Downtown West Orange Businesses Celebrate Milestones

On Sunday, March 18, I attended a celebration at the Cutting Edge salon, located at 442 Main Street in West Orange. 

I, along with my husband and two boys, have been getting our hair done at the Cutting Edge for well over 12 years.

Every time I go in, I see another one of my neighbors, or someone I know from around town. staff was celebrating 20 years in business in downtown West Orange. I, along with their hundreds of clients, are quite happy about that. Despite the economic downturn, the Cutting Edge has kept their reasonable prices and outstanding service to the community. 

This brings up an issue that I have been disturbed about lately, and that is downtown West Orange itself. Downtown West Orange and the Redevelopment Project with Prism has been at the center of town debate for quite awhile now, with opponents not only stating their opinions on the project but the downtown area as well, saying that it is run down, an eyesore, dangerous, a slum, it goes on and on, and it's not pretty. As a resident of the Lourdes section of town, yes, down the hill, these representations are not only untrue but divisive and misinformed. 

While the demographics of the downtown neighborhoods have decidedly changed over the past twenty years, with an influx of South Americans in particular neighborhoods, they are still quite diverse in their residents. 

Seniors, families, singles, and more, live in and frequent the downtown area. In addition to the Cutting Edge, celebrating its 20th anniversary, is celebrating its 60th; , it's 50th; PAL, it's 50th; , it's 105th; and other long lasting businesses (Supreme Bakery, Gaffers, Dangler's, O'Hara's, Advantage Pest Control, Select Towing and the Community House) continuing to attract families and customers. 

Newer business like Fusion, Oak Tree Nail, Papa Johns, Egan's and CVS are bustling and alive. Time does not permit me to mention the other hair salons, markets,  stores, and venues that make up the historical section of West Orange.  While these businesses have struggled more over the past few years due to the recession, they remain open, viable and important to our community.

It would be wonderful to see these businesses flourish, and see even more come into the area with the redevelopment project. The blighted area of the Edison Factory can be transformed and Main Street can become even more successful. 

So in case any of our downtown business owners are reading this, I just want to say thank you.  Thank you for believing in downtown West Orange and for taking such very good care of those of us that live here. 

Here's looking at a bright future!