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Re: A & P Supermarkets File For Bankruptcy Protection
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I was wondering how long it would take for Whole Foods to be mentioned.
I actually hope this A&P doesn't close, as it's a much nicer place to shop than the ShopRite. And while Target has expanded it's grocery selection nicely, they still often have issues keeping some items in stock, which can be a pain. That said I could see the JC and Hoboken and other close-in locations packaged up with the Food Emporium stores in NYC and sold off to some other company. Of course if Trader Joe's wanted to share the space with a PetSmart (like they do in Millburn), I could deal with that.
Posted on: 2010/12/13 19:56
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Re: 'Rogue is Coming' - business on 1st Street/Newark Avenue
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Quote:
The "Rogue" place on 1st St is not the same place as Rue Viet. (It's actually several blocks further east.)
Posted on: 2010/11/27 15:53
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Re: Satis Bistro grand opening
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I am looking forward to trying this place.
FYI the new Turkish place, Rumi, that replaced Kitchen Cafe is also BYO and is pretty good.
Posted on: 2010/11/23 14:40
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Re: Park & Sixth Comfort Food Coming to Grove Street, JC
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Really looking forward to trying this place... but I do have mixed feelings that they actually have a sandwich named Joe the Plumber.
Posted on: 2010/11/12 22:33
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Re: Rumi Turkish Grill - 60 Sussex St
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Had dinner at Rumi and thought it was pretty good. Prices were reasonable, food and service were good and the portions were on the arge side.
Didn't know the pkqce is BYO but hope to take advantsgr of that in the future. Glad to see his place replace Kitchen Cafe. Turkish cuisine is a nice new option in JC and this place does it pretty well.
Posted on: 2010/10/24 3:06
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Re: Missing package - what to do now?
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It's no surprise that many people in JC don't receive their mail - several people who work at the post office here are incredibly lazy and incompetent, and the postmaster doesn't care. Complaining to the post office will get you nowhere.
If you are expecting important mail or a package to be delivered that doesn't show up, you MUST contact the US Postal Inspection Service. Especially if the package is marked delivered. Information on filing a complaint is available at https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactUs/filecomplaint.aspx. If the postal inspector receives enough complaints, maybe something will actually happen.
Posted on: 2010/10/6 1:36
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Re: 20% rent increase allowed in Jersey City?
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Quote:
The Pier (the one on the waterfront by the Hyatt) is an all-apartment building managed by Equity Residential, not a condo complex. Perhaps you're thinking of the Pier House, which is indeed condos?
Posted on: 2010/9/2 13:31
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Re: C-Town Being Sold
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Quote:
I could see that, although the A&P is much larger than a typical Trader Joes. I would even more likely see them giving up the small A&P in Hoboken, which has limited parking and seems smaller than a "real" supermarket should be. Also, if a developer offers a sufficiently good deal on a lease as a way to attract apartment tenants (or condo buyers) TJs might be persuaded to consider a JC or Hoboken location. TJs has done that in other cities in the Northeast. In the end what matters most to TJs -- in all things -- is cost. They are notoriously cost-sensitive, and that extends to their site selection strategy. When they find a location that meets their needs and is adequately inexpensive, they may choose to put a store in the JC or Hoboken area. Also, given their focus on keeping down distribution costs, the more stores they have in an area, the more likely they are to open others, as for them the cost of operating a store is lower when there are many other locations in the same area (as distribution center costs can be amortized over more locations and the same delivery trucks can serve multiple stores). That's why there are so many TJs in California and Massachusetts - many far closer together than downtown JC/Hoboken is from Edgewater. And for those who talk about TJ's vs Whole Foods opening in JC -- the logic for site selection between Trader Joe's and Whole Foods is very different. Since Whole Foods doesn't have anywhere near as much a focus on efficient distribution, they are more likely to open a single store in a metro area before TJs. But TJs tends to be willing to have more stores closer together (as long as they get a good deal on rent). And TJs tends to look much more at specific behavioral patterns vs broad demographics when siting stores.
Posted on: 2010/9/1 20:23
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Re: Ria's Cafe
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Although I hate to see a local business close, I can't say I'm surprised.
