Business

GRAND OPENING – Paradise Fusion offers a variety of cuisines at its Route 27 location. To the three partners behind the new Paradise Fusion restaurant, making connections is the key. Whether its through their menu filled with South Asian, Korean, Japanese, and Indo-Chinese selections, or through the planned bubble tea bar, the owners of the restaurant located at 3211 Route …

A GROWING SECTOR – Five of the township’s cannabis-related businesses recorded sales of at least $1 million in the first half of 2025. (File photo). Cannabis-related businesses in the township generated more than $251,000 in sales taxes in the first half of 2025. That translates to nearly $13 million in sales, and a Franklin cannabis industry on track to eclipse …

Community members can create their own floral bouquets May 9 and May 10 at Venus Jewelers’ “Blooms for Mom” Mother’s Day event. The newly renovated store, located in Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue, will feature a flower bar where participants can create their bouquets at no charge. Designed as a gesture of appreciation for moms and caregivers, this no purchase …

OFFICIAL RIBBON-CUTTING – Deputy Mayor Shepa Uddin and Township Councilman Ram Anbarasan cut the ribbon March 22 at Herb’s Premium Dispensary on Franklin Boulevard. One of the township’s newest cannabis dispensaries held a grand opening party on March 22. Herb’s Premium Dispensary, located at 757 Franklin Boulevard, brought in a DJ, food trucks, barbecue and catered food to formally celebrate …

MULTI MILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS – Bloc Somerset, located in the Village Plaza shopping center on Easton Avenue, recorded more than $6 million in sales in 2024. (File photo.) The 12 cannabis retailers operating at least part of 2024 in Franklin generated nearly $400,000 in sales taxes paid to the Township. Cannabis retailers pay 2 percent of their receipts to the …

Two township-based businesses are among 23 throughout the state recently awarded a total of $1.7 million in state grants for developing technology, therapeutics, and other solutions to address maternal and infant health challenges. The businesses, both located in Somerset, are Primo PharmaTech, which creates novel drug delivery technology, and MedifVu, which develops technologies to help determine the nest treatment plans …

RIBBON-CUTTING – From left to right: FTPD Detective Robert Brown, Franklin Food Bank Executive Director Derek Smith, Dunkin’ Franchisees Mohamed Elsharkawy and Mai Omar, Deputy Mayor Shepa Uddin; FTPD Officer Malcolm Belvin; Somerset Dunkin’ Manager Snehal Patel; Somerset County Clerk Steve Peter; and FTPD Officer Ken Reid II help with the ceremonial ribbon-cutting. (Photo: Dunkin’) Township political and business officials …

RIBBON-CUTTING – Mayor Phil Kramer cuts the ceremonial ribbon as store owner George Zavacky (left) looks on. There was a little party at Cedar Grove Centre, on Cedar Grove Lane, on January 24, and the public was invited. The occasion was the grand opening of MJ’s Affordable Kitchens, which offers soup-to-nuts design and installation of kitchens, and more. George Zavacky, …

CITATION DELIVERED – State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen holds the citation from the state Legislature, flanked by La Providencia owners Lilia Rios and Fransisco del Toro. The owners of La Providencia, a four-month-old store offering Mexican products, received a special guest on January 14: State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen. Danielsen (D-17) didn’t come empty-handed. He brought with him a citation from the …

MCDONALDLAND CHARACTERS – The Hamburglar, Grimace and Birdie were among the guests celebrating the grand opening of McDonald’s in Rutgers Plaza December 19. McDonaldland celebrities were among those in attendance December 19 to celebrate the grand opening of the newly relocated McDonald’s in Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue. Grimace, Birdie and, of course, the Hamburglar were on hand to commemorate …