clearly! its everyone else that in a bubble!
I thought it weird that they used to have a sign elaborately explaining that they would not serve to-go orders of ice cream cones- kind of defeated the purpose of selling ice cream
A lot of negative energy is coming through from the Soda Pop Store owners. That was the antithesis of my experience in 2000 when their raspberry sherbert (sp?) and chocolate floats kept me going through chemotherapy. What happened?
I can’t imagine what it must be like to serve Barista brats and kids from other areas. Since 2000, I have been in there less than five times–always as a place to meet with those with little kids. During that time I felt indifference from the wait staff and greasy food which I did not eat. Kids like that stuff.
Yet, the defensive tone of the latter Soda Pop Shop post is quite marked. If it was that horrible, why stay that long?
Good luck to you; perhaps another field might work. Oh, if that TANG sign is still there and you do not want it; can I have it? My cat is named TANG Poohzie and it would be good for his self-esteem.
A lot of negative energy is coming through from the Soda Pop Store owners. That was the antithesis of my experience in 2000 when their raspberry sherbert (sp?) and chocolate floats kept me going through chemotherapy. What happened?
I can’t imagine what it must be like to serve Barista brats and kids from other areas. Since 2000, I have been in there less than five times–always as a place to meet with those with little kids. During that time I felt indifference from the wait staff and greasy food which I did not eat. Kids like that stuff.
Yet, the defensive tone of the latter Soda Pop Shop post is quite marked. If it was that horrible, why stay that long?
Good luck to you; perhaps another field might work. Oh, if that TANG sign is still there and you do not want it; can I have it? My cat is named TANG Poohzie and it would be good for his self-esteem.
you can buy the sign if you want it
How much? Who are you, poohzie?
The parking problem exists for many of the business owners and their employees who are forced to leave their businesses to pump the meters all day.
The restaurants in town are places where many vagrants, borderline mentally ill and others show up looking for free hand outs, endless conversation or money out of your register.
Mr. Restaino’s comment about not being afraid of competition is an honest one, not a pompous one. Look at how many places you can get coffee at in town including supposed category killers, Starbucks and Duncan Donuts (which serves ice cream as well). What he had was a unique brand that was positioned directly to appeal to baby boomers who would enjoy sharing the nostalgia of the good old days with their children. That’s not what any of the other ice cream places are about. He succeeded very well in establishing that brand. If after 8 years of working 12 to 16 hour days he has grown frustrated with the process, he has the right to not be second guessed over motive.
Finally, as much as people tout the parking lots, they are intimidating to those who want to see whose lurking before parking. Anyone who reads the Montclair Times knows that they are not without incident.
Wow. Good riddance to this business.
Miserable old crank!
And where are all these supposed “National Chains” that are killing retail in Montclair? The only “National Chain” is Urban Outfitters.
Everyone should take a pill and relax. The sky is not falling. Downtown looks better than it has in 20 years.
Bye bye Soda Pop Shop! We obviously don’t need you.
The Soda Pop Shop was one of the very few establishments in these parts to even serve a malted with real malt in the drink. Most places just make a milkshake and call it a malt. That said, I was never fond of anything else they serve.
“The only “National Chain” is Urban Outfitters.”
The Gap and that terrible one across the street from The Gap.
Oh I’m so bummed. The kids loved this place, and it had become a traditional lunch place on the very last day of school for the last few years. It was a lot of work for the owners, they always seemed to be running around at top speed. Best of luck, I know we will miss you.
Hey, what are they going to do with all those games? I want the “Clean Sweep” game! And the box of “King Vitamin” cereal!!!!!
I’m the orange cat who lives with you, of course.
I would like to go out occasionally, why do you insist on keeping me inside?
I don’t need the Tang sign to boost my ego just clean the litter pan more often and I’ll feel better about myself
The other thing that I would appreciate is if you’d get rid of that god awful orange quilt, it doesn’t match my fur at all.
a photo of me before I bacame the largest orange cat you’ve ever seen
“The only “National Chain” is Urban Outfitters.”
The Gap and that terrible one across the street from The Gap.
Downtown, not Upper!
Feelin’ dissed goes both ways. My kids liked the place, and I enjoyed the nostalgic themes. But then something sure went wrong. Soggy fries. Burnt onion rings. Surly service. Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.
“Did ANYONE from the MEDC work with Soda Pop, or listen to the owner during his years here? (and I’d be pleasantly surprised to see a representative from that group comment in the positive!).
