STUDIO OUT, SUGARUSH IN, RETAILER BACK
Chris Paseka, above, and partner Jesse Bello-Paseka plan to double the size of Sugarush, taking over space vacated by the Kathryn Barnett School of Dance. (Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Kathryn Barnett School of Dance has relocated out of town, cupcakery Sugarush is growing into Barnett’s vacated space, and Hip and Humble Home has landed back in a storefront after several months absence.
All part of the wonderful world of Red Bank’s Retail Churn.
After 30 years in town, Kathryn Barnett has moved her East Front Street dance studio, where generations of girls have learned the art of movement, to Union Square Mall on Route 35 in Middletown, combining forces with Allegro Dance Studio.
Danny Weinberg in his newly reopened Hip and Humble Home, on Wallace Street. Below, bracelets by Violet Pepperpot are also sold there. (Click to enlarge)
The resulting vacancy will enable next-door neighbor Sugarush to bust through the dividing wall and more than double in size with the creation of a sit-down space offering cupcakes, cakes and coffee sans table service.
Owners and husbands Chris Paseka and Bello-Paseka opened their confectionary in late 2010, and the business took off, fending off competition. It’s not uncommon to see customers lined up outside the 800-square foot shop.
That rapid growth prompted the pair to consider a move, and to entertain invitations to leave town when a streetscape reconstruction blocked the entrance to their store and others for several months last year, Paseka acknowledged.
“But I love this town,” Paseka said, and the Barnett move solved the space problem, serving up an instant 1,200-square-foot expansion space that will also be booked for private parties.
Sugarush filed its plans with the borough this week and hopes to be on the planning board agenda for July 15, Paseka said. If all goes well, the new space will be open by early September, he said.
Danny Weinberg, whose Hip and Humble Home imported furniture store lasted just 18 months on Broad Street, has settled on Wallace Street after a 10-month absence, taking over space vacated by Vinny Faiella’s Red Bank Surplus in March, 2012.
The store, which is now open nights and weekends only, features hand-carved wood furniture from Indonesia and Morocco. In a back room, Weinberg is also now offering vintage rock t-shirts and jewelry made by his girlfriend, Alley Gasiorowski, who does business under the name Violet Pepperpot.
