Post by novillero on Sept 16, 2008 9:12:15 GMT -5
Matawan is using variety to spice up its downtown life
Place is peppered with restaurants, spas and shops
By Sametta M. Thompson • KEYPORT BUREAU • September 16, 2008
MATAWAN — For a small town, the downtown of Matawan has a wide variety of businesses.
If you crave authentic Mexican cuisines, visit Aby's restaurant. Got an appetite for Portuguese and Brazilian barbecue dishes? Dip into Matawan Barbecue. After you fill your belly, you can relax in the nature-inspired Peter Conte Salon and Spa. On your way home, you can pick up a custom-made gift basket for a loved one from Wrapture.
Opinions on the outlook for Main Street are just as assorted as the businesses there.
Some business owners say things are looking up. Others, such as C-Town supermarket, have closed their doors for good. C-Town was open for less than a year when it closed this past June. It was hurt by a number of factors, including regular picketing by members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, who told shoppers not to shop there because the store was nonunion.
A few new businesses this year have opened. A few others who have been downtown for many years, say there's still has a lot more room for improvement.
Roger Peter, 60, is co-owner of Peter Conte Salon and Spa, a 4,000-square-foot business at 128 Main St. that has operated in the downtown for 12 years.
"We built this beautiful spa and people were amazed that we would invest that kind of money in downtown Matawan," said Peter, who owns the business with partner Jennifer Conte of Matawan. "But I like this town and somebody had to start," said Peter, a resident of the Belford section of Middletown.
The redevelopment of the Matawan Transit Village area, Peter hopes, could be the thing to drum up business on Main Street. But that project has not been started yet. Downtown needs to draw in more patrons, he said.
But Peter Conte doesn't depend largely on walk-ins.
"People come because they hear of us," Peter said. Other customers learn about the company from its Web site, he said. Peter credits his salon and spa for drawing at least 250 people from various communities who wouldn't ordinarily visit Matawan.
For nine years, Victoria Van Jura has owned Victoria's Cozy Corner at 135 Main St., a homemade breakfast and lunch spot. She said she believes the area can thrive more. "Matawan is a great town and the people in Matawan are fantastic," she said.
Downtown could do much better if more functions were held on Main Street, so people would learn what's available, Van Jura of Matawan said.
Ross W. Maghan III, president of the Matawan-Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, said there have been new efforts to promote the downtown. For example, he said, the chamber recently partnered with the Matawan Police Department and sponsored "Matawan Idol," to expose more people to the area. The chamber also partnered with Matawan Alliance's annual Shark Fest event.
"I think the primary issue the town faces is finding a solid anchor tenant, with a broad market appeal for the C-town building," Maghan said. "The rest of the pieces are in place for Main Street. All that's missing is the home-run draw that a tenant like Trader Joes or the like would bring."
At 74 Main St., a former Episcopalian church built in 1850, now diners can find Bart's Modern Continental Cuisine. Open for 26 years, Bart's is one of the downtown's oldest running businesses, owned by Bart and Carolyn Ruggiero, residents of Matawan for almost 40 years.
It's tough running a business on Main Street, said Carolyn Ruggiero, who has seen many businesses come and go.
Bart's doors are still open, she said, because of her husband's extensive experience in the industry. "My husband has been in the business for 45 years. . . . He just knows where he can cut costs without jeopardizing the integrity of the quality of the food," she said.
"So many times, people buy restaurants and have no previous experience and they do not have the skills to either go in the kitchen themselves or have a good handle on inventory control."
Bart Ruggiero credits his restaurant's longevity to his steady flow of loyal customers. He is a jack-of-all-trades, working in the kitchen, bartending or doing whatever else he needs to do. The 68-year-old thinks Main Street needs a "revival."
With the July grand opening of Matawan Barbecue at 32 Main St., owner Andreliana Campos of Aberdeen hopes her Portuguese and Brazilian restaurant can help give the town that revival.
"This is an ideal location," she said.