Think ANYONE from the Township, including the Mayor and/or appropriate Town Councilor ever stopped by to see how things were going? Shouldn’t that be part of their job?”
NO!!! It’s not the job of the Mayor or councilors to check on businesses to see if they are doing OK!!!!!!
If this business or any other business needs help they should be the ones to contact the MEDC or their councilor to see if they can provide help. If the owner needed help he should have asked for it not waited for it to show up by itself!!! I have been shopping and eating at businesses on Bloomfield Ave for 15 years and I have ALWAYS been able to find a parking spot. Now that the deck is open nobody can use that excuse. I know people will still blame their problems on parking, but it’s just a poor excuse for their own failures.
I remember seeing parents pointing at the photos on the walls of old time tv / movie stars to their kids…telling them what shows they were in…it was a slow walk, not because the wall was very long, but because the parents stared at the photos, and talked to their kids, for a long time..taking it all in.
Others sat at the counter, laughed about seeing board games they haven’t played in too many years to really count..their kids looking back at them like they were nuts…others watched a black & white video of Lost in Space on a 1950′s tv set, while eating an ice cream cone.
You could hear, coming from the back room, music from the 50′s… live shows with original groups …with adults knowing all the words, after so many years..their kids looked at them like they were nuts too.
Seeing Soupy Sales, Dennis North, and many other renowned actors signing autographs and chatting with folks, was a typical happening.
The smiles on the faces of the kids at one of those birthday parties, was matched by the fun the grown ups had being in such a place too.
Connie, Bobby…you touched many people, over many years…added to the community a sense of what life was like in another time…and you both worked very hard and long, in trying to do just that..I know, I’ve known both of you from day one.
Whatever reasons you have to be moving on, may you both find what you brought to so many: smiles, having fun, and feeling good about ones’ Family…and doing something together.
The shared memories of a by gone era, were re- visited by many, and seen for the first time by countless others….and those experiences will always be a part of their lives.
Thank you for all that you did, and for being a grand neighbor.
Good Luck…you’ll be missed.
Wayne Robbins
why should this business have contacted the MEDC. The MEDC does NOTHING.
Yes they run the farmer’s market and yes they let some non-profits share their table. But for the most part they had little kids selling candy bars.
They didn’t even make sure that there wer no fights.
Now, that’s site management!
I have to be honest, I rarely saw more than 4 or 5 people in that place at a time… was that just me?
It was a neat concept, and I wish Mr Restaino well. But why the rant about Montclair pal? Seems a little immature. The parking “problem” is a pretty thin excuse. There is a massive parking deck in the CENTER of the downtown. Who can’t find parking in downtown Montclair? And I’ve never paid more than a buck to park there. Business failures come from either a general lack of interest in the product or poor execution.
I’d be more sympathetic if it weren’t for the “i’m going far, far away from montclair” rant.
National chains? or Franchises? – national names but owned by franchisees. I can see it now – great opportunity in upscale neighborhood and so forth. And that is why so many “national” names open “store fronts” and go belly up. The money is made in the up front deal for the parent company.
Urban Outfitters, the Gap, Williams Sonoma etc. are not franchises. I think that Dunkin Donuts, Subway, Learning Express (for sure) fall in this category. They help their client find an optimal location.
We moved here a few years ago and our kids were THRILLED to find out about and frequent the Soda Pop Shop. I have to say I’m not too thrilled about the owner’s posting here, but our decision is to keep the positive memory alive for our children and “not share”. We’ll go there before the place closes, we’ll take some photos for their scrapbooks. It’s been a good trip for us – wish it were the same for our hosts.
why is there a cat posting here.
Why not a cat posting? My friend who saw my posting did not see it on Baristanet and he did not post on Baristanet.
Is it an RSS feed or something? He had no idea what Baristanet was; he lives in Indianapolis (Broad Ripple)where they are not privy to Barista.
Where do these posts go, then?
What do you have against pets posting on Baristanet? Are you an anti-pet-ite or something? Just because we don’t have opposable thumbs doesn’t mean we aren’t intelligent beings without opinions!
First The Roost closed, now the Soda Pop Shop? I love this town, but I hate what’s happening to it!
well, since it’s your cat…and he’s posting pictures of himself, I guess it’s your call.
