What? Pizza in Five Minutes? Pie Five's NJ Debut

So here's the premise behind the Pie Five name: From the time you get in the door, order your pizza and get your pizza should take no more than five minutes. There are almost 100 Pie Five locations in the U..S., but the South Brunswick Pie Five in Riya Plaza is the first in New Jersey. The location opened on January 8th and is doing well, especially this past weekend, says Dinesh Goswami, the owner of the restaurant.

Goswami says he liked the location for the amount of traffic on the busy intersection of Finnegans Lane and Route 27. "There's a good mix of daytime and dinner population and it's easily accessible," he says. 

Owner Dinesh Goswami next to Pie Five's "periodic table of toppings"

Custom-Pizza Model

He describes the model as "Chipotle-style pizza" in that each diner chooses the type of crust, sauce, cheese and toppings.The restaurant also uses only Halal meat, which makes sense in this area of New Jersey with its growing south Asian population, and has a separate stations for its vegetarian options.The restaurant also offers salads and bread sticks.

Brownie and chocolate chip cookie pies are on the menu for dessert, as well as cinnamon sticks. And to speed the process even more, of course there is a mobile app to order before you get to the restaurant.

An 11-inch pie with unlimited toppings is $7.99 and a 14-inch pie is $15.99. Vegan cheese or gluten-free crust each cost $2 extra. A cheese pizza is $5.99 for 11-inch, and $12.99 for the 14-inch size.

Already the new restaurant has received a fair amount of press, including coverage in Yahoo Finance, Patch, QSR and Restaurant News. In an effort to jumpstart foot traffic, the franchise has also sent out 50,000 coupons for a free pizza within a six-mile radius of the store.

No newbie to the restaurant franchise business, Goswami also has investments in other chains including Dunkin Donuts, Arby's, Popeyes and Taco Bell. 

The biggest challenge in opening the store was finding "good quality employees," Goswami says.
Dallas-based Pie Five Pizza Co. is a unit of RAVE Restaurant Group Inc., which owns, franchises and supplies more than 300 Pie Five and Pizza Inn restaurants. For its fiscal year ended June 25, 2017, the parent company reported a net loss of $12.5 million on revenue of $57.1 million. At the end of fiscal first quarter, the total number of Pie Five restaurants was 83.

Asian Fusion Development

An Asian fusion restaurant will be coming to the strip mall that also houses Kendall Park/Franklin Park Post Office. A handwritten sign is posted in the space that had been occupied by RadioShack..

Three Things on the Stretch

Just a few things to note in the past couple of weeks. I'll be back back on the beat soon with some more details and new stories.

1. New Physical Therapy Business

Innovative Physical Therapy Fitness Center has moved into Town Place Shopping Center, near the Party Fair store. The space was once occupied by Uptown Playaround. This is Innovative's second location. It also has a facility in Edison. This leaves only one vacancy in the Town Place strip mall--the space next to the CVS, where Party Fair used to be.

2. New Learning Center

Marlboro Learning Center has opened in the Tabtor Math building. The business also has locations in Morganville, Edison and Garwood. It provides tutoring for K-12 reading/writing and math as well as help in preparing for standardized tests such as ACT and SAT.

3. Roller Rink Clears Out

The Kendall Park roller skating rink, closed since Nov.  26, is cleaning out. Two dumpsters are in front of the building. A sign on the door says, "Closed for renovation." The rink closed its doors at the end of the Thanksgiving weekend.

Happy Holidays and wishing everyone a prosperous New Year!

Have any ideas for "This Stretch of 27"? Either leave in comments or email me at lkiesche@gmail.com.

Liz Kiesche

Liz, a business journalist, formerly worked for Bloomberg News in Princeton and New York.

Grand Opening Giveaway & Specials at Wawa

What better way to get customers in the door than a giveaway? Wawa opened its Kendall Park store on Friday, Dec. 8, and is offering free coffee this week. It's also offering $1.99 12-oz. milk shakes and $2.99 6-inch hoagies to mark its grand opening week. While afternoons have been busy, mornings have been slower than expected, said one of the store's employees. 

Coupon Marketing

Wawa has sent coupons to nearby residents, so business may pick up in the mornings as people realize the store is open and adjust their morning commutes.

Grand opening features free coffee

Gas price matches the lowest price in the area

The gasoline pumps are open, as well, and the per-gallon price for regular-grade gas matches the cheapest in the area at $2.25. Diesel sells for $2.71/gallon.

The grand opening for the Somerset Wawa five miles north on Route 27 is set for this Friday, Dec. 15, with doors opening at 8 am and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 am.

New Businesses Behind IHOP

One business is expanding and two more are moving into the strip mall behind IHOP in Franklin Park. The Spice Rack is adding a banquet facility next door to its restaurant. 