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080916/BUSINESS/809160329/1003
Place is peppered with restaurants, spas and shops
By Sametta M. Thompson • KEYPORT BUREAU • September 16, 2008
MATAWAN — For a small town, the downtown of Matawan has a wide variety of businesses.
If you crave authentic Mexican cuisines, visit Aby's restaurant. Got an appetite for Portuguese and Brazilian barbecue dishes? Dip into Matawan Barbecue. After you fill your belly, you can relax in the nature-inspired Peter Conte Salon and Spa. On your way home, you can pick up a custom-made gift basket for a loved one from Wrapture.
Opinions on the outlook for Main Street are just as assorted as the businesses there.
Some business owners say things are looking up. Others, such as C-Town supermarket, have closed their doors for good. C-Town was open for less than a year when it closed this past June. It was hurt by a number of factors, including regular picketing by members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, who told shoppers not to shop there because the store was nonunion.
A few new businesses this year have opened. A few others who have been downtown for many years, say there's still has a lot more room for improvement.
Roger Peter, 60, is co-owner of Peter Conte Salon and Spa, a 4,000-square-foot business at 128 Main St. that has operated in the downtown for 12 years.
"We built this beautiful spa and people were amazed that we would invest that kind of money in downtown Matawan," said Peter, who owns the business with partner Jennifer Conte of Matawan. "But I like this town and somebody had to start," said Peter, a resident of the Belford section of Middletown.
The redevelopment of the Matawan Transit Village area, Peter hopes, could be the thing to drum up business on Main Street. But that project has not been started yet. Downtown needs to draw in more patrons, he said.
But Peter Conte doesn't depend largely on walk-ins.
"People come because they hear of us," Peter said. Other customers learn about the company from its Web site, he said. Peter credits his salon and spa for drawing at least 250 people from various communities who wouldn't ordinarily visit Matawan.
For nine years, Victoria Van Jura has owned Victoria's Cozy Corner at 135 Main St., a homemade breakfast and lunch spot. She said she believes the area can thrive more. "Matawan is a great town and the people in Matawan are fantastic," she said.
Downtown could do much better if more functions were held on Main Street, so people would learn what's available, Van Jura of Matawan said.
Ross W. Maghan III, president of the Matawan-Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, said there have been new efforts to promote the downtown. For example, he said, the chamber recently partnered with the Matawan Police Department and sponsored "Matawan Idol," to expose more people to the area. The chamber also partnered with Matawan Alliance's annual Shark Fest event.
"I think the primary issue the town faces is finding a solid anchor tenant, with a broad market appeal for the C-town building," Maghan said. "The rest of the pieces are in place for Main Street. All that's missing is the home-run draw that a tenant like Trader Joes or the like would bring."
At 74 Main St., a former Episcopalian church built in 1850, now diners can find Bart's Modern Continental Cuisine. Open for 26 years, Bart's is one of the downtown's oldest running businesses, owned by Bart and Carolyn Ruggiero, residents of Matawan for almost 40 years.
It's tough running a business on Main Street, said Carolyn Ruggiero, who has seen many businesses come and go.
Bart's doors are still open, she said, because of her husband's extensive experience in the industry. "My husband has been in the business for 45 years. . . . He just knows where he can cut costs without jeopardizing the integrity of the quality of the food," she said.
"So many times, people buy restaurants and have no previous experience and they do not have the skills to either go in the kitchen themselves or have a good handle on inventory control."
Bart Ruggiero credits his restaurant's longevity to his steady flow of loyal customers. He is a jack-of-all-trades, working in the kitchen, bartending or doing whatever else he needs to do. The 68-year-old thinks Main Street needs a "revival."
With the July grand opening of Matawan Barbecue at 32 Main St., owner Andreliana Campos of Aberdeen hopes her Portuguese and Brazilian restaurant can help give the town that revival.
"This is an ideal location," she said.
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080916/BUSINESS/809160329/1003