Again, if anybody actually read the original story, it wasn’t parking per se, but the parking ENFORCEMENT that is the problem. I hear about this from the business owners I know all the time, as well as downtown residents. The new garage is quite nice, and I like the lower rate that is charged, but it still fills up pretty quickly on a Saturday evening. If it’s before the cutoff time on the metered spaces, you’re pretty stuck. While I still would never go all the way out to a strip mall on Rte. 46 for dessert, the fear of a $20 ticket keeps me from Montclair center as well.
it’s not a $20 ticket anymore- the rates went up.
Thank you Soda Pop Shop for giving me the opportunity to meet and spend some time with one of the stars of my favorite childhood TV show, Mark Goddard (Don West in “Lost in Space”). I could have met him earlier that day (about 4 years ago) at one of those gigantic Chillerfest conventions but your wonderful little back room with televisions playing shows he’d appeared in was the perfect setting. At least I’ll have the photos to look back on but I’m sure sorry there won’t be any place I can WALK to that could bring such a happy piece of childhood back to me. Oh, and the single scoop of Moosetracks for less than $6 (unlike some other “creameries”) wasn’t too shabby either! You’ll be missed by this child of the 60′s.
Connie and Bobbie we hate to see you go. Good luck and don’t forget to visit us here at Creative Endeavors!
Why can’t animals post? We make more sense than those humans. Humans are too busy complaining about the loss of food places and pulling groundhogs out of holes. I know where my food is.
However, I am too busy meditating to post too often. And I love my orange quilt.
Don’t we already have a Wallaroo? Now you have me, Tang Poohzie, the Original, and the Wonder Lab. Is it time for our own blog?
Just don’t steal my purrsonna. I am Tang Poohzie, the Original.
In Chinese wouldn’t that make you Pooh Tang
Did you look at the link that I posted a few posts above.
Do we look alike?
Maybe we are twinkits separated at birth.
Take a look.
Get rid of the Orange quilt- it’s not your color – go for something green it will set off your eyes and be purrrrrfect.
no, it would make me Poohzie Tang but you can call me wild thang
Entitlement is definitely an issue in Montclair. We now have a centrally located parking deck, built after years of business owners complaining and what happens, people still bitch cause they have to walk two blocks. The new lot is easy to use, close to Chuch Street and town center.
“why is there a cat posting here.”
ihflkjihuggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggbv utyhgdrfdaeqwqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
because it can.
the question should be- why is jmo posting here?
jmo- don’t you have a war to attend
Wow. I really feel a big, empty space inside now.
The Screening Zone went, Let it Rock went, Urban Outfitters came, the Marlboro Inn went and then Crisco came… when Copananas went, we saw that fewer and fewer of the reasons we call this town our home are left.
“If the Soda Pop Shop closes,” we said, “that’s going to be the last big, tangible thing holding us and Montclair together. It’s going to be time to start looking.”
This sucks. And more and more lately, Montclair does too.
Where will I get my chicken finger salads and Birthday Cake Shakes now? I’m afraid I’ll never see another Birthday Cake Shake again.
You based your life in Montclair on the Soda Pop Shop and chicken fingers?
Bye bye!
“If the Soda Pop Shop closes,” we said, “that’s going to be the last big, tangible thing holding us and Montclair together. It’s going to be time to start looking.”
Rolls eyes…
Nostalgia for the Screening Zone? That was the crappiest movie theater on the planet.
No, I based my life in Montclair on a number of things, including but not limited to:
1. The existence of places we can stop in for an affordable lunch or dinner. Affordable meaning we can AFFORD it.
2. The homey feeling of walking around downtown on a nice day and people who know your name saying hi; stopping into businesses where the owners know you and talk to you.
3. All of my favorite places to go NOT disappearing while the town takes on the character of the inside of a shopping mall.
All these things and more have been slipping away very quickly and definitely. When I came here, I’d finally found a town that felt like home. That’s changing, and the business landscape of downtown is both one big cause and a big symptom.
you should find a corner bar…where everyone knows your name
No one in Montclair should be complaining about parking. You have a beautiful new parking garage with plenty of room in it and it charges a very reasonable rate. If people are too cheap to pay the rate or too lazy to walk a couple of blocks from the parking garage then it’s too bad. Bloomfield should only have a parking garage as nice as yours!
I moved out of Manhattan to get out of Manhattan, not to bring it with me.
Other people apparently don’t agree – Manhattan seems to be following. Out I go!
