Workers putting a new storefront on the former home of Danny’s Steak House at 11 Bridge Avenue Tuesday. (Photo by Brian Donohue. Click to enlarge.)
By BRIAN DONOHUE
INSOMNIA COOKIES OPENS
By the time you read this, The Philadelphia-based cookie chain Insomnia will likely be open in one of the downtown’s longest-vacant storefronts at the northwest corner of Broad and Monmouth Streets.
When Churn walked by at 1 pm Tuesday, three hungry would-be customers who had expected a noon opening were at the door, peering through a locked door at workers and a store that seemed ready to throw its doors open for the first time.
We got back to our office to find a press release in our inbox announcing a planned 4 pm “soft opening” for the store.
“Here to satisfy sweet cravings day and night,” the press release reads, “Insomnia Cookies offers in-store ordering, pickup and local delivery, with a menu featuring warm, fresh-baked cookies, Cookies IN Ice Cream, brownies, blondies, brookies, cookie cakes, vegan options and a rotating lineup of limited-time flavors.”
“The Red Bank bakery will celebrate its grand opening later this month with giveaways and special offers,” the press release reads, promising additional details soon.
The company announced the following hours for the bakery.
Sunday: 12 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Monday – Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Thursday – Friday: 11 a.m. – 3 a.m.
Saturday: 12 p.m. – 3 a.m.
The storefront at 6-8 Monmouth, also known as 74 Broad Street, has been vacant since Valley National Bank moved out in 2018.
FROM STEAKS TO CLOSETS
The ground floor of the old building at 11 Bridge Avenue, long home to Danny’s Steak House is being converted into several retail spaces, with the chain California Closets the first to sign a lease, according to Chris Cole, Managing Parnter of Metrovation, the commercial developer that owns the building.
The chain is preparing for a spring opening, Cole said.
Danny’s old liquor license has been transferred down the street to The Anderson Building, at 200 Monmouth Street, also a Metrovation property.
As previously reported in Churn, operators of the Anderson Market are planning to open a juice (in the morning) and cocktail (in the evening) lounge on the ground floor.
Froyolicious at 43 Broad Street
RETURN OF THE FRO-YO
Remember the fro-yo boom and bust frenzy of the 2010’s?
Three fro-yo shops opened in Red Bank within roughly 26 months in 2010–12; all three were gone by 2016.
There’s other ice cream joints that sell frozen yogurt. But Red Bank apparently went a decade without a dedicated frozen-yogurt shop.
Now, there’s Froyolicious, which opened last Friday at 43 Broad Street.
They describe themselves as a family-owned shop with one other location on Staten Island.