I tried brunch and lunch at Ria's a few times. The first time I must have been lucky, as it was pretty good overall with good food and decent service. After that all my experiences were negative, with terrible service (waiting 45 minutes just to get a glass of juice) and variable food. And usually one entree was quite cold, as though it had been sitting for a long time while another entree was being prepared. After the 3rd or 4th time I just gave up. This place is in a good location so maybe something else will open in its place.
Posted on: 2010/7/15 21:23
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Re: Downtown: Williamsburg's Barcade (Bar Arcade) Coming to Newark Avenue
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Quote:
It's most likely a matter of state law (as liquor licensing usually is). In NJ as in some other states, there is a maximum number of liquor licenses for each type of establishment (bar, restaurant, liquor store). And there are usually different types of licenses (beer/wine or full license). New places get around this by purchasing the license of another bar or restaurant. So the number of licenses stay the same and they get reallocated as places open and close. It's ridiculous but that's how the law generally works.
Posted on: 2010/7/8 16:30
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Re: Newark Avenue StreetScape
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Quote:
1. TGI Friday's is disgusting. Even in the world of chain restaurants I can think of many better options, not that I think we need chain restaurants. 2. The TGI Friday's in Lower Manhattan is no stranger to hookers, junkies, or creepy old guys. In fact there was a huge coke ring busted there not too long ago. Look, if you want an endless procession of chain restaurants, you can move to a place like East Brunswick. Or even move near Times Square. Why would you want Jersey City to become just like plenty of places that already exist instead of trying to make it a better version of itself?
Posted on: 2010/5/28 15:16
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Re: Grove Street PATH noise!
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Yeah, because (partially) closing a PATH station for cleaning at 7am - at the height of rush hour - is a really good idea.
Posted on: 2010/5/21 16:20
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Re: Survey about a Jersey City bakery concept!
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A bakery is a great idea. It's definitely something that you should start planning for early though!
Make sure you really think through your business plan. Opening up a new business takes a lot of cash, and loans for small businesses are hard to come by these days. (Hopefully it will be easier in a few years). In particular, Bakeries can be expensive to open because of all the kitchen equipment you'll need to buy. And don't forget the corruption and bureaucracy that make opening a business an expensive and time-consuming ordeal. I don't mean to suggest you shouldn't do this - by all means follow your dream. Just make sure you think it through before you start so you minimize the risk of any unhappy surprises... like the bakery on Grand Street that apparently can't open because they can't yet afford their kitchen equipment.
Posted on: 2010/5/18 16:50
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Re: 2010 Census: Fines Levied by a Condo Association?
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Odd question... there must be quite a story behind this.
In any case, census responses are confidential and protected by federal law. That includes whether or not you have returned your census form. No condo board has the power to penalize or fine you for failing to return your census form. Even if somehow this were written into condo docs, it would almost certainly be considered inherently unreasonable for a condo board to claim that the census is directly related to operation of the condominium. Returning census forms is a civic duty and everyone should do it, but for any condo board to try to get in the middle of it is completely asinine. That is way, way, way beyond what any reasonable condo board should consider its purview.
Posted on: 2010/4/15 2:40
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Re: MorrisCanal Park -- for dogs or kids?
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I fully agree that there are way too many people at this park with off-leash dogs. And although they would all universally say that their dogs are fine off-leash, I have seen far too many incidents of dogs running after and jumping on people.
I bring my dog to that park all the time (always on-leash) but I fully sympathize with those who want to be able to enjoy he park without having to deal with dogs. This is just another example of how breaking "minor" or "inconsequential" laws/rules is endemic around here. And there's always an excuse. People allow their dogs off-leash because "my dog is well-behaved". Just like people bring hot coffee on the PATH because "I'm not going to spill it". Just like people drop chicken bones because "it's not a big deal". It's obnoxious, but I guess I've just come to expect it.
Posted on: 2010/4/14 13:32
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Re: Balance is amaze-balls!
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Lesson #1 for shilling: if you are using the voice of a customer and are want to appear not to be directly associated with an establishment, avoid phrases like "With special rates for newbies during the week, there is no reason you shouldn't be donning your heels and skipping over there poste-haste."
If it's written like ad copy, it's probably not a customer review. That said my partner goes to Balance and is happy with them.
Posted on: 2009/12/9 18:52
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Re: JC realtor hypes short sales - too good to be true?
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Realtor + hype == too good to be true.