Amandala,
I don’t what town you live in, but Montclair looks nothing like a mall. There is ONE national retailer downtown. There are LOTS of family owned businesses. In fact, downtown today looks great compared to 15 years ago.
Did you read the Soda Pop Shop owner’s rant above? He hates Montclair. He wants to get as far away as possible. Is this the kind of friendly merchant you want in town?
If the Soda Pop Shop was holding you together then you really should think about moving elsewhere. Somewhere with nice padded walls. Your shrill bleating about Montclair is boring and tiresome.
In sum,
Bye bye!
Does anyone else remember this? The store used to have a sign that said “we don’t serve to-go ice cream cones here, please try TCBY down the street”
It seemed so strange when I saw it -that I just want someone to confirm that I didn’t imagine it
Granted, some of Montclair’s parking regs are incomprehensible (why is there 1-hour parking on one side of the street & unrestricted parking on the other?). But I shop & do business all over town & parking has rarely been an issue.
Someone said the issue is is not parking availability but the enforcement of regulations. If that’s true then you need to change the regulations.
Someone else said: “Finally, as much as people tout the parking lots, they are intimidating to those who want to see whose lurking before parking. Anyone who reads the Montclair Times knows that they are not without incident.” Equally true of malls, of course.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this thread and see a couple of sides of things.
“Montclair is unfriendly to businesses”
There are actually a few things that support this. 1. The first thing I can think of is the fact that our garbage pick up was taken away several years ago. Businesses have to pay for their own trash removal. That can now cost as much as rent did in the days before they ended the service. 2. No matter how many times we have been assured that there will be a grace period, ticketing remains aggressive at meters. 3. Another plea that has fallen on deaf ears is accomodations for workforce parking. Reasonable suggestions have been made and have been met with disinterest. 4. While surrounding towns bag meter for the holidays rught after Thanksgiving, we are “lucky” to have them bagged at all, two weeks before Christmas. 5. Code enforcement is inconsistent. Why is it ok for some property owners to let their buildings fall into an embarrasing state of disrepair? Why is it ok to have dumpsters on the street in the middle of a retail district? 6. Parking rates are to be raised— to fund the Parking Authority.
On the other hand, there are organizations in place that are there to help merchants. The MEDC, in Montclair Center, the BID, and as far as I know there are organizations in Watchuing Plaza and in Upper Montclair for businesses. As another child of the 60′s, I remember the saying “If you aren’t part of the solution, you’re part of the problem” These business organizations need help and support from the businesses they are there to serve. It’s easy to complain, but has Mr. Restaino EVER joined a committee, or even attended a Town Council meeting to stand up for the needs of the members of his business district? Somehow I don’t think so. Maybe if more business owners got involved in their community, the town would be more likely to listen- look at what happened when the first parking increase proposals were announced. There was an uproar- and not from just the same small group of people who usually get involved. The town listened.
Montclair isn’t perfect by any means, but it is a wonderful place to do business. I have found the vast majority of customers to be amazingly supportive and a pleasure to serve. I have also had the priviledge to get to know some outstanding business owners from whom I continue to be inspired daily.
To use another old quote, “You reap what you sow”
Crazy Rhythms
Let it Rock
The Wellmont
One Funky Burrito Joint
Batchmaker’s
The Roost
Over The Rainbow
Toys in the Attic
Copabananas
Marc and Eric’s
…now the Soda Pop Shop.
“Montclair is busy unfriendly and they could care less who comes and who goes.”
Exactly what portion of that statement is untrue? Look at that entire strip between Park Street and Valley Road. How much stability is there in that stretch? How many businesses there have closed in the last two years? Nobody gives a damn. They pooh pooh it and say, “oh, you should do better business.” The deck is stacked AGAINST these businesses and it isn’t getting better.
What’s it going to take? Do we have to wait for the Montclair Book Center to close next? The Clairidge and the Bellevue? Dem Two Hands? Every shop in the Mews? Maybe if we had a Jack In The Box open up on Church Street or if Fascino was replaced by Panera Bread.
However, I agree with the last poster — as much as I hate the fact that these shops close, I’m starting to get tired of owners not fighting to keep something good. I’m pissed off at Rocco for ditching the burrito place and leaving the kids in a lurch. I’m pissed at the Let It Rock guy for making his place Dominick’s cupboard for Cuban Pete’s. I’m pissed at Roberts for selling us a line about how they cared about the historic Wellmont, its upkeep and independent cinema. I’m pissed at Copabananas for not trying to make it at a new location.
