Business

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-12) didn’t come empty-handed. He brought with him a citation from the …

It doesn’t look like retail cannabis businesses in the township will have the chance to expand their business to include “cannabis consumption areas.” There is no interest on the part of the Township Council to make the needed code changes to allow for the smoking parlors, Mayor Phil Kramer said on December 18. And Vince Dominach, the Township’s Economic Development …

The champagne was flowing December 6 at Venus Jewelers‘ in the Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue as the family owned business celebrated its new location. The new, larger store is only steps away from its former location, but light years away in feel and ambience. The event was hosted by co-owners Peter Stavrianidis and Dorothy Fount, and Jason Stavrianidis, who …

LT. GOVERNOR IN FRANKLIN – Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way speaks to a reception held for members of the New Jersey-India Commission and Choose New Jersey, about the upcoming trade mission to India that she will lead. The event was held at Samudhra restaurant in Franklin Park. Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way joined a delegation of members from the New Jersey-Indian Commission …

ASKING FOR HELP – Shani Madaminova, co-owner of Leaf Haus dispensary, asked the Township Council to pass a cap on the number of dispensaries allowed in Franklin. Township Council approval of an ordinance that limits the number of cannabis retailers in the township – while grandfathering in a few more that haven’t moved beyond receiving their state licenses – comes …

PROPOSED APARTMENT BUILDING – An artist’s rendering of the proposed four-story, 200-unit apartment building proposed for the former K-Mart location in Rutgers Plaza. The October 17 Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing on the Levin Properties application to build 200 apartments in Rutgers Plaza has been postponed until 2025. The township published an online notice, saying that Levin had requested the …

FAIR WARNING – This sign greeted customers of Starbucks on Cedar Grove Lane October 13 and 14, after issues with the store’s filtered water arose. Customers at the Cedar Grove Center Starbucks were greeted by an unusual sign on October 13 and 14; one warning them about the water in the store. “Do not trust our water,” the sign began. …

POT TALK – Township Manager Robert Vornlocker talks about the proposed ordinance amendment limiting the number of cannabis retailers in the township to 18. The number of cannabis retailers in the township would be officially limited to 18 under an ordinance amendment introduced at the Township Council’s October 8 meeting. There is some leeway in that number, however. If a …

READY TO EXPAND – The Fitness Factory health club is preparing for an expansion into adjacent martial arts-related spaces. After six years of helping people slim down or bulk up, depending on their preference, the Fitness Factory is adding a little bulk of its own. The health club, located in the Cedar Grove Center on Cedar Grove Lane, will soon …

NEW DIGS – The interior of the new Venus Jewelers location in the Rutgers Plaza shopping center on Easton Avenue. The new location is scheduled to open this Fall. (Photo: Venus Jewelers.) Originally planned for this summer, the opening of Venus Jewelers’ new Rutgers Plaza location has been delayed until the Fall due to supply chain issues and construction challenges, …