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RED BANK: JEWELERS RETIRE, SELL BUILDING

Vance Valente at Quicksilver Handcrafted Jewelry on Saturday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

retail churn smallThis edition of redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn might be titled “keeping churn to a minimum.”

Because while we’re reporting the closure of a downtown shop – due to retirement, not the economy – the change comes with a significant real estate deal aimed at keeping small shops alive.

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RED BANK: RESTAURANTS FEED THE CHURN

red bank galleria 071119The Galleria is losing two restaurants: West Side Eatery and Siam Garden. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

retail churn smallA salad-bar restaurant and a “general store-slash-coffee bar” prepare to open in Red Bank as two other eateries close their doors.

Read all about those changes and more in this edition of redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn.

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RED BANK: SHOP LOCAL EATERS GIFT GUIDE

chocolate shop

PIEHOLE-GIFT_MED

PieHole knows that local foraging is the best foraging. For the food lovers on your gift list we have assembled 12 Days of PieHole’s First Annual Shop Local Holiday Food & Drink Gift Guide. This is the 4th in the series.

Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe on White Street makes its own chocolate. While a box of homemade chocolates might make a good gift, this dipped bottle caught our eye.

“Our chocolate-dipped wine or champagne bottle makes a great host gift,” says Jackie Cherko. “When you open it up, the chocolate breaks around the bottle and makes a great centerpiece. ”

Bring in your own bottle. It costs $23.95 to have it dipped.

AREA TOY DRIVES NEED YOUR HELP

The Red Bank PBA is running its annual toy drive at the police station. (Photo by Rebecca Desfosse. Click to enlarge)

By REBECCA DESFOSSE

Calling all wannabe Santas – there’s no need to don a red suit to make a difference in a child’s life this holiday season. Just check out one of the many local toy drives that local businesses, legislators, and non-profits are pulling together to make sure that every child has a happy Chanukah or Christmas – especially those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Among them: Margaret Spicer, owner of Distinctive Toys in Fair Haven, knows the holiday season may not be a great one for her business, so she is channeling her efforts to help those in need. She’s banded together with the Knights of Columbus, Life Guard Ecumenical Foundation (LGEF), and Rebuild/Recover  to create “Sandy’s Toy Shoppe,” where affected parents can come and select new toys for their children.

The event comes together beginning Saturday in Eatontown.

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FEEDING THE BRIDE & GROOM

bridengroom4bridengroom3Kaitlin & Joe Baiata of Point Pleasant Beach took the streets of downtown Red Bank Friday night for some photos before their wedding that night at the Molly Pitcher Inn, and found themselves enjoying a movable feast of champagne, courtesy of a waiter at red, and sweets provided by a passing employee of Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe, right. (Click to enlarge)