Stuff-O-Rama on Park Avenue
Last week I heard a hand bell ringing on Park Avenue and looked around for a Christmas-in-July Santa. No, it was a low-key attempt to bring attention to the grand opening of a new dollar store in the former Eiseman's building. I was in a hurry and did not go in (also a bit downcast by the notion of yet another dollar store).On Monday I ventured inside and was amazed at the array of stuff to buy. Walls of hair ornaments, aisles of cooking utensils, rugs, even furniture and everything else in between. Most are off-brands, but the housewares looked serviceable and the gewgaws were mostly attractive. I didn't want to carry anything, so made no purchases, but I will keep this store in mind for the occasional small need that might not warrant a trip to the Watchung Square Mall.
Overhead, eight apartments are under construction. The developer hinted in land use talks that occupants are expected to be urban dwellers who mainly use public transportation. Well, they will only have to walk downstairs to go shopping.
Many years ago, members of the now-defunct Plainfield Redevelopment Agency talked about a future when the likes of Louis Vuitton products would be sold downtown. It's true the downtown was once a shopping mecca for Central Jersey, featuring well-made shoes, business clothing and fine accessories, but it never soared to luxury level and the "good goods" shifted to malls and Westfield.
The nature of the downtown now resembles what a person sees in Elizabeth, if walking around on a jury duty lunch break. Lots of cheap clothing, cheap goods, gimcracks and shoppers buying it all by the bagful. There is a vibrant low-end market, for sure. This is not a judgment on the shoppers who need and want inexpensive goods, it is just how things are. There are also a few destination stores like Suburban Jewelers Appliance-Arama and E&A Restaurant Supply that add to the mix and presumably add to the Urban Enterprise Zone sales tax coffers.
Eventually the influx of new families from the late 1980s and the 1990s may grow into a more upscale consumer class. Will Plainfield recover its middle-class mercantile status or will the better-off consumers just go to the malls and Westfield for their needs? Time will tell.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 10:49 AM
2 Comments:
There are plenty of better-off shoppers in Plainfield, but they almost all go to the malls, or Westfield, or wherever, for their shopping.
When we moved to Plainfield in the 80s we went to Macy's (Bams) on principle. I bought acres of paint and wallpaper on Front Street. I bought my cigarettes from Hudson News. I took the train from Plainfield every day.
But Macy's closed, the paint store closed, I quit smoking, and after the third car break-in I started taking the train from Fanwood.
I would love to feel again the sense of community in a middle-class welcoming downtown, but I don't see that happening in Plainfield in my lifetime.
I do wish that those who use downtown shopping, for whatever reasons, have a safe and clean place to go when they need stuff.
Maybe the city administration should be spending our tax money and their time on dealing with what downtown is, and it could likely be, rather than talking about transit hub fantasies.
I suspect that if there was a stronger representation of the Latino community that would be happening now.
Where has the state leadership, I mean Assemblyman Jerry Green been through these times? I read his blog offerring challenge and criticism to Cristie for solutions. He has been in mainstay of leadership for years. What has he done for jobs, businesses, housing, and crime? Nothing.
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