PUSH.jpg After playing doorman during last week’s Baristanet breakfast, we pushed for a sign on the station door here. A few days ago, we noticed a sign on the door, which shows you the folks at Claremont Avenue are paying attention.
Town Manager Joe Hartnett has also been making a push to find a tenant for the space who can provide a service, leave room for commuters, and deter graffiti writers or other would be vandals. Last month, a flyer went out to local merchants at Watchung Plaza:

The Township of Montclair is interested in entertaining ideas for locating a merchant in the Watchung Avenue Train Station. We are seeking someone who would open the station during morning rush hour and perhaps two hours during evening rush hour, in exchange for the rights to do business inside the station. The possibilities include running a newsstand with coffee and other amenities, or concierge type services such as accepting dry cleaning in the morning, and returning dry cleaning in the evening. Or, use your imagination as to what might be successful for you to run out of the station. We are also willing to try this on an experimental basis, if you are not sure how something would work out.


Hartnett says the town is open to ideas about how the space could be shared. “This is a pretty common arrangement at stations throughout NJ. Since we have received several inquiries, our next step is going to be to solicit written proposals from interested business people in the next two weeks.”
Tell us what you think would work, and what business you’d like to see in the station house.

Before you comment on Montclair Local
Comments are moderated. Montclair Local reserves the right to delete or close comments on any story at any time. Please read our → Commenting Policy before commenting.

117 replies on “Watchung Station Open…For Suggestions”

  3. a brothel/massage parlor …would do real well…i wouldn’t mind getting a little “extra” before the walk home

  4. Congratulations on the “Push” sign Barista! Where would we be without you?
    The power of the press!
    Next, see if you can get a “pull” sign on the inside.

  9. Bravo to the township for trying such an approach! For all the times they get criticism here, including by me, they should get credit when they do get things done and/or show creative thinking.
    If the rent is truly an exchange of opening/closing services in return for doing business, Sunrise or Bluestone (or even the deli) should be all over that one — whoever* serves coffee and breakfast at the train station is going to impact the rest of Watchung Plaza morning vendors in a big way.
    —————-
    * – whomever? whatever

  11. How about some basic skills training since we appear to need an tacky sign to figure out how to get in.

  14. Does the Watchung train station have insurance (unlike the upper montclair train station)? What happens if it burns down, will we have to call in a developer to save us, again?

  15. I admit it. I’m not very smart, so I need the basics spelled out very clearly. Would someone explain to me how a small business that runs for a few hours during the morning and evening rush hours (on weekdays only) would prevent graffiti and vandalism. I would humbly suggest that most of the vandalism occurs when the station and platform are NOT filled with commuters, so there seems to be a bit of a disconnect here.
    While I applaud the creative thinking, I’m not sure if this solves the problem, other than potentially transferring the responsibility to protect (and dare I say, insure) the station from the township to a private business.

  16. How is it creative thinking to let the thing stand empty for a dozen years and only now find a use for it?

  17. How is it creative thinking to let the thing stand empty for a dozen years and only now find a use for it?
    Holy crap! What is the purpose of bitching constantly about it, then not relenting when they show some movement? People go apeshit over every bad thing and don’t cut slack when what they’ve wanted done starts getting done. feh.

  18. There’s alot of Creativity going on in Montclair Public Schools….which helps explain their test scores….of minority students of course.

  19. Because we expect our “leaders” to be proactive.
    Because we expect them to come up with good ideas BEFORE a problem hits us between the eyes.
    Because we expected them to have insurance on the Upper Montclair Train Station BEFORE it burned down.
    Because we expect them to take care of our trees BEFORE a microburst comes to town and does $600,000 worth of damage.
    Because we expect them to control traffic problem areas BEFORE someone gets hurt.
    20/20 hindsight is not worth accolades

  20. How about a bar somewhere in the watchung area? there are now 2 vacant storefronts..one of which has been that way for a year. with that and the bad stores and mediocre at best restaurants, we could you something that will attract people and spruce the area up a bit.

  21. A watchung plaza bar would be nice, but there’s only one liquor license to be had, and something tells me it won’t be used on a building that isn’t his own.

  22. How is it creative thinking to let the thing stand empty for a dozen years and only now find a use for it?
    Holy crap! What is the purpose of bitching constantly about it, then not relenting when they show some movement? People go apeshit over every bad thing and don’t cut slack when what they’ve wanted done starts getting done. feh.