Meanwhile, signs have gone up for Pasha Mediterranean Restaurant & Banquet and Cloud 9 by Pasha. So far, there are no websites for either Pasha or Cloud 9. From the sign for Cloud 9, it looks like it will be a hookah lounge. And from the name, Pasha is likely a restaurant specializing in Turkish cuisine.

Since there are no websites for either Pasha or Cloud 9, there's no telling when the businesses will open.

"This Stretch of 27" covers business on Route 27 between Finnegan's Lane and Route 518. What's your story? Email me at lkiesche@gmail.com

Liz Kiesche
Liz, a business journalist, formerly worked for Bloomberg News in Princeton and New York.

Two Stores Open at Riya Plaza..More to Come

A Taste of Paris in Kendall Park

Farrida Kpamegan, a native of Benin, opened her first business on Saturday.

Les Delices bakery, or should I say patisserie, opened at Riya Plaza, at the Finnegans Lane intersection, on Saturday, Dec. 2. It's the dream of Farrida Kpamegan, who came to the U.S. 16 years ago. She studied at the Institute of Culinary Education to become a pastry chef, then worked for several years before opening her business in Kendall Park. She chose the location because it's very close to her home, and there's a lot of traffic along Route 27.

Among the Les Delices' offerings are speculos cookies, a European treat.

                                     

The bakery has a bit of a European air to it, since it specializes in French pastries, such as croissants and French macarons (not to be confused with macaroons, the coconut cookies). It also offers coffee and espresso, as well as quiches, sandwiches and soups.
Kpamegan says she's done some advertising and is still working on a website.

Time to Pamper Nails

The New Nail Time & Spa also opened about a week ago, according to an employee working there. That makes it the fifth nail salon in the area. The salon offers manicures, pedicures, aromatherapy, nail enhancements and waxing, according to its website.

Pie Five Pizza is gearing up for its opening. Signs are posted on 27 advertising that it's now hiring.

Also at Riya Plaza, construction is taking place in the end unit at the north of the strip mall. The permit posted on the window says the tenant is Ember, which is an Indian restaurant and bar that's currently located on Route 1 near the Deans Lane intersection in Monmouth Junction.

What's Happening at Franklin Towne Center?

In Franklin Towne Center, work has started on the space next to Douglass Pizza & Grill. Perhaps it's the new Indian restaurant that I've heard is planned for that shopping center. It seems a little unusual that workmen were jackhammering in the space on Monday evening at about 6:30. No construction permit was posted on the door or windows.

On Monday evening, workers jackhammer in the space next to Douglass Pizza & Grill.

Roller Rink Closes; Christmas Tree Retail

Last Skate for Kendall Park Rink

After 53 years, the Kendall Park Roller Skating Rink closed today, Sunday, Nov. 26. The owner plans to convert the building into retail space, says Connie, the woman who sells tickets for admission and roller-skate rentals at the door. "Last night was really hard." 

Final skate for the Kendall Park Roller Rink; closing after 53 years.

Rollerskaters will have an easier time finding skateparks in Central Jersey than roller rinks.  You'll have to go to Woodbridge, South Amboy, or Jackson for a roller rink.  Meanwhile,there are skateparks in  South Brunswick, New Brunswick, Somerset, and West Windsor.

The end of an era for the Kendall Park/Franklin Park area.
Roller rink doors closed for good at 5 pm today.

Tree Retailing on Route 27

Like everywhere else, Christmas tree lots have sprung up for the holiday season. On Route 27, two lots are in operation--one that's new and one that's been around for more than 30 years.

Top Tree Services, which operates about 20 sites in New Jersey and the Bronx has set up a lot in the Franklin Towne Center parking lot, its first year in this location. All trees are priced at $24.95. It's $9.99 more for a package that includes a fresh cut, netting, preservative and a disposal bag. The trees were shipped in from Canada and Michigan.

 Potting Shed Christmas Trees Are Back

The Potting Shed is selling Christmas trees, wreaths and grave blankets again this year.  Its owner, Steve Belly, plans to continue the Christmas-related business.  After 46 years in business, the The store closed in June and the property was sold a couple months ago. But the family still owns the house and property across the street from the store, where the Christmas tree lot operates. Steve is considering just opening the business during holiday periods, such as Valentine's Day and Easter. For example, he might sell palm crosses around Easter. 

Potting Shed's Steve Belly working on wreaths, grave covers.

Besides the Christmas trees, which retail starting at $20, the business also sells grave covers. His trees come from Nova Scotia and Pennsylvania. 
Besides trees, grave covers have been a big seller. He's sold over 3,000 of them. The Potting Shed also runs a Christmas tree lot on Easton Avenue by the Burger King in Rutgers Plaza in Somerset.

Denise has worked for the business for more than 30 years.

The tree lot opened on Nov. 20 this year, when it received its first shipment.

The Potting Shed sells more than 3,000 grave covers a year.

