Businesses in the Caldwells have been opening, closing and making a move in recents months. Here's the scoop: On the Move The Caldwell Barber Shop, previously located across the driveway from the Caldwell Diner, has moved to 340 Bloomfield Ave. Owner Neil said his new location offers him more space and better visibility. This particular storefront has seen some turnover in recent years. It was the longtime home of Carpet Cottage, before Elegant Tile moved in ... and out. Last October, it was a temporary stop for a Halloween costume shop.  Caldwell bridal shop Say I Do moved one door over from…

Chef Ed Simmons realized his longtime dream of owning his own farm-to-table restaurant with the opening of Dough Artisan Pizzeria two weeks ago in Caldwell. Simmons' vision included keeping ingredients American, or better yet, local, whenever possible. To that end, he's using hydro-greens from Garden State Urban Farms based in Orange, cheeses shipped from Bobolink Dairy in Milford, chicken and eggs from Goffle Road Poultry Farm in Wyckoff, and, for dessert, diners can choose from a selection of fresh gelato flavors from Gelotti just up the road in Caldwell. The 36-year-old chef said he spent …

A local pharmacist who confesses he loves frozen yogurt is opening his first Red Mango in West Caldwell this spring. Urvish Patel’s shop will be located at 796 Bloomfield Ave. in the West Caldwell Shopping Center. Patel, who lives in Parsippany and works for Rite Aid, said he became interested in the business venture when he learned Red Mango’s frozen yogurt does not include artificial ingredients and is low in fat and sugar. He said the business will be an extension of what he does as a pharmacist, which is encourage his customers to pursue a healthy lifestyle. “It’s my job as a pharmacist …

Brian Provost grew up in a close-knit family that valued sharing a meal together. “Every single dinner we had as a family,” said Provost, owner of the recently opened Corner Butcher Block in Caldwell. “Every Sunday we had dinner at my grandmother’s house.” Last week, Provost took over the space on Park Avenue that was home to Vila Meats for more than 30 years. Among his plans is to introduce prepared dinners, he said, so that customers can go home and eat as a family as if they cooked themselves. The 23-year-old from Naples, Fla. uprooted to Essex County in December, working alongside Vila's …

Bari’s Baubles in Caldwell is moving to a bigger and better space up the block on Bloomfield Avenue. Come Feb. 1, the women’s boutique will have 25 percent more room, a rear entrance which leads to a parking lot and more foot traffic at its new home at 388 Bloomfield Ave., according to owner Bari Butter.  A bigger shop also means Bari’s Baubles, which opened eight years ago this past November, will for the first time have dressing rooms. Butter was busy helping customers, packing and overseeing the construction of those dressing rooms on Thursday, a week away from the big move. Bari’s Baubles…

A commercial building that has been vacant in Caldwell for a number of years has been showing signs of life recently with construction workers preparing for a new tenant—Pep Boys. On Thursday morning, the Pep Boys sign was being hung on the facade of the building located on the corner of Bloomfield and Westover avenues. Employees were also setting up the counter and merchandise in the glass-enclosed area of the business. Pep Boys is a chain based in Philadelphia with more than 700 stores across the country, according to the corporate website. Pep Boys locations offer numerous automotive …

The Caldwells will be introduced to Chicago-style Italian Beef sandwiches when Red’s Dips and Flips swings open its doors in early 2013. The new eatery, located at 800 Bloomfield Ave. in West Caldwell, is the latest venture of Barbi Ellen Newman, a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef who is no stranger to the area.   The New Jersey native began her professional career working at the Ritz Carlton and Le Perroquet Restaurant in Chicago. She later returned to the Garden State to create Mardi Gras Fine Foods in Verona, an off-premise catering business she ran with her sister Kim for 24 …

A frozen yogurt shop, a women’s boutique and two hair salons are among the businesses to have popped up in the Caldwells recently. On the flip side, a large furniture retailer and a salon specializing in kids’ haircuts have skipped town, heading east to Verona. After signs in the windows teased local frozen yogurt fans for months, the newest location of Twist finally opened at 749 Bloomfield Ave., in West Caldwell. The shop is located between popular teen hangouts, Chipotle and Game Stop. This is the third location for the self-serve froyo shop, which sells 24 flavors and more than 80 …

With a dual focus on fashion and candy, what’s not to love about Caldwell’s newest boutique, Runway? The shop, which opened Saturday at 3 Smull Avenue, is a collaborative business venture between Caldwell mom Martha Aleman Fava, owner of www.thesassyshopgirl.com, and Cedar Knolls mom Andrea Festa Zembelis, owner of www.lalascookiejar.com and Sugar Rush.  The partners hope Runway will be the go-to boutique by offering women’s clothing, shoes and accessories, as well as items for toddlers and tweens along with candy. “We want our customers to feel that they can run in when they are in a pinch …

For students from pre-school to college, it just would not be back-to-school season without a trip to their favorite hair salon or barber.  In between shopping for new school supplies and clothing, many families spent time at the different hair stylists in the Caldwells last week. At Hair Design by Flora, owner Flora DePalma said this past week was extremely busy. "It's like the start of the new year. In addition to back to school, everyone is back from vacation and heading back to work," she said. While DePalma spoke, she trimmed and styled the hair of a James Caldwell High School (JCHS) …