  23. How is it creative thinking to let the thing stand empty for a dozen years and only now find a use for it?
    Holy crap! What is the purpose of bitching constantly about it, then not relenting when they show some movement? People go apeshit over every bad thing and don’t cut slack when what they’ve wanted done starts getting done. feh.

  24. Is this one leased to Montclair by NJ transit as is the Upper Montclair station.
    If so, how much are WE (the taxpayers) paying in rent per month?
    If the space is to be “shared” how much space does the business get and WHO WILL PAY THE INSURANCE???

  27. Wow, what caused Hairnett to wake up?
    I’d like to know about the insurance on this one as I don’t want to have to pay for it’s “restoration”.

  28. Is the MEDC involved? I thought that they were supposed to help bring businesses to Montclair.
    What is it that they do again?

  29. Aren’t they an organization that Remsen started and that supported him in his run for mayor?
    Aren’t they the organization that people accuse Ted Mattox of not attending the meetings of. Guess he couldn’t figure out what they do either.

  30. AHHH, they are the NO-bid organization that received monies from the Town and who do not have to tell us how they spent the monies that WE provided them?
    Are they going to rent the train station. How much will they pay per month?

  31. Shouldn’t the town be posting this in local papers and bidding it out or is this gonna be a sweetheart deal like those with developers.
    Why not encourage NEW business instead of just contacting businesses that are already in Montclair.

  33. Please don’t tell me we’re paying rent to NJ Transit on this, and for all these years it’s remained empty!
    Is this what we pay those creative types at 205 Claremont to do? Tell me again, how much do we pay the town manager??

  34. “Since we have received several inquiries, our next step is going to be to solicit written proposals from interested business people in the next two weeks.”
    How will businesses outside of Montclair know that this is a possibility?

  35. Even if we DON’T pay rent on this train station, if we COULD HAVE RECEIVED rent for umpteen years, and didn’t, that is JUST PLAIN WRONG!
    Where’s the common sense in this town???????

  36. You go put a GO-GO to go in there. One or two dancers. Or maybe jump on the bandwagon with those drive through coffee joints that have the hoes pouring the java?

  37. It’s near a school- do you want to put underage dancers and hoes in there. That would really put Montclair on the map.

  39. ” how much do we pay the town manager??”
    More than anyone else in town. Remember he’s Joe “pay me the mostest” Hartnett

  40. Maybe Nia Gill would like to rent it to be closer to her constituency?
    Does she actually represent Montclair?

  42. How about a realtor. Don’t we need more realtor’s in Montclair?
    They could decorate the walls with pictures of recent home sales.

  43. Better yet- an attorney who will file tax appeals on a contingency basis. You drop off your home’s information in the morning and pick up your appeal paperwork at night.
    There should be enough appeals to keep the attorney busy for at least 6 months to a year.

  44. How about a realtor. Don’t we need more realtor’s in Montclair?
    They could decorate the walls with pictures of recent home sales.

  45. “Aren’t they the organization that people accuse Ted Mattox of not attending the meetings of. ”
    An alumn of Mikey’s School!

  47. was is some other organization who’s meetings Ted didn’t attend?
    maybe it was the BID or the MAC.
    What do all of the acronyms stand for anyway?
    Why are these no-bid organizations paid by us.
    Are they asking to use the trains station as an office? for free?

  48. was is some other organization who’s meetings Ted didn’t attend?
    maybe it was the BID or the MAC.
    What do all of the acronyms stand for anyway?
    Why are these no-bid organizations paid by us.
    Are they asking to use the trains station as an office? for free?

  50. I suggest we just raise the station and replace it with another gazebo. Montclair could never have enough gazebos!

  51. All this talk of signs.
    Wonder what happened to the BV tag graffiti on the side of the train ?

  53. I just thought of a better idea. Why not let the Montclair Parking Authority use the station as their office. Then they won’t have to pay the township of Montclair for their extravagant lease and we could bring the parking fees back down to a reasonable level.
    Oh wait, I just forgot. This isn’t deceptive enough. Perhaps we should just drop the insurance on the station and see what happens?

