FAIR HAVEN: AN ELEGANT ENIGMA ON DISPLAY

The window display at Haute Couture Creations as seen last week. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Luminously elegant in her strapless white gown, she swans through a flock of origami doves behind full-length windows in the heart of Fair Haven’s quaint business district.

For more than a decade, that mannequin and another on display at Haute Couture Creations have been something of an enigma for passersby: their outfits never seem to change. But thanks to a Facebook thread, only recently have locals collectively realized something even odder: the boutique itself is never open for business.

January 13, 2020 - 5:30 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: PROMWEAR GIVEAWAY

Olivia Diana of Marlboro High School, above, and Jack Geary of Ocean Township High were among those taking advantage of a promwear givewaway Monday at the Woman’s Club of Red Bank.

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April 16, 2019 - 12:00 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: GIVING PLAY-BY-PLAY A TRY

Would-be sports announcers listen to Monmouth U Eddy Occhipinti, below, in a Parks & Rec class at the borough library last week.

[Red Bank Parks & Rec press release]

Thirteen Red Bank youngsters with dreams of a future in sports broadcasting participated last week in ‘Sports Broadcasting,’ the first part of a two-week workshop produced by the Red Bank Department of Parks and Recreation.

February 13, 2019 - 12:16 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: FRESH FASHION ON THE RUNWAY

Putting a bow on a three-week ‘Fifth Avenue Fashion’ course offered by Red Bank’s Parks & Rec department, 10 young designers showed off their creations at a red-runway fashion show at the Senior Citizens’ Center Tuesday night.

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January 30, 2019 - 7:25 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: A SECOND CAREER IN OLD JEANS

Kattya Torres at her Union Special sewing machine. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

After her job as a wireless telecom engineer vanished in a merger, a Red Bank businesswoman has found a second career in eradicating crotch rot.

Ahem: that is to say, the holes that frequently develop in the groin of old jeans some people simply cannot part with.

August 10, 2018 - 10:00 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: JEWELRY SHOP COMING

Already home to a dozen or so, downtown Red Bank is about to get another jewelry store, redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn has learned.

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November 17, 2017 - 10:00 am | Comments ()

SHREWSBURY: A STUDY IN CHILLING OUT

Edgar Davis of the Study provides some “men’s precision grooming” for Alex Goodman of Red Bank. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

A wooden sign outside a small cluster of stores in Shrewsbury is a bit enigmatic. It says, simply, “THE STUDY.”

If it sounds like the name of a coffeehouse hoping to create a certain mood, or a college-exam prep outfit, well, the tagline in small type underneath clarifies things a bit, for passersby with good eyesight: “men’s precision grooming.”

November 16, 2017 - 10:30 am | Comments ()

LITTLE SILVER: NAIL BUFF TRIES TO NAIL $20K

Little Silver manicurist and nail artist Halle Butler needs a hand.

The Northeastern University junior, now doing a beauty-industry internship in Manhattan, is one of six national semifinalists in a nail art competition sponsored by polish maker Essie.

May 17, 2017 - 8:20 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: YARN, SNEAKERS, JEWELRY & MORE

Customers at the community knitting table at Chelsea Yarns, which opened on Mechanic Street two weeks ago. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

A retail business moving into Red Bank from out of town. An existing business rebranding itself. Another one moving a few doors away. And a fourth calling it quits.

You might say this edition of redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn has it all, churnwise.

April 18, 2017 - 7:14 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: SHOPS PLAN EGG HUNT WITH HINTS

Red Bank stores and restaurants plan to hold an Easter Egg hunt this weekend. But this one’s got a twist to it.

Organized by the Red Bank Business Alliance, the Saturday afternoon event features a bit of clue-solving to get participants hopping from shop to another.

April 11, 2017 - 12:18 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: BOUTIQUES PLAN FASHION SHOW

The new rooftop deck at Teak, with the onetime borough hall in the background, is the setting for a fashion show featuring stylings by downtown shops. (Photo by Life as Fine Art. Click to enlarge)

Downtown Red Bank will be the scene of its first open-air fashion show in recent memory next month.

The aim of the event is to “showcase that retail is very much alive in our amazing little city,” said Angela Courtney, owner of the Sweetest Sin lingerie shop on White Street.

March 20, 2017 - 12:59 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: TAPAS OUT; CLOTHES, ICE CREAM IN

The short-lived home of a Subway shop at 60 Broad is slated to open as Luigi’s Ice Cream. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

[See correction below]

By JOHN T. WARD

A restaurant departs as an ice cream shop and a clothing store prepare to open in downtown Red Bank, redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn has learned.

Details below.

March 14, 2017 - 4:59 am | Comments ()

RUMSON: WORDS NEEDED FUR CHAIR BEAR

redbankgreen’s Accidental Photographer came upon this scene on West River Road in Rumson Wednesday morning. But it cries out for a witty caption. Got one? Go fur it. (Photo by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge)

October 19, 2016 - 11:59 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: A DATE WITH DESTINY?

redbankgreen’s Accidental Photographer came upon this scene of scattered and mashed dates on West Front Street in Red Bank Wednesday. No clue how they got there.

The photo cries out for a witty caption. Got one? (Photo by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge)

September 29, 2016 - 2:00 pm | Comments ()

SHREWSBURY: SWIMWEAR, PIZZA & MORE

Lilikoi set up shop recently in a Broad Street storefront in the Franklin Commons strip mall. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

This edition of redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn takes a spin around Shrewsbury and finds — no surprise — that this retail-centric borough has no shortage of stores coming and going.

