South Park Street Redesign Already Drawing Prospective Tenants?

Anyone who has driven down Bloomfield Avenue this week has noticed that the has started—and with a bang. Indeed, the street has been torn up and police cars have been positioned at the intersection. The stated aim of the project, of course, is to boost economic development downtown.

Already, officials say, it seems to be working.

Luther Flurry said that in the six months he's been on the job as executive director of the Montclair Center Business Improvement District the two questions he's most often been asked by prospective tenants are: Is the South Park Street project really going forward and could a change in political winds stop the project?

"These questions came not just from tenants looking at space within a few blocks of South Park, but also from farther afield," he said. "I think some prospective tenants viewed this question as indicative of municipal support for business.

"Anticipation of South Park Street redevelopment has been a factor in tenant negotiations since before moved to the block," he added.

Flurry said it's impossible to isolate the effects of the South Park Street project from larger economic factors, "but it is certain that the renovation will help draw bigger crowds to the area and increase visibility for the district."

Already, he noted, a clothing company called South Moon Under has signed a lease in the Wedgewood Building since the South Park Street project became a certainty and

In addition, he pointed out that Duke and Duchess opened a few months ago at 54 South Park Street.

Earlier this month, Michael Restaino, manager of at 19 South Park Street, said the redevelopment project will be a boon for business—and will even lead him to start serving brunch.

"People will want to sit outside and soon they'll be able to," he said, adding that he'd like to offer seating for as many as 100 people outdoors if possible.

Located between two popular brunch spots— and —Restaino said his restaurant will serve more of an Italian-style brunch featuring items such as polenta waffles topped with various fruits as well as breakfast pizzas adorned with pear, gorgonzola, and other tasty nuggets.

In the meantime, just around the corner from South Park Street at 25 Church Street, Cupcakes by Carousel will be celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, March 31 from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mayor Jerry Fried will be on hand as well as Truman the Dinosaur.

What do you think of the South Park Street redesign project? Let us know in the comments section below!