  54. “let the Montclair Parking Authority use the station as their office”
    GREAT idea- you could pay your tickets directly (and in cash)

  55. Look, invisible harpies, you can’t be all negative all the time and expect better results.
    I’m not in favor of a local government being too proactive — that way lies more intrusion, meddling and expense (see, e.g., wayfinding and grandiose hotel schemes that violate the town plan).
    The best level of attention would be decent caretaking with some level of proactivity. Here they are attempting that and you can’t relent.

  57. “Turn the station into an art gallery for the display of graffiti art ala Keith Haring, etc.
    Posted by: Franklin | March 15, 2007 11:31 AM ”
    where will people park?

  60. Aaahh yes, attempting being the action. Not a very good “attempt”.
    Why don’t we have a real economic development organization? Not just one who wants to spend $750,000 on signs for their businesses?

  61. why relent. where is the insurance coverage?
    It looks like it’s not there. Why do you keep asking? What do you think you will accomplish? If you think it’s such a big, damned scandal instead of a small-town f** up, why don’t you actively do something about it instead of non-stop posting from the peanut gallery? It’s not like the Upper Montclair train station fiasco is going to make or break the town. It’s a shame that it was screwed up, but at least there’s an attempt to pursue a “plan B” of sorts. There’s enough active, new waste to look for that dwelling on past screwups isn’t really going to make the town or its government better.

  62. “”let the Montclair Parking Authority use the station as their office”
    GREAT idea- you could pay your tickets directly (and in cash)
    Posted by: Montclair…we want to be Columbia but it’s on the Upper West Side | March 15, 2007 12:33 PM ”
    You may have to pay twice if John “my machines make no errors” Tuebner has anything to do with it.

  64. “It looks like it’s not there. Why do you keep asking? What do you think you will accomplish? If you think it’s such a big, damned scandal instead of a small-town f** up, why don’t you actively do something about it instead of non-stop posting from the peanut gallery? ”
    I’m raising people’s awareness unlike you who want to continue the status quo and sweep the waste under the rug.

  65. A slogan for Remsen and Company
    NEW WAYS for NEW WASTE, see our creative excuses and lack of communications.

  66. I’m raising people’s awareness unlike you who want to continue the status quo and sweep the waste under the rug.
    You are not raising awareness any more. You have achieved full saturation. The problem really is that very few people are as incensed as you are about it and you simply can’t stand that.
    Far worse is the board of ed’s baseball field hubris and the prospect that wayfinding could return. Far worse is the fact that town leadership and the BOE can’t find a way to say to each and every department “find a way to spend 3% less than last year” just like almost any one of us could do in our households IF WE HAD TO.
    Look, I’m sympathetic to the need for accountability and efficiency, but you have to be realistic about what you’re going to get out of a township government.

  67. Why don’t we have a real economic development organization? Not just one who wants to spend $750,000 on signs for their businesses?
    We don’t need government trying to develop the economy! Just do proper planning and zoning, find ways to limit restrictions on business and keep the schools good — the economy will take care of itself better than local bureaucracy can do.

  68. how about a homeless shelter? We can do some good and be proactive. Sing Kumbaya too.

  69. We will keep asking the difficult and unanswered questions about Montclair and it’s wasteful spending.
    Some of those questions are:
    Who cancelled or reduced the *insurance* on the Watchung train station?
    Is there insurance on other township-leased or -owned properties
    and are the policies written for “replacement value”?
    __________
    Has the town put an *emergency response plan* into effect?
    And if so why don’t we know about it/where is it?
    In the event of another microburst or emergency of similar magnitude
    who should we call?
    Where are the emergency shelters and where do we go for information?
    __________
    Has the town finally hired a Certified Arborist or NJ certified *tree expert*
    to care for its public trees?
    What was the final cost for the microburst cleanup?
    Has stump removal been completed?
    __________
    What is going on with the *remediation of the soil*
    under the bleachers at Woodman field?
    Is it true that the contamination is arsenic?
    __________
    Did *First Night* Monclair make a profit, break even or lose money?
    __________
    The water bureau “lost” $500,000 a few years back,
    then they “found” the $500,000.
    Was this EVER explained
    how/where was the money “found” or was it found.
    __________
    Why does town government feel free to violate the Sunshine acts otherwise known as OPRA and OPMA.
    Whatever happened to transparency in government?
    __________
    Why were there new and more attorneys hired by Montclair?

