Workers getting high with a ladder, not the product, on opening day at Frosted Nug cannabis retail shop at 22 Bridge Avenue (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
BY BRIAN DONOHUE
Well, Red Bank isn’t a one weed shop town any more.
The second of three retailers licensed under the Borough’s cannabis ordinance threw open its smiley-faced doors to the public this week. Also, an iconic Broad Street building approved in June for a “classy,” “no riff-raff” restaurant is up for sale just three months later. And, well, have you ever heard of a trucker hat bar? You’re about to, so long as you read on in the latest edition of redbankgreen‘s never-ending Retail Churn.
Frosted Nug cannabis shop opened up Monday inside the 22 Bridge Avenue shopping plaza that would make the munchie-stricken lead character of any stoner flick content, rounded out by Wawa, Crates Liquors and Windmill hot dogs.
Frosted Nug follows Monteverde, which opened earlier this year a half block away at 45 Bridge Avenue. The third licensee, Canopy Crossroad is under construction and at 9 West Street. Borough Ordinance limits the number of licenses to three, although that hasn’t stopped two more retailers from seeking – and in one case, receiving – planning board approvals in case that changes somehow.
redbankgreen did not partake or go inside, but the Frosted Nug web site lists varieties like Garden Greens Grape Junky Flower and Garden Greens Obama Runtz Flower. Yes, we can.
In other churn news:
An event decor/party planner company called the PrettyCharmingCo is planning to open a storefront at 17 Mechanic Street (photo at right). The company prepares balloon displays and “trucker hat bars” for parties that allow partiers to design and bedazzle their own custom trucker hats. They also do photo booth rentals and custom party favors, according to their web site. The company takes over the former home of Ruscil’s pianos, which had been there since 1992 before moving out this summer.
- A Lincroft developer who bought a long-vacant architectural gem at 21-23 Broad Street and vowed to rent to a “classy” restaurant with no “riff raff” is flipping the joint instead.
The property, vacant since 2012, is listed for sale at $5.2 million. Geoff Brothers of Brothers Commercial Realtors was outside the building this week and said the owner is looking for a buyer for the building, which was approved by the zoning board in June for a three story restaurant with a roof deck.
Known as the Doremus building since 1921, the terracotta-faced structure was sold for $4 million last October by Rick Stavola to a limited liability company associated with Jennifer and Marco Savo of Lincroft, according to business records.
21-23 Broad Street (white building at center) in a file photo from last year. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
In June, Marco Savo appeared before the planning board board and received approval for several variances to do a gut renovation, facade restoration and add a third-floor outdoor deck and garden at the rear of the building. Savo conceded he had no plans to open the restaurant himself and said he was looking for a tenant at that time.
Having gutted the inside and received the approvals, he’s now looking for a buyer.
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] by calling or texting 848-331-8331 or yelling his name loudly as he walks by. Do you value the news coverage provided by redbankgreen? Please become a financial supporter if you haven’t already. Click here to set your own level of monthly or annual contribution.