August 16, 2016 - 12:00 pm | Comments ()

SHREWSBURY: SWIMWEAR IN THE FORECAST

A pair of mannequins stood sheathed in plastic while contractors prepared a new swimwear shop at the Franklin Commons strip mall on Broad Street in Shrewsbury last week.

After a night of windows-open natural air conditioning, when temperatures dipped into the upper 50s, the Greater Red Bank Green is back into swimwear weather, with ample sunshine and peak temperatures in the vicinity of 80 degrees Monday, according to the Weather Underground. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

June 13, 2016 - 5:53 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: BURGLARY AT MARKET REPORTED

Red Bank police are investigating a burglary that occurred late Saturday night or early Sunday morning at Citarella’s Market on Prospect Avenue, Chief Darren McConnell tells redbankgreen.

McConnell said the burglar or burglars forced their way into the shop through the front door and stole a small amount of cash. An investigation is underway, he said.

June 6, 2016 - 1:03 pm | Comments ()

SHREWSBURY: METROVATION BUSY HERE, TOO

Country Curtains opened last month after relocating to a new space across Broad Street from its former home in the Grove shopping center. (Photo by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

There’s lots of Retail Churn activity to report concerning three Metrovation-owned properties in Shrewsbury.

The development firm, which built Red Bank’s 91-residence West Side Lofts apartment-and-stores project and is about to transform the long-vacant Anderson Building at the borough train station into a second Sickles Market store and office building — as reported Thursday by redbankgreen — has also been involved in a flurry of leasing deals one town over.

April 8, 2016 - 8:13 am | Comments ()

CHURN: EYE CARE, BODY WAX, CLOTHES & MORE

A new eye care practice in Red Bank has taken space formerly occupied by an architecture firm. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

In this (long overdue) edition of redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn:

• A new ophthalmology practice and eyewear store has opened on Broad Street.

• So have a body-waxing business and a women’s clothing store.

We’ve also got news on a couple of relocations within town, a couple of pending openings, and a closing — in other words, all the essential ingredients of a Churn cocktail.

March 30, 2016 - 10:30 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: WEDDING WALK RETURNS SUNDAY

Wedding Walk participants checking their itineraries during the 2015 edition of the annual event. Below, sidewalk markers indicate shopping routes. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

[UPDATE: The concluding reception of this event is now scheduled for 3 p.m. instead of 4 p.m.]

For prospective brides and grooms (and brides and brides, and grooms and grooms), it’s the most significant set of steps this side of that “walk down the aisle” — the annual Red Bank Wedding Walk, the 2016 edition of which renews its vows on Sunday.

Showcasing the products and services of more than 40 area businesses, it’s a real-world, real-time stroll through all the borough has to offer committed couples, from dress shops, confectioners and florists to salons, jewelers and photographers. And Red Bank, as befits its status as a “one-stop shopping destination,” is ready once again for its close-up on the first day of Spring, 2016.

March 18, 2016 - 12:00 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: GARY COOPER AT GARMANY? YUP.

Late Hollywood legend Gary Cooper possessed a certain ‘Enduring Style,’ the title of a new book co-authored by his daughter, who visits Red Bank on Saturday.

Comedians of the era suggested that his entire vocabulary consisted of the words “yup” and “nope.” There was always something of the Montana-born cowboy in his characters, whether he was playing a professor (Ball of Fire), Lewis Carroll’s White Knight (Alice in Wonderland), or Lou Gehrig in Pride of the Yankees.

But Gary Cooper could also rock a premiere-party tux, a day-at-the-races houndstooth blazer, or an anyone-for-tennis ensemble of casual cool. The golden-age Hollywood legend’s sense of Enduring Style is the subject of a book co-authored by his daughter, Maria Cooper Janis, and the centerpiece of an event dubbed”Oscar Saturday” at Garmany of Red Bank.

February 26, 2016 - 7:30 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: JUICING UP WEST SIDE LOFTS

The West Side Lofts, as seen from West Front Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

In keeping with its resemblance to a stack of shipping containers, Red Bank’s West Side Lofts project is packing them in.

Since opening last spring, all 90 of its residential apartments have been leased. The West Elm furniture and housewares store has opened, taking one of two anchor spots. The second anchor, Triumph Brewing Company, is expected to open its restaurant in coming months.

And to close out the leasing spree, the project’s developer is bringing in two local small businesses, redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn has learned: Freshica’s Juice Bar and Rumson Personal Fitness.

February 23, 2016 - 2:15 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: PICKETT & WHITE OPENS ITS GATE

Pickett & White took over the Broad Street space vacated by Femme by Ashley. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

In this edition of Retail Churn: A high-profile downtown Red Bank store vacancy has been filled by a new housewares and gift shop.

Pickett & White opened earlier this month in the space vacated last September by Ashley DuPre’s Femme by Ashley lingerie boutique.

February 16, 2016 - 9:16 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: BOUTIQUE HAS (MOVIE) MOB TIES

The interior of Wish 28, owned by twin sisters — and itself the twin of a boutique called Wish in Morris County. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

In this Retail Churn: The latest addition to the Red Bank shopping scene is a women’s clothing and accessories store owned by two women with mob ties.

The fictional mob, that is.

February 15, 2016 - 7:45 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: DUXIANA DEPARTS; SUSHI COMING

The Duxiana store has vacated the building dubbed the Temple of Fashion, built in 1894. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

In this edition of redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn: a flurry of activity to report from Broad Street in Red Bank, including:

• a new vacancy in a historic building in the center of the downtown

• the recent opening of Red Bank Family Pharmacy

• plans for a new sushi restaurant

Plus, there’s interesting news about a new restaurant coming to the Grove in Shrewsbury.

January 19, 2016 - 8:00 am | Comments ()

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