Visions for Vacancies: Route 23 Building Needs Business

In the strip mall at 555 Pompton Ave. in Cedar Grove, a 14,000-square-foot business storefront has been available for lease since Eye Classsique moved out in late 2011.

The lease space sits in the center of the five business 50-year-old complex, where the original Cedar Grove Post Office used to be.

Renovated in the last eight years, the storefront is in between Time Warp Comics and a UPS Store and it’s the only business spot available for lease.

In a prime location in the town of Cedar Grove, right past Giuseppe’s Pizza, but it is still for lease said the maintaining restate company, The Heller Group.

So this is where you come in, Verona and Cedar Grove community. It's Week 3 of Patch's Visions for Vacancies. Last week, we focused on the old Verona Inn in Verona and we got some great responses from our readers. 

The concept behind this column is we’ll present a vacant building and ask you to tell us what you think would be the best use of the vacant space.

Here's the fun part: Forget what zone it’s in. Ignore setback regulations, as well as dump lot coverage rules and all the other zoning jargon that puts most people to sleep.

Our bottom line: If you had your way, what would you like to see there? What would be the best use of the space for the community?

To make this work, this can’t be a one-sided conversation. We want to hear from you in our comments section. And, please, let us know if there’s a vacant space/building you know of as well we can feature in a future column.

Send emails about vacant buildings or stores to Essex County Associate Regional Editor Jack Durschlag at jack.durschlag@patch.com.

About this column: Patch wants your help deciding what to do with vacant buildings around town. What's your ideal business to take over a vacant building. Let us know.