Ribbon-cuttings mark new businesses.
By: Lea Kahn
With a snip of the scissors well, five snips of the scissors Mayor Greg Puliti welcomed five businesses to business district in the village of Lawrenceville last week.
Three of the businesses are new, and two are under new ownership. Vidalia, a restaurant on Phillips Avenue, and Village Traditions, a gift shop on Main Street, have new owners. The new businesses are the Lawrenceville Inn, the Maidenhead Studios and Peggy Sue’s Ice Cream.
Mayor Puliti told the crowd that the revitalization of Main Street could serve as a model for the planned revitalization of Brunswick Pike in the southern end of the township, between the Brunswick Circle and Mayflower Avenue.
"This is a happy day in Lawrenceville," said Lew Thurston, president of the Lawrenceville Main Street board of directors. He urged the crowd to visit the businesses, which are waiting for their patronage. The businesses have great things to offer, he said.
It is unusual to have five businesses hold grand opening ceremonies on the same day, said Paul Stridick, state coordinator of the Main Street New Jersey Program in the state Department of Community Affairs. The program helps towns breathe new life into their business districts.
Mr. Stridick read a proclamation from Gov. James E. McGreevey, congratulating the owners of the five businesses. The three new businesses should be proud of the part they are playing in providing vital services to residents, the proclamation said.
The newest business in town Peggy Sue’s Ice Cream is located at 8 Gordon Ave. Owner Susan Torlay opened the 1950s-themed ice cream shop July 4.
The name of the shop is a combination of her own name Sue and that of a friend’s daughter Peggy, Ms. Torlay said. For trivia fans, "Peggy Sue" also is the name of a 1950s song made popular by Buddy Holly and the Crickets.
The decor is typical 1950s pink walls, framed album covers and vinyl records of popular recording groups such as Little Anthony and the Imperials and Buddy Holly, plus lots of Elvis Presley memorabilia. A gumball machine occupies one corner of the store.
The menu at Peggy Sue’s Ice Cream, also offers traditional 1950s ice cream shop fare milkshakes, ice cream sodas, sundaes, soda and coffee.
A registered nurse, Ms. Torlay worked at the St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center before opening up the ice cream store. Always interested in art, Ms. Torlay decided a career change was necessary. She considered opening an arts-related business, but decided on an ice cream store instead.
"I remember the 1950s as being simple and sweet," Ms. Torlay said. "You could walk down the street and be safe. I wanted to have a place (business) where kids could have fun and have a taste of what we had and not worry about kidnapping or terrorism."
Young patrons to the store enjoy the 1950s music that is piped both inside and outside on the patio, Ms. Torlay said. They sing along to it and some of them even dance to it, she said.
While the focus of the business right now is serving ice cream and milkshakes, Ms. Torlay said the grassy area in the back yard of the store could lend itself to special events, such as birthday parties. This is something she would like to explore, she said.
Peggy Sue’s Ice Cream is open Monday through Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. On Sunday, the store is open from noon to 9 p.m.
Another new business in the village of Lawrenceville is the Lawrenceville Inn, located in a converted Victorian house at 2691 Main St. Owners Jonathan and Elizabeth Hunt opened the restaurant last month.
The Lawrenceville Inn is an upscale family-dining establishment, Ms. Hunt said. Her goal is to bring a comforting feeling to dining, one that she remembers as a small child when the family would gather for Sunday afternoon dinners at home.
Ms. Hunt described the Lawrenceville Inn’s offerings as American food, prepared with French techniques. The lunch menu offers sandwiches and some selections from the dinner menu, which features seafood, poultry and beef.
The Lawrenceville Inn is open for lunch seven days a week, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The inn is open for dinner Monday through Saturday, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday dinner is served from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The third new business in town the Maidenhead Studio is located down a flight of steps in the basement of 11 Gordon Ave. The art studio is owned by Ruthann Perry.
Ms. Perry, a former art teacher, plans to offer a series of art camps for children ages 6 to 13 during the summer, and then to offer after-school classes in the fall. Art classes for adults also are planned.
For more information, Ms. Perry may be contacted at 896-4134. The e-mail address is perryprops @yahoo.com.
Vidalia, a restaurant at 21 Phillips Ave., has new owners Joseph Immordino and Kenneth Ward. Mr. Immordino is the chef and Mr. Ward is in charge of management. The new owners purchased the business eight months ago.
Mr. Immordino and Mr. Ward said they have always been interested in the restaurant industry, but never had the chance to pursue it. When they learned that Vidalias was available, they jumped at the chance to buy it.
The restaurant fare has changed from French to Italian, according to the new owners. The lunch menu offers pasta and sandwiches, and the dinner menu features pasta, chicken and beef dishes. Mr. Immordino spent time in Sicily, Italy, learning the chef’s trade, before returning to Lawrence.
Vidalia is open Tuesday through Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch. It is open for dinner Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Dinner is served from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Village Traditions is located at 2685 Main St. It was purchased in January by new owners Eugenia Rice and her daughters, Julie Rice, Kim Rice and Penny Cooper.
Opening a gift shop has long been a dream of her mother and her sisters, Ms. Cooper said. While originally from South Carolina, they have grown to love Lawrence and have made many new friends, she added.
The gift shop offers fine gifts and home décor items, such as candles, cards, stationery and wreaths. The shop is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.