  70. how about a homeless shelter? We can do some good and be proactive. Sing Kumbaya too.

  71. A homeless shelter would be a good idea as there are people currently living in Eagle Rock Reservation.
    Sing if it makes you feel better.

  72. By reminding readers of the purposely deceptive and sometimes careless actions taken by the town council in the past, we make it more difficult for the same reckless actions to be repeated in the future.
    To simply say, “stop focusing on waste in the past” is paramount to admitting that the town council’s actions are acceptable.

  73. Montclair…we want to be Princeton, but our University is dumb!,
    It’s also in Little Falls

  74. This is all the liberals fault. Put them in government and watch nothing be accomplished.

  75. “By reminding readers of the purposely deceptive and sometimes careless actions taken by the town council in the past, we make it more difficult for the same reckless actions to be repeated in the future.”
    You voted for em, not me.

  76. “We don’t need government trying to develop the economy! Just do proper planning and zoning, find ways to limit restrictions on business and keep the schools good — the economy will take care of itself better than local bureaucracy can do.
    Posted by: appletony | March 15, 2007 1:10 PM ”
    So you like the job that the planning, zoning and town council folks are doing.
    Give the delveopers what they want is their motto.
    Want to rip down a house- we’ll give you the permit no problem. Want to build something oversized- not a problem for us.
    Don’t bother insuring properties that the town leases or owns- that will take care of itself too.
    There should be restrictions on businesses- they should pay their taxes and submit to the law like the rest of us.

  77. “You voted for em, not me.
    Posted by: one day you’ll wake up | March 15, 2007 1:23 PM ”
    Oh didn’t you vote? Please tell us why you didn’t and why you seem to be so proud of it.

  78. This is all the liberals fault. Put them in government and watch nothing be accomplished.
    Posted by: get the liberals out | March 15, 2007 1:22 PM
    The Town Council members and Township Manager are not liberals they are SPENDTHIFTS

  81. “Your not that smart are you?”
    improper use of the word your:
    YOUR
    of or relating to you or yourself or yourselves especially as possessor or possessors , agent or agents , or object or objects of an action
    YOU’RE
    you are

  82. So you like the job that the planning, zoning and town council folks are doing.
    Did I say that? Learn to read.

  83. what you did say was:
    Look, I’m sympathetic to the need for accountability and efficiency, but you have to be realistic about what you’re going to get out of a township government.
    Posted by: appletony | March 15, 2007 1:07 PM
    So I guess you’re satisfied.

  84. Well, you guess wrong. You have no sense of balance or equities in the matter. Go ahead and be a faceless harpy — it seems to be all you have in life, so I’ll get back to work and you can get back to impressing yourself.

  85. I have a name
    you have a name
    none of our names can be looked up in the phone book
    we are equal in that respect.
    I can express my feelings
    you don’t care to and leave people guessing.
    You are also a shill for the Town Manager.
    We are unequal in that respect.
    Yes, please get back to work and stop posting useless replies.

  87. Appletony,
    I think you’ve made some very good points!
    A couple of things:
    1. OK. “Someone” forgot to insure the Upper Montclair Train Station so “someone” is responsible for the loss in value, oh, probably about $1MM. But this is Montclair, so $1MM here, and $1MM there is no big deal!
    2. But, besides forgetting to insure the station, “someone” is boasting how they “saved” the town money by changing the insurer. Hmmmm….. save money, lose coverage???
    3. The Woodman Field “deal?” SHEESH! Aside from the $700K to move home plate 17 feet, they now are faced with contamination. Contamination they apparently knew about for years, but somehow “just remembered.” Today’s MT contains an article about a $83K contract for a firm to oversee bids on the cleanup which will cost perhaps $300K to $600K. So, yes, Appletony, you are right on target!
    Wait ’till 2008!!

  89. YES, thanks to appletoney for pointing all of those cost saving and effective measures that the town governement undertook on our behalf.
    Are you running in 2008 appletoney?

