MANCHESTER – For months now a number of residents, business leaders and public officials have been enticing new businesses to the Whiting section of the community.
A new Chamber of Commerce formed late last year to also focus on existing businesses and to see what could be done to bring in the kinds of businesses that residents have expressed more need for.
Last year, resident Judy Noonan, a former Berkeley Township councilwoman who serves on the recently formed township Economic Development Committee and is a member of the Manchester Coordinating Council (MCC), came before the governing body urging that efforts be made to bring in more businesses, preferably grocery chains like Aldi’s or Lydl to the Whiting section of Manchester.
Noonan also noted the abundance of dollar stores in the community and the need for more privately owned eateries.
She said the MCC “is made up of representatives of all the communities within the township.” Noonan serves as the representative and a trustee for Crestwood Village VI.
“We have over 20 associations represented and we’ve had the opportunity to learn what the needs are for stores that need to be brought into Manchester,” Noonan said. “We sent out a survey and got 2,000 responses by residents.” Many of those responses called for vacant buildings such as the former site of a grocery store in Whiting Commons and a closed restaurant in Crestwood Shopping Center to be repurposed for new businesses.
“People want an alternative to Stop & Shop. Even the ShopRite in the other end of town is to far for some of our seniors to go to,” Noonan said. She noted some business operators she has spoken to have indicated that they would be willing to tear down older buildings to put up new structures which would also be a benefit to the community.
She said she is seeing a trend that is hurting the business community of Manchester with bus services that are bringing residents to shopping facilities outside of the township. When that happens, “the money leaves the town.” She told The Manchester Times that she would like to see more balance between business growth in the Whiting section and the Route 37 corridor.
Crestwood VII residents Arthur and Patricia Gregorio were recently shopping at the Whiting Flower Shoppe. Patricia Gregorio said she and her husband have lived in the Crestwood Village area for four years and they see a need for new businesses that would serve the area.
“Another grocery store like Aldi’s or Lidl’s. We don’t really have any options. We have to leave the area with our money and go elsewhere,” Patricia Gregorio said. “With gas prices and everything it is hard for a lot of people. We’re like stuck.”
Her husband wasn’t too excited about the only new business he’s seen come into the area lately. “A barbecue place is going to open next to the bar.”
“That’s another thing, there is only one bar,” Patricia Gregorio interjected noting the need for more options. She was referring to the Spirits Liquor store that she said has a bar inside.
One bright point that was celebrated last year was the planned opening of a Route 70 establishment that took over a closed business. When opened, The Barn will not only serve as a restaurant but will also provide meals for those in need. “That was supposed to open this month,” Noonan said in January.
“The highest meal was to be $12 and they would be doing meals for (needy) people on Wednesdays,” Noonan said but the business has not yet opened. The proposed business was highlighted in an edition of The Manchester Times last fall. Mayor Robert Hudak and Councilwoman Michele Zolezi had visited the establishment that was still undergoing some renovation work and praised the efforts of the operator, staff and a community organization as a business and humanitarian benefit to Manchester.
“We’re looking to the future not for tomorrow,” Noonan said noting that she understands things take time.
