Old Charlie Browns in Millburn

Does anyone know what’s the construction going on in the old CB building in downtown Millburn? Any clue to what’s opening there?

maplewoody said:

Does anyone know what’s the construction going on in the old CB building in downtown Millburn? Any clue to what’s opening there?

Last I heard it was houlihan's going in there. I am friends with the manager at Common lot and they are sure it’s houlihan's new spot. 

Certainly Houlihan's was the plan 5 years ago...since then the chain went bankrupt and is under new ownership, which has closed a number of NJ locations. Interesting if after so much churn that plan still goes forward.

Yeah - this was from 2018:

https://www.placenj.com/2018/07/houlihans-to-take-over-charlie-browns.html

Amazingly, when I searched to find out what's replacing Charlie Browns in Millburn - this thread showed up already. 

I was told recently that the space is not being renovated to become a restaurant.  The current developer contemplates multiple non-restaurant retail spaces there.  Who knows.

It is interesting to see that Houlihan's is still in business - looks like 7 locations still left in NJ and one in LI.

As far as Charlie Brown's goes - Not sure how many they had at their height - but I see there's 2 left:

I remember when the space was Mario's (white linen) Italian restaurant.

I can't imagine a chain restaurant surviving in downtown Millburn these days. 

I was curious to know more about Charlie Brown's looks like they had 29 locations at their height:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Brown%27s_Fresh_Grill

jamie said:

It is interesting to see that Houlihan's is still in business - looks like 7 locations still left in NJ and one in LI.

As far as Charlie Brown's goes - Not sure how many they had at their height - but I see there's 2 left:

Oh dear. I think I may have gotten rid of my Charlie Brown Frequent purchaser card thinking none are left in existence. I'll see if my hoarder/saver mentality kept it and I can use it at Scotch Plains. lol! (But a brief check now reveals I indeed may have ditched it. :-( )

yahooyahoo said:

I can't imagine a chain restaurant surviving in downtown Millburn these days. 

I think it would depend on the food offerings and the price point. An Olive Garden would probably flop because of the multiple options for Italian dining at different prices in a few block radius. The space is too small for something like PF Chang’s or Cheesecake Factory but I think either of those would probably do fine. 

There’s a small(ish) chain of pub/sports bar restaurants in Pennsylvania and South NJ called PJ Whelihans. A modest step up from Houlihans in quality but a wide price range on the menu. They tend to be a bigger footprint than the Charlie Brown’s site. 

Overall I think you’re right, though. Lack of dedicated parking is one barrier. Another is the loss of the movie theatre. I think that the theatre drove more demand for casual dining options in town. I don’t know who the clientele for a Charlie Brown’s type place is in a town like Millburn any more. 

Hey how about Shake Shack?

mrincredible said:

Overall I think you’re right, though. Lack of dedicated parking is one barrier. Another is the loss of the movie theatre. I think that the theatre drove more demand for casual dining options in town. I don’t know who the clientele for a Charlie Brown’s type place is in a town like Millburn any more. 

When the kids were small, we went to Charlie Brown's quite a bit. We would try to check the Paper Mill Playhouse schedule before going to avoid that theater crowd, which seemed to be a big part of their clientele.

Lots of clientele when there is a show at the Paper Mill Playhouse but that's "feast or famine" since there aren't multiple shows every night of every week like at a Movie Theater (although many more theater-goers for each show.)

Find out who’s in possession of the liquor license, if it’s staying in place, and it could lead to who/what’s going in there. Legal ads in The Millburn Item, maybe?

Heynj said:

Find out who’s in possession of the liquor license, if it’s staying in place, and it could lead to who/what’s going in there. Legal ads in The Millburn Item, maybe?

There does not seem to be a license for this property (35 Essex St.):  

https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-of-alcoholic-beverage-control-home/licensing-bureau-applications-and-information/licensing-reports/

You may have missed my post.  According to someone who knows the developer, he is not building it out to be a restaurant.

bub said:

You may have missed my post.  According to someone who knows the developer, he is not building it out to be a restaurant.

I read it, but then I got caught up in the discussion about what kind of restaurant would do well in downtown Millburn.  

CBs worked for us when our kids were young.  It was good enough.  Liked the salad bar.  Also recall that the beer on tap was always fresh and tasty.  Decent modestly priced comfort food places are fewer and fewer.  It seems that every time one closes, an ambitious high priced joint takes its place.

What do you call it when a middle-class neighborhood gets gentrified into upper-middle or upper-class?  Because that’s what I feel like is happening in this area. 

I would be inclined to call it an affluent neighborhood, or a very affluent neighborhood.

mrincredible said:

What do you call it when a middle-class neighborhood gets gentrified into upper-middle or upper-class?  Because that’s what I feel like is happening in this area. 

i remember when even the upper east side had little inexpensiveness mom and pop restaurants, usually down the steps from the sidewalk in the small old buildings. 

Shoot to today.  I was walking around the area and stopped to look at the menu Common Lot in Millburn.  The place gets rave reviews, I think, but the average entree is in the mid $40s.  

The pizza places are what's left for many of us.

Such lists exist on the internet but maybe we should have an open MOL thread for good cheap eats in the area.

DanDietrich said:

The pizza places are what's left for many of us.

Millburn cheap eats. I remember as a 'ute -- let's see. There were three soda fountain, ice cream and grills on Main Street. One was next to where the Chinese restaurant is. Eisenberg's was where Joe's coffee is and the third was where the other coffee shop is.

Millburn Avenue had Kohl's and Glenwood Sweet Shop and the sweet shop/coffee on the corner of Wyoming.

There were also cheap restaurants. One  was on Millburn Ave, "The Alps," Where the salad place is. And who remembers Hobby's Deli?

Yeah.  There's the Millburn Diner. Beyond that, pizza, the Portuguese place, juice and coffee are the choices.