In all seriousness, short sales can sometimes work out, but they are total pain in the neck. If the bank has pre-approved the listing amount and the sale price is near it, it might not be so bad. But if the bank hasn't pre-approved the sale price it can take a long time to process depending on the loan/servicer. I had a friend who was trying to buy a short sale house and it took her months to get the sale done. (Luckily she was renting month-to-month so it wasn't a big deal at the time.)
Posted on: 2009/12/8 22:51
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Re: Real estate prices in Jersey City
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Quote:
Actually, I think if banks had kept traditional underwriting guidelines (20% down, or at an absolute minimum 10% down) much of the bubble could have been avoided. (And at 20% down you're getting a 5x magnification of returns.) It was when you had 1% down, no-money-down, and even 105% loans that people really got into trouble. Even a 20% down payment is a LOT of money to most people, and they aren't going to put that down on a house until they really think about it. But when you're putting nothing down and need no documentation, any schmo can take out multiple mortgages and try to flip a bunch of houses.
Posted on: 2009/12/8 22:47
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Re: Real estate prices in Jersey City
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Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful replies. A real estate thread on JClist that didn't turn into a flame war? Amazing.
 We should clarify something in the original calculation, the 100k down payment is NOT included in the 2800 buying per month scenario. In the renting scenario, you still have the 100k, in the buying scenario you don't. That has to be considered and really makes the cost more than 2800 a month. More like 3200 a month if you consider you just lost 100k of investable money. Also, you really aren't socking away any significant principal the first 5 years. Here's how my numbers break down. Lets consider 400k condo, 500 month maintenance. 500 a month taxes. All pretty lowball for what most people pay around here. Mortgage interest (out the window) = $1666 Property Taxes (out the window) = $ 500 Condo Fees (out the window) = $500 Total out the window per month = $2666 Principal (equity!) = $480 I'm all for equity, but is a $2666 out the window worth $480 equity creation per month? Its all religion/philosophy/politics so just do whatever you want, I'm sure you'll love your new condo. Also, if you really found a condo that sold for 300k and would rent on the market for $2300 kudos to you. Sounds impossible to me.... maybe you found the perfect short sale.[/quote] The 100k down payment is a leveraged equity investment -- basically the same as buying stocks on margin - and will appreciate or depreciate at a multiple of whatever the rate of appreciation of the home is. Roughly speaking, if you put down 100K on a 400K home that appreciates at 3% per year, your 100K will appreciate at 12% per year. Conversely, if your home loses value you will lose 4x the amount too. Just like any leveraged investment. Over time you are deleveraging as you build up equity, which reduces the multiplier effect (up or down). So there is actually a very important time component to how you think about your down payment as an investment. Again, there are many factors to consider but your down payment isn't dead money -- you just need to think about how you would otherwise invest it and compare possible returns. And as wibbit said, the tax benefit should always be included in calculations, as it is a huge contributor to both affordability and house prices. Also, you aren't really $2666 "out the window". You need to compare that to the next best alternative (the cost of rent) and of course include the tax benefit to find your true opportunity cost.
Posted on: 2009/12/7 21:29
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Re: Real estate prices in Jersey City
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Quote:
All good points. If you are in the 25% tax bracket you would end up paying roughly $2225 after tax benefits on the scenario above (very rough estimate including only Federal benefit). You would also be paying principal every month, which is very roughly analogous to putting money in a savings account if you believe real estate prices will hold steady or slowly increase. This would be another few hundred dollars per month to think about. If you think prices are going to continue to decline it wouldn't make any sense to buy right now. But if you think they're stable or on track to slowly increase then it comes down to individual situations. In the end buying a house is a combination of two things - a rational investment (where you are essentially paying yourself rent and using the funds to make a leveraged investment) and an emotional one (since people ascribe a lot of meaning to owning a home). So whether homebuying makes sense depends on how much value you place on both aspects.
Posted on: 2009/12/7 15:21
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Re: Garbage collection - will they take a 3' diameter metal table?
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In general they will take up to 4 bulk items at a time. A 42" diameter table shouldn't present a problem, but you can always call the JCIA to check.
I have had a large couch taken away without issue in the past.
Posted on: 2009/12/1 1:26
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Re: CCTV installation downtown
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Althea--
I think the cameras are a great idea and am glad to finally see them come downtown. Any chance of getting a camera on Wayne near the playground there? That plus a bright motion-detecting light at night might help solve the persistent crime problem in that location.
