DUI Lawyers in Bergenfield, NJ

BERGENFIELD — The local movie theater that was a mainstay of the downtown for the past century will be redeveloped into a Korean barbecue and hot pot restaurant.

The proposal was approved Monday by the Planning Board. The 260-seat restaurant, to be called Meat Palace — an homage to the original name of the theater — will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, said Mayor Arvin Amatorio.

The restaurant will add yet another option to an eclectic dining scene on South Washington Avenue.

“It’s a place where we can experience the authentic and delicious flavors of Korean cuisine, cooked right at the table,” the mayor said, announcing the news in a Facebook post on Thursday.

The owner of the restaurant will renovate the two-story building, Amatorio said, while preserving some of its features — including at least one of its five projection screens. He said part of it will be used as a dinner theater.

Amatorio said it was disappointing that the theater went out of business at the end of last year. But he said, its future use as a restaurant is important for the viability of the business corridor, which stretches for 1½ miles between the Dumont and Teaneck borders.

Amatorio said he and the previous property owner hunted for a cinema operator to take over the theater.

“I tried to look for potential buyers,” the mayor said, “but I couldn’t find anyone.”

Eventually, someone else showed interest.

In March, a Haworth-based limited liability company bought the property at 58-60 South Washington Ave. for $1.9 million.

Story continues below newspaper clip.

Article clipped from The Record - Newspapers.com

It encompasses a row of storefronts — a total of 18,357 square feet — between the theater and the corner of Bedford Avenue.

Existing businesses, including a hair salon, a school for ballroom dancing and Empanada Mania, a popular Latin restaurant, will remain there.

The theater was initially a vaudeville house, and in September 1928, its then-owners greatly expanded it to a seating capacity of 1,100 people, according to a newspaper article published on the eve of its opening.

In its heyday, it was operated by the affable Louis “Pop” Stahl, lending it the name Pop’s Palace.

The now-defunct Clearview Cinemas, acquired by Bow Tie Cinemas in April 2013, divided the theater into a twin theater in November 1986 before converting it into a multiplex three years later.

Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: devencentis@northjersey.com

BERGENFIELD — Cooper’s Pond will be dredged for the first time in two decades and the park will see upgrades to the walking path and field house, among other improvements, thanks to a $750,000 federal grant.

That money comes on top of a $1 million state grant announced earlier this year for the borough park, said Mayor Arvin Amatorio.

“Cooper’s Pond is a very important park for the borough, especially for the residents,” he said. “We hold a lot of events at the park. People go there every day. They walk, they bring their kids and families.”

The borough is applying for a permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection and hopes to dredge the pond as early as next spring.

It was last dredged about 20 years ago and has since slowly filled with silt and debris, drying it up.

“We want to clean up the whole pond and improve the water for the fish and other animals in the pond,” Amatorio said.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who worked with the borough to secure the federal grant, said he was proud to bring federal tax dollars back to New Jersey.

“This $750,000 bipartisan investment will help ensure Cooper’s Pond, an iconic, beautiful North Jersey park, is maintained for residents of all ages and families to enjoy and make memories for years to come,” he said.

Other improvements planned include resurfacing the walkway around the pond, renovating and enlarging the park’s field house, the installation of a sprinkler system, drainage improvements and the renovation of park bathrooms.

“We’re excited to improve the whole area,” Amatorio said. “We want the whole community to enjoy Cooper’s Pond.”

Tropical Juice Bar at Foster Village Shopping Center at 495 South Washington Ave. in Bergenfield — Courtesy: RIPCO Real Estate

By Joshua Burd

The owner of a 70,000-square-foot retail center in Bergenfield will soon welcome Tropical Juice Bar, a growing fast-casual restaurant chain, in a newly announced deal by RIPCO Real Estate.

According to a news release, the eatery is leasing an undisclosed amount of space at Foster Village Shopping Center at 495 South Washington Ave. The location will be the 10^th for Tropical Juice Bar, which serves fresh Dominican cuisine, homemade juices and smoothies, with plans to open this spring alongside tenants such as Aldi, Dollar General, Taco Bell, Wingstop and Mattress Firm.

RIPCO Executive Vice President Curtis Nassau and Director Colby Piper represented the landlord, while Director Therese O’Brian represented the tenant.

“We chose to open in Foster Village because of its strong mix of food tenants and because it’s the best center in the market, offering excellent access and parking,” said Dolly Martinez, the Tropical Juice Bar franchisee. “We can’t wait to share our food with the community when we open this spring.”

Nassau added: “We are confident that Tropical Juice Bar will be a fantastic addition to Foster Village, enhancing the tenant mix and providing a vibrant, welcoming destination for the community. Their food and smoothies are not only delicious and refreshing, but their commitment to quality and customer service truly sets them apart.”

In announcing the deal, RIPCO noted that the Foster Village location will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving a variety of fruit smoothies, wraps, sandwiches, empanadas and salads with a Dominican flair.

“Bringing a thriving local concept into the tenant mix is a win for everyone, enhancing the center’s appeal and creating new opportunities for both businesses and the community,” Piper said, noting that Foster Village recently underwent a major renovation that included a new façade, parking lot, signage, lighting and landscaping.

The property sits at the intersection of New Bridge Road and South Washington Avenue, benefiting from average daily traffic of nearly 40,000 vehicles and shoppers from nearby Englewood, Teaneck, New Milford, Dumont, Cresskill and Tenafly.

“Dolly and I appreciate Bergenfield’s strong demographics,” O’Brian said. “With almost 190,000 residents and 80,000 employees within a three-mile radius of Foster Village, the area is densely populated. Additionally, we love that the center is shadow-anchored by the Soccer Coliseum.”