Westfield Spring Business Update: What Is Open, What Is Coming

WESTFIELD, NJ - Spring has sprung and the business center of Westfield continues to remake itself as several grand openings are happening with more coming soon.

A pair of businesses have opened this month, according to our friends at Downtown Westfield:

OsteoStrong, a Tony Robbins company, is now open at 121 Central Ave. OsteoStrong is a unique place where you can go to improve your overall health by focusing on the skeletal system to improve bone density, posture, balance, athletic performance and lessen joint and back pain.

Downtown Dental is now open at 219 North Ave. W., in the space next to Adlers. Dr. Zhivago, a cosmetics dentist and prosthodontist from NYC, specializes in 3D dentistry, cosmetics and implants. Stop in to see the facility and meet the doctor and staff.

Up Next:

Cinnaholic will be opening soon next to Ferraro's at 18 Elm Street. Cinnaholic is a vegan bakery franchise that started in 2010 and currently operates in eight states. The company's owners appeared on the television show Shark Tank in 2014, which ended with them ultimately accepting a $200,000 investment offer from Robert Herjavec.

Spice Bazaar, Westfield's only Indian restaurant, located at 114 Quimby Street will be relocating to a larger space at 39 Elm St., previously occupied by Ambeli Greek Taverna. Owners Simran Bakshi and Kanika Vij are thrilled to announce their expansion and their introduction of a new pan Asian restaurant in their current Quimby St. location. Spice Bazaar, which opened in November 2017, offers vegetarian and non-vegetarian entries, delicious tandoori breads, and exquisite spices. 39 Elm Street.

Bareburger is planning to open in the Fall at 126 Central Ave., next door to Warby Parker. This upscale burger franchise with a full liquor license offers burgers, salads and sandwiches. Their menu is over one-third vegetarian and plant-based and they work with sustainable farmers and partners. Enjoy everything from a bison burger with blue cheese, bacon, bourbon jam and caramelized onions, to a sweet potato, kale & wild rice patty.

Buddha Sushi, a high end sushi restaurant, will open at 35 Elm St. in the former Mojave Grill location. You may have noticed the handsome fresh coat of grey paint on the exterior as renovations are underway.

Innovasian Taco will open at 106 Quimby Street, at the corner of Central Avenue.

Name Changes:

Total Hearing Care is now HearingLife. Their team is pleased to join the HearingLife family. You will still find the same friendly staff to meet all of your hearing wellness needs. Their logo and branding may be changing, but they continue to provide outstanding care, world-class hearing aids and the friendly service you expect from them. If you believe that you or a loved one has hearing loss, they invite you to stop in for a complimentary hearing assessment* at their office in Westfield. 110A Central Ave.

Jeff's Auto is now Jay's Automotive. Jay's offers auto repair and sales of pre-owned and certified used vehicles. 196 Ross Place, 908.232.9676.

The changes to the business center in Westfield has been a bone of contention for some residents, as many take to social media and are quick to blame rent prices and the landlords. But Mayor Shelley Brindle says that is not the case. Like in the case of Ambeli closing, it was a matter of consolidating efforts.

"In speaking with the owner, he said that managing two locations was taking its toll and has decided to focus exclusively on his original Cranford location," Brindle said.

Brindle also repeated her view that she does not rely on the downtown vacancy rate as a success metric.

"And I won't, until we have sufficiently addressed the root of the problem, which is a lack of daytime foot traffic," she said. "Retailers and restaurants can not survive on weekend business alone."

Brindle said that local employers are the biggest driver of weekday foot traffic whose employees shop in the stores and eat in the restaurants.

"We have lost hundreds of employees over the last several years due to a lack of employee parking and modern office space," Brindle said. "If we can improve daytime foot traffic, the retail problem will take care of itself, which is something I expect to be addressed in our Master Plan."

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