Posted on: 2009/11/2 14:41
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Re: Street Paving
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The bad news is that the city street paving schedule is generally set a year or so in advance. They decide which streets in each ward will get paved in the spring/summer/fall paving season the previous winter. So barring a miracle you are probably out of luck for this year.
The best thing to do is to keep working with Fulop and the city to get your street on the next list. Organize your neighbors to contact Fulop, the Mayor's Action Bureau, and the Department of Public Works (I think that's the right city department).
Posted on: 2009/6/3 16:01
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Re: Wall Street Journal: Hard Times for Hovnanian’s 77 Hudson -JC’s condo values fell 11% from 2007 peak
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Quote:
Pre-sale minimums are not generally a requirement for a CO (which is based on passing inspections and habitability). Of course a temporary CO may be issued to some units if a building isn't finished yet. The bigger problem is actually Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac requirements, which now in many cases are up to a 70% pre-sale requirement. This makes selling new condos very difficult and is requiring developers to line up alternate financing for buyers. That is no easy task these days.
Posted on: 2009/3/18 19:23
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Re: Heat Pump vs Gas boiler: 8 unit condo
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If you are going to use natural gas for your heat anyway (as it sound like you would do with a gas heat pump) and you have a separate cooling system, why not just get a gas furnace? Heating costs will probably still be lower than with a heat pump-based solution, and you will have better heating.
Having used an electric heat pump in the past, I was always unhappy with it (it never got warm fast enough). The central gas furnace I have now is great and I would not choose any other heating system if it is a viable option (e.g., if you will use a separate A/C system for cooling). Heat pumps are always a compromise because the same system is used for cooling and heating. It seems like the gas-fired kind is better since it will use less electricity during the summer but since it's still a heat pump I'm not sure if it will heat as well as a boiler or a furnace.
Posted on: 2009/3/6 14:42
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Re: Top 10 Beer lists: In anticipation of Zeppelin Hall (beer garden)
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Since I go to Belgium for work a few times a year, here's my list of favorite Belgian beers (it's not Germany, but honestly I think overall Belgian beers are better:
La Chouffe Chimay Triple Duvel Orvel Hoegarden Delirium Tremens Leffe Blonde And I'll mention my favorite Japanese beer, Hitachino Nest Beer and Hitachino White Ale. These also have by far the best graphic design (IMO) of any beer bottle.
Posted on: 2009/3/3 15:54
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Re: Downtown: Newark and Barrow man was robbed by five teens
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The passport is a bit unusual but the article says the victim is a "Bright Street resident' so I don't think he was visiting.
It seems that after a relatively calm summer, crime is picking up downtown.
Posted on: 2008/10/10 14:19
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Re: Praise from Peter Mocco for 'mobster' who later copped plea
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FYI the state Department of Environmental Protection did not place a deed notice for past chromium contamination for Liberty Harbor. The only special deed notice is for a past underground heating oil storage tank, which is pretty mild as such things go.
I suppose not irrefutable evidence of that there was never chromium on the site, but there must not have been enough to warrant a deed notice. I believe there is a deed notice for chromium for Gull's Cove, though? (Or maybe it's some other contaminant - correct me if I am wrong).
Posted on: 2008/8/11 20:33
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Re: Tivo / Phone Service
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You can update your Tivo over the Internet depending on which model you have. I think on most models you need to buy a wireless network adapter for like $50.
If it's the old original Tivo (Series 1) you have to use a phone line. In that case you can get the most basic plan from Verizon for like $10 a month.
Posted on: 2008/8/4 18:52
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Re: Vet and Pet Emergency Room in/near JC Downtown
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Hoboken Animal Hospital and Downtown Veterinary Associates (on Newark Ave at 1st) are run by the same group and I believe the same vets often work at both places.
I have brought my dog to DVA a few times and have been happy. I like that they don't need appointments for anything but surgery and the quality of the vet care has always been fine. Keep in mind many if not most of the vets will be a BVM and not a DVM, but for routine things like shots and such that shouldn't be an issue. I have never needed a 24-hour animal emergency hospital but there are none in Hudson. I think the closest one is in Ridgefield or Bloomfield.
Posted on: 2008/7/21 16:48
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