I, too, think it’s time to leave. Many of the things that made this place special are gone, and the businesses and institutions taking their place are leaving much to be desired. As much as I love the London Food Company, it seems we lose three businesses like it for each one we gain. It, Egan and Sons and perhaps even Watchung Books and Montclair Book Center may be next, and it doesn’t seem patronage makes the least bit of difference. Let them die on someone else’s watch. It’s off to less-green, more urban pastures.
Notteham,
You said it way better than I did.
Except I think I’m off to somewhere I can keep goats.
can’t you keep goats in Montclair?
you can keep horses and chickens why not goats
Once again, like the much-ballyhooed Copabananas closing, some people get the point, others don’t:
The SPS was just not that great. We went many, many times before concluding that the service was interminable, the food pretty bad, and the ice cream, frankly, just okay. So what’s the point?????
Similarly, Copabananas was one of the most unfriendly, unUSEful stores ever. I mean, people FLOCK to Raymond’s, parking problem or not, because the food is GREAT.
Please, shopkeepers, get a clue:
If you’re cold, unhelpful, and/or don’t perform a true service, you SHOULD get out of retail. You need to find something more amenable to your personality and/or strengths.
Just quit blaming it on Montclair being such an awful place. It’s a great place–if you can make it here.
And if you can’t…
Could he have had more expensive food like Raymond’s? Sure. But it would not have been in keeping with the “good old days, good old prices” theme of the place. Could he have worked shorter hours like Raymond’s at those low Soda Pop prices and stayed in business. I doubt it. But he is not leaving because he did not succeed; he is leaving because of all the grueling 12 hour days for many years which leaves little patience for the other matters, some of which are unique to the restaurant business no matter what town you are located in.
I hate to say this, but not every store on the block has to be the most utilitarian in the world. Perhaps YOU found Copabananas unfriendly, but the fact that many others on this board lauded it says otherwise. For example, I found the owner very good-natured and helpful… even helping me track down a rare version of Bitch magazine.
As for “useful,” use is what you make of it. There are some who would say our town’s glut of restaurants isn’t very useful, as it creates redundancies and crowds the field for competition. However, people like them and help keep them in business.
Copa’s catered to people’s senses of both whimsy and humor and even the owner says the buyers weren’t the problem… it was the rent. Granted, they could overcharge for french toast like Raymond’s or sell overpriced hiking equipment like the Outdoor Store, or make museum exhibits out of wine like the entirely too useful wine gallery… but that’s not what it did. It sold simple, quirky items that people loved (like boxing nuns, dictator finger puppets and kitchy wrapping paper).
As for service, are you saying the service at Raymond’s is worth crowing about? The wait staff abandons customers as if they were invisible and aquifers are easier to refill than their cups of coffee, which can stand empty for the duration of your meal.
Copa’s and the Soda Pop Shop, had you cared to frequent either, had a charm and quality you seem to be unfamilar with.
You are shrew who expects every eatery to be Spago and every store to have the chain-tailored usefulness of Urban Outfitters (which benefits no one). You are the type of person Restaino spoke of and you, in so many words. SUCK!
Take your leeching, goldbricking, soul-sucking ass OUT OF MY TOWN!!!
Hard to take a guy who’s tracking down ‘Bitch’ magazine too seriously…
Hard to take a bitch who’s never read bitch magazine too seriously…
Easy to ignore a guy who reads Bitch and searche sfor old issues.
Not so easy to ignore an ignoramus who obviously hates women and beats his girlfriend.
For everyone on this site who like Copabananas and ISN’T a woman hating child molester, they’re still selling goods on line at Copabananas dot com, where the owner still has a working blog and eBay store up.
She has Frida Kahlo plush dolls… that’s awesome.
Sounds like somebody’s penis is scared. What’s the matter, grumpypuss: Does the fact that one of your guy neighbors may actually dig feminism scare you?
Kudos to notteham for not being the typical North Jersey date rapist in training. Why didn’t you post back on the Katie Hnida thread when we needed boys like you?
Notteham,
The sky is not falling:
Crazy Rhythms – Moved across the street, now Rocktec
Let it Rock – Moved into Romp and Stomp
The Wellmont – Plofker
One Funky Burrito Joint -Guy was stoned 24/7
Batchmaker’s – What is this, 1963? That place was gone before you were born…
The Roost – Yuck
Over The Rainbow – Overpriced crap
Toys in the Attic – Sorry to see it go
Copabananas – Could move to any one of 10 locations in town, but wanted to be on Church Street, waah!
