Sushi on Springfield Avenue?

It's been a busy week on Springfield Avenue, as reported by Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca.

First, passersby have already noticed the construction permits in the window at the former Cafe Meow. Sushi is coming.

"Landlord John Brito has been negotiating with this company for awhile," said DeLuca. "They are a family business and have other sushi operations around the east coast including Maryland." DeLuca expressed confidence that this new tenant will be successful where other have not: "This is a family business operation with experience and a model. They're also the kind of upscale place we're looking for on Springfield Avenue, and they're well situated in the pedestrian node."

DeLuca said that the new tenants sent their plans to the building department which signed off on the plans and issued the construction permits now visible in the window. A major design overhaul for the interior is planned but "a lot of the space is already built to code," reported DeLuca, who noted that the owners of Cafe Meow had installed the requisite plumbing, kitchen and an ADA-compliant bathroom. All that is needed perhaps is a hood for exhaust (wait, isn't sushi raw?). 

In other news, work is underway at the future site of Walgreen's across from the Municipal Court and Police building on Springfield Avenue at Tuscan. "They removed three underground storage tanks and are in the process of determining remediation of the soil," said DeLuca, who spoke with representatives of the developer Eden Properties yesterday. "They plan to be open and operating by the first of the year in 2011."

Finally, last week, Springfield Avenue Partnership Executive Director Beth Macdonald formally notified the board of the Partnership that she would no longer be working with the organization. Macdonald had been managing the Parternship's operations through a contract for the last year and was a direct employee for seven years previous to that.

Macdonald had been instrumental in attracting many of the businesses that made Springfield Avenue and Prospect Street a destination by 2007. Recent vacancies have diminished that success: but as Cafe Meow and Wooden You Know closed and businesses like Furbish and The Beaded Path have relocated or plan to relocate, others such Elite Cutz, East Side Fitness, HLS Juice Bar and Top Hat & Tails have moved in. Fringe Salon's owner, Kim Hammer, said she hopes to expand in the next few years.

Springfield Avenue has also seen new streetscape improvements along almost all of its 2.5 mile length during Macdonald's tenure. Redevelopment has been slowly moving forward in three zones on the eastern end of the Avenue. A number of condo projects have been built, though they currently are struggling to attract tenants.

DeLuca said that the Board of the Springfield Avenue Partnership approved an RFP seeking a consulting firm to manage the district going forward. The RFP should be released later this week. In the interim, management services are being contracted month to month to Don Smartt and The Community Advocates in Verona, NJ.

Note: Thanks to Maplewoodonline.com for the tip on the sushi bar story!