Heat not affecting Cranbury stores or restaurants
By: Lacey Korevec
There were no joggers in sight on Main Street Wednesday afternoon. The tables that lined the sidewalks in front of restaurants like The Hot Wok Café and Hannah and Mason’s were desolate. Even with an overcast sky, the heat was blazing and according to weather.com, it felt like 96 degrees in Cranbury.
Main Street business owners said the weather on hazy summer days affects their businesses differently. At Teddy’s, while the heat deterred most outdoor eaters, the inside of the restaurant was bustling.
"When it’s very hot like the past couple of days, we only sat about three tables outside," Teddy’s owner Teddy Nikitiades said. "And I’d say the people are crazy to sit outside in this kind of weather. But some people don’t mind the heat I guess."
After being in business for 34 years, Mr. Nikitiades said he’s seen enough summers come and go to know that the success of his restaurant isn’t affected by summertime heat. He said he has a number of steady customers that make it in every day without fail, regardless of high temperatures.
"You make money one day, you lose some the next day but you make a little bit more the following day," he said. "So, in the end it works out OK."
Patina Home co-owners Suellen Waters and Jamie Sims said they’re looking forward to seeing how business goes this summer, since it will be the store’s first since it opened in October. Since school let out, shoppers have been plentiful, Ms. Waters said.
"People have told us that there are a lot of people walking around Cranbury in the summer, so we’ll see," she said. "Definitely the warm weather brings people out a lot more and it’s so nice with the outdoor dining."
Mr. Sims said days that aren’t too hot but are sunny and warm set the perfect ambiance for shoppers on Main Street.
"It’s nice when people come into the store hungry and we can send them (to Hannah and Mason’s) to eat," he said. "Then they come back in and shop some more."
Cindy Bright, a sales clerk at Charmed By Claire’s, said business at the store increases during the summer.
"So far, it’s been great," she said. "We have nice, loyal customers. It’s just been wonderful. Our business has increased every year."
Ms. Bright said she attributes the summer business boost to growing popularity of certain designer items sold at the store.
Cranbury Pizza co-owner Bob Huegel said that this time of year brings more customers to the restaurant, but business dips right before school starts.
"A lot of people get their last summer vacation in with the family before kids go back to school," he said. "That time also coincides with when kids are going off to college."
Pizza is also convenient in the summer, especially if parents might be busy driving children to and from summer activities, like camp and sports, he said.
"It’s like a neighborhood meeting area," he said, adding that people do enjoy sitting outside when it’s not too hot. "They bring a bottle of wine and see their neighbors. It’s nice."