Marc and Eric’s – It was around for 6 months. An independent place moved in. No loss.
Breathe kid. And don’t let the door hit you in the ass…
Thanks Ani. Didn’t see the Hnida post.
Hiding:
Wrong on many levels…
Crazy Rhythms: Was a quality record and CD shop in its previous incarnation. Rocktec is a used instrument shop with bins of old CDs. If it was, in fact Crazy Rhythms, they’re still selling off their 90s stock, which would explain all of the Stranglers, Pulp and Blur albums. Not the same.
Let It Rock — WRONG. Cafe Soundz moved into Romp and Stomp, not Let It Rock. Two VERY different shops catering to two very different scenes. You wouldn’t see the guy from Let It Rock peddling his wares at QXTs and I’m guessing the guy from Cafe Soundz mourned the loss of Factory Records more than the loss of CB’s. At any rate, that’s one and a half shops gone.
The Wellmont — Plofker.
One Funky Burrito Joint — Beg to differ. Rocco was anything but stoned 24/7. That guy was on his game when it came to running his staff, creating his menu and, most importantly, keeping the kids in line. He ditched life on the road for the shop, and seemed to leave all the road ills except the burritos behind him.
Batchmaker’s — when I went to I.C., it was still on Church Street and STILL putting gumballs in the bottom of the waffle cones, so WRONG.
The Roost — Hey, they were open late… a rarity in this town. Wish the falafel place would have picked up the flag.
Over The Rainbow — Don’t know that anyone would call anything in that place overpriced, especially the homeless who were able to eat and drink there for a song. The one guy’s stories about Wendy O Williams and touring with the plasmatics were great.
Toys In the Attic — Same here.
Copabananas — See my original post. I’m just as pissed as you are that they used rent as an excuse.
Marc & Erics — Was a great six months and the guys from Calle Ocho aren’t doing half the job in that new space.
I’ll breathe when it stops. In the meantime, that reval door won’t be hitting me in the ass anytime soon. Good luck paying more to live in a town that’s much less fun.
still waiting for the new vocab word.
I love BITCH; I use that magazine and MS as adjuvant ttexts in a Women’s Studies course that I teach. I love my BITCH for keeping it real.
Oh Bitchsters, did you ever read Off Our Backs? That is a pioneering publication.
As for stores, well, stores come and go;sure, I would like to see Crazy Rhythms, Marc & Eric. As for the rest, they can come and go. In its day, the precursor to Over the Rainbow was outstanding; a far cry from the Health establishment currently on Bloomfield Avenue.
As for The Roost, I can’t tell you; I am a vegetarian. However, after refusing one of the handouts which a human-rooster was attempting to distribute, I discovered that this creature was a vegetarian also! I knew that less than welcoming place was doomed.
Did Addiwan close, also? Never tried it.
LOL! Ikanwrite, that’s too funny! How ironic that the human-rooster was a vegetarian shilling for The Roost.
ATTENTION
It has been determined that all “shops” in the community are non-essential. These units take up valuable space needed for luxury housing units. Accordingly, all shops will be eliminated.
Within the next five years, all communities will have a CSU or Central Shopping Unit. These gargantuan units will house the same 35 stores everywhere. These units will provide the sufficient goods to keep the public consumer happy, as well as create a uniform shopping environment for all.
Consumers who attempt to purchase goods outside of the CSU will have electordes placed on their genitalia as penalty for failing to shop at the CSU.
THAT IS ALL. RESUME WORKING AT YOURT COMPUTER TERMINAL IMMEDIATELY.
To Connie and Bobby,
Thanks for the memories. Our kids are 10 and 12, and I’m sure they’ll look back fondly on their early years at the Soda Pop Shop! Your decor sparked many conversations with our children about times past. How great is that?!
Good luck in your future endeavors.
The Siemaszko Family
So tang- are you going to purrrchase that Tang sign? It would look cute in your pad!!!
Go Tangster!
does anyone remember that vintage shop?
I got a 30′s dress there with fishtail train.
Awesome…
It was on layaway for forever, while I was in college, but I kept going in every week to put a few bucks down on it!
