New establishments get comfortable on North Main Street
By: Lacey Korevec
Among buildings that have existed for more than a hundred years, there are two new businesses booming on Cranbury’s North Main Street.
During an autumn walk past familiar historic buildings, residents can pop in and check out the home furnishing store Patina Home and the Chinese restaurant Hot Wok Café, two of the township’s most recent additions.
Patina Home opened Oct. 3, about a year and a half after store co-owners Suellen Waters and Jamie Sims purchased the building and began interior renovations.
The store holds decorative place mats, china, bed linens, rugs, candles and picture frames, as well as pillows, soaps, aprons, napkins and personalized "Cranbury Girl" and "Monroe Girl" stationery. It also features women’s bags, headbands, belts, skirts and flip-flops and men’s shorts and belts.
"We really have just about anything you can think of for a home," Ms. Waters said. "We’ve put a lot of thought into what we’ve chosen for the shop. It’s very unique. I feel we have a lot of things that you can’t find just everywhere."
The store is located at 33 N. Main St. It replaces Cranbury Paint and Hardware, which was in business since 1939.
"I think we have a hard act to follow because the hardware store was so important to the life of the town," she said. "We have a big responsibility to become as vital a part of the town as the hardware store was."
Ms. Waters, a Red Bank resident, said she is happy with the store’s Cranbury location and has received a warm welcome from other Main Street store-owners.
"We’re really looking forward to being a part of downtown."
So far, she said, business has been good.
"We’ve had a lot of people come in," she said. "People are curious to see what we have."
For the month of October, Patina Home shoppers will receive a 10 percent discount on their first purchase.
Located just a few doors down, at 57 N. Main St., is the Hot Wok Café. The restaurant opened in March and has an outdoor eating area as well as few tables inside.
Manager Kevin Guan said it’s the only Chinese restaurant in town and its food has received rave reviews from customers.
"The customers always say it looks and tastes very fresh," he said. "So, we always keep the quality fresh. It’s very important to us."
The restaurant, which also has a West Windsor location, uses fresh vegetables bought daily.
"A lot of people say it’s very good and it tastes unique," he said.
When the Hot Wok first opened, business was good but it slowed during the summer and is starting to pick back up now. Mr. Guan said he expects more customers in the winter.
But for now, he hopes people spread the word about the café so that residents from neighboring townships like Monroe, Plainsboro and East Windsor stop in and try a bite.
"The area is small," he said. "It’s very nice. It’s pretty. It’s a nice town. A lot of people come here to relax. They like sitting outside."
Mr. Guan said he suggests new customers try choosing a meal from the Hot Wok Creations section of the menu, because those items seem to be very popular and are prepared differently at the café than at other Chinese restaurants.

