Around the Montclair Center
Anthropologie in the Montclair Center. Image courtesy of Rachel Dykstra
by Mike Delia
Hello Montclairians! Welcome to “Montclair by Mike”, your bi-weekly blog on everything Montclair has to offer, written for Montclair’s #1 website, MontclairNow.com. Every two weeks, you will be kept up to date on everything new & interesting happening in and around town!
“Around The Neighborhood” is a series that focuses on the amazing villages & districts Montclair has to offer. The best way to start is with Montclair Center itself. Montclair Center, or downtown Montclair, has so much to offer its residents; it runs the length of Bloomfield Avenue from Verona down to the Glen Ridge border with an abundance of dining, shopping, arts, beauty, culture, and shopping on Church Street, Glenridge Avenue and South Fullerton Avenue. You could easily spend an entire weekend perusing all the nooks and crannies of Montclair Center, from the Montclair Book Center and Montclair Antique Center to grabbing a cup of coffee at Java Love or enjoying dinner out at one of the many restaurants that dot Bloomfield Avenue and its surrounding streets. My job is to give you; the residents and visitors of Montclair, a curated selection of a few local businesses to help you decide where you spend your time. Let’s get going!
Dining:
Faubourg Window. Image courtesy of Faubourg
Relatively new to the Montclair dining scene within the last few years, Faubourg has become a hot spot in town. Originally an old bank, then the old Screening Zone movie theater, and a few stores afterwards. Faubourg repurposed the interior beautifully. With its second-floor dining area, oversized wine lockers, and an interior reminiscent of a restaurant in Paris with an eclectic menu of seafood, steak, and chicken with an impressive cocktail and wine menu to boot, Faubourg has been packing them in on the weekends and weeknights. Let’s not forget about that outdoor bar and dining space that they recently expanded. One word to sum it up: Amazing!
A Montclair staple for over 20 years. Raymond’s is one of the more popular restaurants in town where you can have breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. Its location makes it great to take in the sights and sounds on Church Street during the day or night. Some of the more popular items on the menu are their French Toast and Omelet’s and don’t forget to try the Buttermilk Fried Chicken. Be sure to take in the vintage soda bottles on display while dining inside or dine al fresco outside on Church Street. Raymond’s is also very family-friendly.
Cafes:
Java Love. Image courtesy of Jamie Conlon
Java Love opened its first Montclair area location on Bellevue Avenue in Upper Montclair back in 2014 and due to the overwhelming success of that location, owners Jodie Dawson and Kristine Petrik decided to open up another location in Montclair Center. Located right on Church Street on the ground level of the Church Street apartment building, Java Love is your go-to place to get Certified Fair-Trade coffee from around the world including single origin, decaf, and flavored coffees, organic tea, and delectable sweets including chocolate chip cookies and granola bars.
Shopping:
Montclair Book Center Store Front. Image courtesy of Chad W. Hoover
Montclair Book Center has been a mainstay on Glenridge Avenue for years. A used book store where you can get lost for hours. Montclair Book Exchange goes beyond books. Check out the used vinyl department that is located on the main floor and in the basement as well. You will be sure to pick something up and not leave the store empty-handed.
Another Montclair staple is the Montclair Antique Center. If you need to find something to add to your home this is the place to come to. From porcelain and ceramics to chandeliers and lamps to art and crystal you will be sure to find something.
Arts & Live Music:
Wellmont Theatre. Image courtesy of The Wellmont Theatre.
The Montclair Art Museum has been a mainstay for years in Montclair. If you can’t get into the city this is your “go-to” place to take in the latest exhibits.
Originally the old Roberts Wellmont Theater, the Wellmont reopened in 2008 after extensive renovations to transform the old movie theater into a live music venue. Now under Live Nation since 2013, the Wellmont is finally reopening at the end of the month with its first live show since the start of the pandemic. Recently completed this summer is the new Wellmont Arts Plaza located right outside the doors of the Wellmont.
This is only a brief listing of what Montclair Center has to offer. In two weeks, I will be blogging on the southern half of Montclair Center from North Willow down to the Glen Ridge border. Until then, see you soon Montclair!