I wasn’t taking any chances that anyone got that dress but me!
Yes..the Vintage shop, on Church St., then moved to another spot in town..a great lady named Carloine (sp) had many fine vintage outfits..I worked with her years ago, she supplied clothes for models I was working with for a fashion show.
I ran into her a few months ago, she’s still doing the vintage store thing, but I forgot where it’s located.
I said goodbye to the Soda Pop Shop, Bobby & Connie and the rest of the people I have come to call friends on Friday night. I cannot say it was done without my share of sadness and even a little eye-welling. This was more than just a storefront in which one could find the odd burger or flavor of ice cream. These were people who greeted you with a smile, not because it was part of a training script which also required bits and pieces of buttons and “flairs” to adorn your uniform. These were smiles of sincerity. The caretakers of this place deserve some time off, some time to relax and enjoy what comes their way and for that I’m happy. I’ll miss everyone there. I’ll miss the feeling of true comfort that the Soda Pop Shop gave and gave without asking anything in return. Montclair just lost a bit of the sparkle which makes it a town so many people are either grateful to call home and which so many more would like to call home. To those who read this who share what I feel, please say so. It’s far too often the negative voices who like to think themselves poignant and insightful (but more often just loud and spouting) fill up too much space.
To Bobby & Connie, one more thank you. You’ve meant a lot to us.
I said goodbye to the Soda Pop Shop, Bobby & Connie and the rest of the people I have come to call friends on Friday night. I cannot say it was done without my share of sadness and even a little eye-welling. This was more than just a storefront in which one could find the odd burger or flavor of ice cream. These were people who greeted you with a smile, not because it was part of a training script which also required bits and pieces of buttons and “flairs” to adorn your uniform. These were smiles of sincerity. The caretakers of this place deserve some time off, some time to relax and enjoy what comes their way and for that I’m happy. I’ll miss everyone there. I’ll miss the feeling of true comfort that the Soda Pop Shop gave and gave without asking anything in return. Montclair just lost a bit of the sparkle which makes it a town so many people are either grateful to call home and which so many more would like to call home. To those who read this who share what I feel, please say so. It’s far too often the negative voices who like to think themselves poignant and insightful (but more often just loud and spouting) fill up too much space.
To Bobby & Connie, one more thank you. You’ve meant a lot to us.
I said goodbye to the Soda Pop Shop, Bobby & Connie and the rest of the people I have come to call friends on Friday night. I cannot say it was done without my share of sadness and even a little eye-welling. This was more than just a storefront in which one could find the odd burger or flavor of ice cream. These were people who greeted you with a smile, not because it was part of a training script which also required bits and pieces of buttons and “flairs” to adorn your uniform. These were smiles of sincerity. The caretakers of this place deserve some time off, some time to relax and enjoy what comes their way and for that I’m happy. I’ll miss everyone there. I’ll miss the feeling of true comfort that the Soda Pop Shop gave and gave without asking anything in return. Montclair just lost a bit of the sparkle which makes it a town so many people are either grateful to call home and which so many more would like to call home. To those who read this who share what I feel, please say so. It’s far too often the negative voices who like to think themselves poignant and insightful (but more often just loud and spouting) fill up too much space.
To Bobby & Connie, one more thank you. You’ve meant a lot to us.
I said goodbye to the Soda Pop Shop, Bobby & Connie and the rest of the people I have come to call friends on Friday night. I cannot say it was done without my share of sadness and even a little eye-welling. This was more than just a storefront in which one could find the odd burger or flavor of ice cream. These were people who greeted you with a smile, not because it was part of a training script which also required bits and pieces of buttons and “flairs” to adorn your uniform. These were smiles of sincerity. The caretakers of this place deserve some time off, some time to relax and enjoy what comes their way and for that I’m happy. I’ll miss everyone there. I’ll miss the feeling of true comfort that the Soda Pop Shop gave and gave without asking anything in return. Montclair just lost a bit of the sparkle which makes it a town so many people are either grateful to call home and which so many more would like to call home. To those who read this who share what I feel, please say so. It’s far too often the negative voices who like to think themselves poignant and insightful (but more often just loud and spouting) fill up too much space.
To Bobby & Connie, one more thank you. You’ve meant a lot to us.
A sad day indeed, but every cloud has a silver lining…one less for the whore B.D. to frequent.
A sad day indeed, but every cloud has a silver lining…one less for the whore B.D. to frequent.