Furniture retailer Vizzini & Company plans to relocate from the Galleria to 8 East Front. (Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
A longtime major vacancy on East Front Street in Red Bank is about to end, adding momentum to an economic resurgence on and near Broad Street.
Vizzini & Company, a furniture dealer, will leave its anchor space in the Galleria at Red Bank on the West Side to take the second of two storefronts at 8 East Front, the former home of Kislin’s Sporting Goods, Retail Churn has learned.
The move was confirmed by Jeannie Maloy, manager of Root, on Maple Avenue, an affiliate of Vizzini. She said the move is expected to occur within a month.
Joe Mazzarino, who owns both Vizzini and Root, could not be reached for comment.
Brown paper already covers the windows at the former Vizzini store at the southern end of the sprawling Galleria shopping, dining and office complex. No word was immediately available on whether the Sourlis family, which owns the complex, had lined up a new tenant for the space.
The Kislin’s building got an extensive overhaul after the sporting goods store closed in 2005, ending a century of continuous operation. Luxury apartments were created on the upper two floors of the red brick structure. But the two storefronts on either side of the main entry at street level went begging.
The drought ended last month, when Kramer Portraits, which for 10 years occupied a narrow storefront next door to the Jade Garden take-out Chinese place on Broad Street, relocated to the storefront on the east, taking 2,500 square feet.
In recent months, East Front has seen CLB Photography and Sounds to Go DJ service fill a gaping hole at 21 East Front. On the west side of Broad, Jonathan Erdelyi has opened Red Bicycle Studio, and Lucky Break Billiards started racking ’em up last week. On the drawing board is Jr’s.
The additions come as the northern end of Broad Street has seen vigorous renewal. Zebu Forno reopened after a relocation to 12 Broad, and the space it vacated, at 20, has already seen the opening of Lucki Clover women’s clothing, with Boardwalk Fresh Burgers & Fries planning to open in coming weeks.
In other Churnings:
Char Steakhouse has begun gutting the former Ashes Cigar Bar for a major makeover inside and out. A late summer opening is expected.
Work is also underway at the former home of Lavish Kids, at 15 Broad, where Ashley Dupre is planning to open Femme by Ashley lingerie and swimwear.
Listings on Craigslist and the Restaurant Brokers website the Muscle Maker Grille on West Front Street is for sale. Asking price: $129,000.
