Business

FORE! – Atul Kakar, co-owner of Par2Play golf center on Hamilton Street, lines up a shot at one the facility’s four golf simulators. You could say Atul Kakar loves golf, but that would be an understatement. After all, how many casual admirers of the game install a $100,000 golf simulator in their garage? That’s what Kakar did years ago when …

Goblins and ghouls and Taylor Swifts were spotted throughout the township in the days leading up to, and including, Halloween. As has been the practice for the past number of years, “Trunk or Treats” events were held in multiple locations. Celebrations were held by schools, by private businesses and by teh Township. On October 28, the Township Recreation Department held …

CLOSING SHOP – This Rite Aid location on Hamilton Street is targeted to close as part of the company’s bankruptcy process. The Rite Aid pharmacy at 773 Hamilton Street is among 12 of the chain’s New Jersey locations that will be closed by the ailing retailer, according to court documents. Philadelphia-based Rite Aid Corp. on October 15 filed for Chapter …

GENERATIONAL FARMING DISCUSSED – The Generational Farmer panel at Somerset County’s Influencing Agriculture Conference included (l-r) Carol English of English Farm in Basking Ridge; Matt Puskas of Middlebush Farm in Franklin Township; and Jimmy Abma of Abma’s Farms in Hillsborough and Doug Van Nuys of Hillsboro Farm. A township farmer was among 13 Somerset County farmers who participated in panel …

Wakefern Food Corp. is voluntarily recalling its ShopRite Bowl & Basket Specialty Hawaiian Teriyaki Spice Rub due to mislabeling, according to a press release from the company. The recall is being conducted because some of the product may contain black sesame seeds, a known allergen not listed on the ingredients label, according to the release. The recall impacts 2.3-ounce ShopRite Bowl …

SHUT DOWN – Stop work orders were posted on the doors of the Boston Market on Easton Avenue. The restaurant was one of 27 locations issued the orders. The Boston Market on Easton Avenue was one of 27 New Jersey locations shut down by the state labor department August 14 for a variety of alleged wage violations. In an August …

Submitted by Unity Bank. Unity Bancorp, Inc., parent company of Unity Bank, has been selected for the second year in a row for the national Top 25 Banks ranking published by Bank Director magazine. Unity was 13th nationally on the ranking of the largest 300 publicly traded banks and 7th nationally for banks in the $1 billion to $5 billion asset category. Both of those …

REVIEWING PLAN – Members of the township Historic Preservation Advisory Commission review plans related to the proposed McDonald’s restaurant targeted for Rutgers Plaza. It took a few go-’rounds, but the McDonald’s Corp. finally got the needed approval from the township Historic Preservation Advisory Commission July 18 for its new restaurant in Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue. The sticking point was …

Damaris Sanchez Rivera and her partner Anna Maria, along with various friends and family, celebrated the grand opening of her new men’s and women’s hair salon, D Styles Beauty & Barber Shop, June 21 in the Stop & Shop Plaza at Route 27 and Veronica Avenue. The Franklin Reporter & Advocate stopped by: State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-12), left, was …

KELLER WILLIAMS MANAGEMENT TEAM – Greg Tibok, Michelle Smith and Kristen Lunden at the Keller Williams Greater Brunswick Grand Opening. When Greg Tibok was looking for a town in which to base his new real estate business, the choice was obvious. The Franklin Warrior (FHS Class of 2001) decided to enlarge office space at 220 Davidson Avenue that he’d held …