Why Are All Maplewood Restaurants Closed Post-Fireworks?

Seems like would be easy money, since hundreds of people just left the fireworks and it's a Saturday night... Guess we'll go to South Orange!

Yes, seriously. Stopped at Coda at 9:53 for dessert and they said their kitchen was closing. Sucks.

It's a holiday for some local businesses. I can see your point to having the restaurants remain open, but... we're in the burbs and these owners may deserve having some time off.

I have a similar complaint -- all SO restaurants are usually closed when SOPAC shows let out, with crowds of people wanting a bite or a drink.

It's a holiday!? Folks should be able to enjoy fireworks and their families the same as those of us who watched fireworks did.

The home-field rabble has assured everyone it is the Post Office's fault that downtown does not have a late-nite vibe.

FFS

because restaurants who have tried it have not found it is a viable business decision...another example of something folks say they want but ultimately wont support enough to make it worthwhile for restaurants to keep the kitchen open.

Seems to me that Mara's would be the place to go after an evening at SOPAC.

Yes, it would be nice, but when I think about the local restaurants I patronize most, I realize that they are run by families and I would hate to see them have to give up their holiday for this. (Thinking of Pete and family at the Park Wood and the Vayas family at Village Trattoria for just two examples.)

I understand people wanting and deserving to spend time with their families. I was/am frustrated because I was hungry and there were throngs of people looking fir food, to no avail. Places seemed to be open but closed early. Coda, for example, has a sign saying they are open till 11 on Saturdays, lights were on, some people were drinking at the bar, and yet the front door was locked. I watched about 20 people try the door. A woman next to me had ordered (and paid for) food to go and could not get anyone to let her in. Hopefully she eventually did!

I guess I'm missing something. Closing at 10 pm means that the owners did not spend the holiday with their families, unless they hired extra staff for the day. If they did that, then why not stay open an extra hour to cater to after-event crowd?

I also find it surprising that the businesses do not find staying open late on a day that brings hundreds of people within a minute of our village to be a non-viable business option. I can clearly see why this would not work for businesses on any of the other holidays, but July 4th is different, and IMO a missed opportunity for our village.

hankzona said:
because restaurants who have tried it have not found it is a viable business decision...another example of something folks say they want but ultimately wont support enough to make it worthwhile for restaurants to keep the kitchen open.

It's got to be this. Why would any business refuse to stay open if there was really a lot of money to be made?

They wouldn't. Not one of the dozens of folks I ran into on the 4th had any plans to go out to eat AFTER the fireworks. Not one. Nearly everyone I know either does so in town well beforehand at some point or is at home/neighbors at a BBQ.

gerryl said:
Seems to me that Mara's would be the place to go after an evening at SOPAC.

Are they open after 10

A few years ago, a friend and I tried to go out for dinner before the fireworks and couldn't find anything in the village open except the ice cream place. We had banana splits for dinner.

mantram said:
Yes, seriously. Stopped at Coda at 9:53 for dessert and they said their kitchen was closing. Sucks.

Dinner hours are: DINNER FROM 5PM - 9:30PM (VARIES DEPENDING ON THE DAY),7 DAYS A WEEK

Bar menu hours are: BAR MENU - 4 PM TO 10:30 PM; 4 PM TO 12 AM FRIDAY & SATURDAY

I don't see dessert on bar menu. Nevertheless did you tell them you were there for what the bar supposedly still serves or at least just dessert.

The place to go after 10 on any Saturday would be a diner type of place. Even the Parkwood is generally open until 11 PM.

And what Hank and consonent boy said.

Mara's website says they are open till midnight on Saturdays. My thinking is that most families, at least those with youngis kids, will be heading home after fireworks. I worked in restaurants that catered to pre-Broadway and after Broadway crowds. It is a hectic, chaotic way to do business. Plus, what if the restaurant stays open, with no business while everyone is out, and then only a few dribble in? To me, it is an understandable call...if I am a restaurant owner, and would like to spend holiday time with my family, it might be worth giving up any business I might get for that evening. It is a grueling business.

Was St. James Gate closed?

St James Gate's kitchen was closed and dining room side was dark. I believe it closed around 9. Coda's door was locked before 10, though people were inside and drinking at the bar. But clearly kitchen was not serving bar food.

I think those who feel there is a windfall to be made on the 20 or so who tried to open the door at Coda should get their business plan in place for next year. oh wait, they were with family and friends celebrating and only care about their entitlement to a holiday. Go home and have some watermelon or ice cream from your own freezer. Talenti was $2.88 at shop rite

What Hank said.

I'm not entitled, I was simply questioning the logic behind closing earlier than normal (i.e., earlier than on a regular Saturday evening), but not early enough that staff can partake in any celebrations. Jeez.

Arturo's was closed all day. I can see both sides of this. 8 to 9 on a Saturday night is prime time for a lot of these places, and arguably most people were at the fireworks or at backyard and family gatherings. I could see just shutting down at 8, or staying open a bit later to catch some of the after-event crowds. Either way it must have been an odd night to have a restaurant open. Also, I think Trat and Roman Gourmet were open until 11.