"This Stretch of 27" covers business on Route 27 between Finnegan's Lane and Route 518. What's your story? Email me at lkiesche@gmail.com

Liz Kiesche
Liz, a business journalist, formerly worked for Bloomberg News in Princeton and New York.

Thanksgiving: Open for Business

Most people typically think of Thanksgiving as a day off from their usual jobs, not that they're not working. Many spend hours, if not days, preparing for their annual day of thanks feast. Yet, there are many people who do not get the day off. And while that's always been the case, the annual shopping orgy of Black Friday has crept backwards into Thanksgiving, meaning more people than ever have to schedule their holiday dinner plans around their work schedule.

For those who don't work on Thanksgiving, today may be a good time to give thanks for the essential personnel on the job today. I'm talking about medical and public safety professionals--physicians, nurses, health aides, police officers, utility workers who keep the lights (and ovens on). To a lesser extent there are important (if not absolutely essential) jobs that don't take a break on holidays, such as journalists, radio and television broadcast technicians. Don't forget those who are on call and can't totally kick back.

Since Route 27 business is mostly retail, there are many stores open, some of which are surprising, like GNC. Perhaps some people would like protein powder to go along with their turkey.

 Aabh Beauty Salon and HairTime Salon were also open. Most of HairTime's customers were men stopping in for a haircut.

And yes, if you absolutely need to get your car washed today, Casino Car Wash is open.

In case you need vitamins or protein powder...

Car wash, anyone?

Preemptive Strike

Need to take off those pounds before you put them on? Call it preemptive a preemptive strike against belly bloat. Club Metro will be open until 1 pm.

Club Metro open til 1 pm 

No Holiday for Restaurants

It's not surprising that many restaurants are open today. IHOP is open until 2 pm today. Meanwhile, Confectionately Yours, which up until today was taking reservations for Thanksgiving dinner, is open until 5 pm.

Isabella (left) and Elena at IHOP on Thanksgiving morning

IHOP online orders counter open

Confectionately Yours serves Thanksgiving dinner

Need some medication? All CVS pharmacies are open today until 2 pm. Meanwhile, Walgreens is open, but its pharmacy isn't. 

Walgreens photo department open; pharmacy isn't

CVS store and pharmacy open

Urgent Care Available

If you cut or burn yourself while preparing dinner, Brunswick Urgent Care has four employees working, including a physician, to patch you up. Holidays are usually pretty busy, says Maggie, who mans the reception desk. The business is open until 5 pm today.

Maggie at Brunswick Urgent Care's reception desk

In case you have unexpected guests, Stop & Shop and Route 27 Farmers Market are open. And if you forgot to pick up wine or beer, the liquor stores along Route 27 are open, too.

Stop & Shop open for picking up orders and last-minute needs.

And to pick up beer and/or wine for dinner...

If you find Thanksgiving too stressful, you can fuel up at Valero and drive off for a last-minute vacation.

Gas stations open, as usual

"This Stretch of 27" covers business on Route 27 between Finnegan's Lane and Route 518. What's your story? Email me at lkiesche@gmail.com

Liz Kiesche
Liz, a business journalist, formerly worked for Bloomberg News in Princeton and New York.

This Just In...Pop-Up Thrift, Real Estate, Wawa

Pop-Up Thrift Store 

The space that was most recently a shoe repair shop on the corner of Claremont Road will be a thrift store for a day. On Saturday, Nov. 18, the site that was also once the Franklin Park post office, will transform into a thrift store from 9 am to 4 pm. That's the same day as the holiday bazaar at Six Mile Run Reformed Church next door to the pop-up store.

New Real Estate Agency

Gautams Realty opened an office in Kendall Park about a month ago. Broker/manager Chandra Ghosh says the agency chose Kendall Park because, "there's a lot of business in the area. People want to move to the Princeton area and Monroe."

The real estate agency, which also has an office in Iselin, mostly serves the residential market, but also does commercial and investment business. 
"Last year, business was better than this year," observes Ghosh. Since then it's slowed some, because there aren't as many homes for sale, she says.
The real estate agency's new office reflects the influx of Asian Indians into the Franklin Park/Kendall Park area. Most of Gautam's customers are Asian Indian, though not all, Ghosh says.

Wawa Construction Almost Done

The gas pumps have been installed and landscaping is underway at the Wawa. The construction fence has also been taken down and it looks like the building and its interior are complete. Perhaps it will open by the end of the month. Wawa hasn't returned by emails requesting comments and the date of the store's opening isn't yet listed on the website. It only indicates the store will open in the fall. See website here.

"This Stretch of 27" covers business on Route 27 between Finnegan's Lane and Route 518. What's your story? Email me at lkiesche@gmail.com

Liz Kiesche
Liz, a business journalist, formerly worked for Bloomberg News in Princeton and New York.