  91. Appletoney i,ve seen his name many times on this website. It seems there is nothing the man doesn,t know. The only POINT he has ever had is on top of his head

  92. FRUIT BAKED APPLES WITH EQUAL
    34% calorie reduction from traditional recipe.
    1/2 cup Equal® Spoonful*
    1 tablespoon cornstarch
    Pinch ground cinnamon
    Pinch ground nutmeg
    2 cups apple cider or juice
    1 package (6 ounces) dried mixed fruit, chopped
    1 tablespoon stick butter
    8 tart baking apples
    Combine Equal®, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg in medium saucepan. Stir in cider and dried fruit. Heat to boiling.
    Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 10 to 15 minutes or until fruit is tender and cider mixture is reduced to about 1 cup. Stir in butter until melted.
    Remove cores from apples, cutting into but not through bottoms. Peel 1-inch around tops. Place apples in greased baking pan. Fill centers with fruit. Spoon remaining cider mixture over apples.
    Bake uncovered, in preheated 350° F oven about 45 minutes or until apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
    Makes 8 servings.

  94. OK we get it. Can you stop posting over and over again?
    Registration might not be a bad idea on this site.

  95. What are you talking about? I’ve posted once!
    There are lots and lots of Hiding in baristavilles

  96. I guess that the gnat doesn’t understand that if you don’t put a name in the empty box that the barista provides that this site is setup to call you
    HIDING IN BARISTAVILLE
    it’s a title that we all think is spledid so we accespt it.

  98. “There’s enough active, new waste to look for that dwelling on past screwups isn’t really going to make the town or its government better.”
    Focusing on past “screw ups” may not make things better, but how many times do you (APPLE) need to get hit in your head (MUSH) before you smarten up?

  99. until he’s been turned into Applesauce
    3 to 4 lbs of peeled, cored, and quartered apples. We use granny smith, fuji, or gravenstein apples, or a combination of all three. (Make sure you use a good cooking apple.)
    4 strips of lemon peel – use a vegetable peeler to strip 4 lengths
    Juice of one lemon
    3 inches of cinnamon stick
    1/4 cup of dark brown sugar
    up to 1/2 cup of white sugar
    1 cup of water
    1/2 teaspoon of salt
    Put all ingredients into a large pot. Cover. Bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes and remove from heat. Remove cinnamon sticks and lemon peels. Mash with potato masher.
    Ready to serve, either hot or refrigerated. Delicious with vanilla ice cream or vanilla yoghurt.
    Freezes easily, lasts up to one year in a cold freezer.

  100. The only POINT he has ever had is on top of his head
    Thank you for admitting that I am SHARPER than you! It takes a big harpy to do that.

  102. I agree with tired of apples.This guy has a view on every subject that,s posted here.I,am surprized he doesn,t hold some kind of office. He has the same dum idea,s

  104. No more JMO, now the hidings and multinames want to get rid of Appletony.
    Barista take note:
    At this rate your blog will consist of nothing but hidings and multinames posting insults and wild accusations.
    This bar needs a bouncer.

  106. I spent some years as a bouncer-doorman assorted places before and after Army service, so, Barista, I’d gladly volunteer my services there. What a nice opportunity to meet-and-greet some of the “after-school specials” crowd which posts here.
    And perhaps the gentle marsupial would join me?

  108. “Barista take note:
    At this rate your blog will consist of nothing but hidings and multinames posting insults and wild accusations.”
    what do you think it is NOW?

  110. what in heavens name is a bouncy-doorman?
    Does he do a bouncy dance as he opens the door?
    Does he help during evictions?
    Does he have a springy step?
    Why would Jim Morrison want a bouncy-doorman?
    Isn’t Jim Morrison dead?

  111. WARM AND SOOTHING APPLE CRISP
    CRISP TOPPING
    1 C. all-purpose flour
    1/2 c. packed dark brown sugar
    1/2 c. (1 stick) margarine or butter
    FILLING
    3 lbs. McIntosh apples, peeled and sliced, about 10 apples
    1/4 c. all-purpose flour
    3/4 c. sugar
    1 T cinnamon
    For the topping: mix cake meal, brown sugar and margarine in a bowl until crumbly.
    For the filling: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9X13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Combine apples with cake meal, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Spread in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with topping. Bake for 1 hour or until apples are bubbling. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Makes 12 servings.

  114. Yes that’s his real name and Hiding is MY real name but he refuses to believe it and says that my parents should have named me something else.
    He’s a name bigot!!

  115. why would a name bigot come here and attack people. lets run him out of town on a rail.

  116. I spent the evening in the station with 5 homeless people. This would make a good temporary homeless shelter for those of us who cannot afford Montclair’s exhorbitant rents.

Comments are closed.