A number of businesses in the Caldwells are on the move.  Some owners have retired, such as Linda Cupo of Beyond Knits and Needles. Others have relocated, like the Sprint store which moved to East Hanover according to a sign posted in the window, and Saplings, which has a new home in Montclair. Elegant Tile has also left town. Meanwhile, Everything Dance stepped over to Saplings' former home on Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell. The women's boutique Wish has a sign in the window that says clothing for Teens and Tweens is coming in September. Gianni, the haberdashery on Passaic Avenue in West …

It’s July and Gennaro’s Cucina in West Caldwell has already booked a Christmas party. That’s a good sign for a business that opened its doors less than two months ago. Almost everything is new at this pizzeria and restaurant, with one notable exception. Husband and wife owners Tom and Bonnie Graziano are proud to bring Gennaro Romeo back to this location at 40 Clinton Road, where he worked for about a decade when it was home to the popular Italianisimo. The Grazianos say they were matched up with Romeo—who is known for his grandma pizza and signature gravy—through a mutual friend. After …

Once Upon a Child, the national franchise that buys and sells gently used and new children's clothes, toys, books and equipment, will celebrate a local grand opening at 10 a.m. today. The store, co-owned by Erin Schmidt and her mother, Kim, of Verona, is located at 137 Route 46 West in Fairfield. The family also owns both Funtime Junction and Dynamite Falls mini-golf course in the township. Previously, Once Upon a Child was only open to purchase items from parents to stock up the 5,000-square-foot store with children's clothes, strollers, potties, books and playhouses.  In addition to selling…

When Caldwells Patch caught a small sign that reads "Moving Sale" in the window of Saplings this week, we immediately reached out to owner Cindy Blanco to find out what was going on. "Yes yes yes! I am moving to the fabulous Montclair!" Blanco confirmed. The children's home furnishings and gift shop has been a draw to downtown Caldwell for many years. But it's easy to see why Blanco couldn't resist a storefront on 47 Church St., located right next to a Milk Money children's consignment shop. Blanco anticipates opening the new shop on Sept. 1 and has begun to mark down merchandise in the two-…

Verona’s Schmidt family, owners of Funtime Junction and Dynamite Falls, are doing it again—this time stocking up and preparing to launch their third business venture in Fairfield. “Once Upon a Child,” co-owned by Erin Schmidt and her mother Kim Schmidt is a national franchise that buys and sells gently used and new children's clothes, toys, books and equipment. Located at 137 Route 46 West, “Once Upon a Child” only opened their doors recently and has already had an overwhelming response from parents looking to sell their children's outgrown items. So much, in fact, they have just about fully …

Up until this week, West Essex residents had to travel about five miles to Parsippany to enjoy a Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Now the winner of the Best Burger category in Zagat's Fast Food Survey has a West Caldwell home.  The Sheridans, father Ed and son Patrick, opened the doors of their latest Five Guys restaurant on Monday and so far they said the response from customers has exceeded expectations. "We are very happy to be here," Patrick Sheridan told Patch Friday. "It's been a great first four days." Indeed, by noon Friday, the simple red and white motif restaurant located in the Essex …

Dale Lazarovitch and Cindy Schechter hope to fill their new "closet" with your daughters' outgrown and unwanted clothing.  The co-owners of the resale boutique, My Daughter's Closet, opened for business this week at 3 Brookside Ave. in Caldwell, where they are starting to fill their racks with gently used fashions for tween and teen girls.  The consignment shop accepts party dresses, special occasion dresses, jeans, skirts, sweaters (in season), jackets, belts and handbags. All items should be in good condition, washed and on hangers. All sizes are welcomed. There are some no-no's—the shop …

Norma Brown grew up in a small farm town in the Brazilian state of Bahia, a region she says is famous for its friendly people and Mardi Gras celebrations. Now, more than 25 years since she left her native Brazil, Brown is hoping her friendliness—and skills as a hair stylist specializing in children—bring her success as a small business owner. In October, Brown opened Kids Hair Salon in Caldwell, a brightly painted space on Bloomfield Avenue where children can sit on a motorcycle or car while they get their hair cut. The young clientele can also choose between playing a video game or watching …

Rose Mediterranean’s menu is getting smaller—in a good way. Starting Tuesday, Jan. 17, the Caldwell eatery will begin offering a tapas menu all day Sunday through Thursday in addition to its regular menu. The "small plates" menu will include Spanish-inspired dishes, as well as flavors from Portugal, France, Italy, Morocco and the Middle East. The restaurant will also be offering live entertainment on Thursday nights. Shows start at 7 p.m. Upcoming acts include: The Kootz on Fat Tuesday, Bob De Vos on Valentine’s night, The Tu Tones and more. Next month, Mardi Gras comes to Rose with a special…

Christmas has come early for Caldwell shoppers and all fashionistas this side of Bloomfield Avenue. Just two weeks before the holiday, Wish, an apparel and accessory store for women, became a sleek and stylish addition to the bustling retail scene in town.  Opened by North Caldwell resident Gina B. Cifelli along with her mother, Carol Buono, the store fills a gap left in the otherwise broad array of offerings in downtown Caldwell. “I live in the area and felt the area needed something like this,” said Cifelli, who describes the store as a “hip boutique featuring the latest trends, wardrobe …