Another Business Bows Out of Downtown

Rose & Nicholas Boutique is the latest shop to close in downtown Caldwell in recent months. 

Owner Carol Del Viriginia said business was just too slow and the rent was simply too high to sustain the Smull Avenue shoe shop.

The still-new looking purple wooden sign was taken down Monday. The store will be open for a couple of more days this week with everything marked down more than 50%. The dyeable shoe inventory may move to , located around the corner on Bloomfield Avenue.

Del Virginia opened the shop with her son, Nick, in late 2010, offering chlidren's shoes and accessories, as well as dyeable shoes for weddings and special occasions. The shop also carried a signature line of clothing , who studied graphic design at Caldwell College.

"I'm sticking it out for a few days," said Del Virginia, a resident of Verona, hoping to sell-off as much of what's left as possible.

Other shops have disappeared from downtown Caldwell recently.

AS&J Paper at 412 Bloomfield Ave. is closed and now has a For Rent sign in the window.

Diana's Cuts for Kids, which specialized in children's haircuts, went to an appointment-only schedule a few weeks back and is now vacant. The salon was open for more than five years at 392 Bloomfield Ave.

The windows of , which sold carpet and flooring, are papered up. Owner Robert Rizzolo in December from the borough's Environmental Commission for offering a selection of eco-friendly carpets. 

Earlier this year, the dollar-store closed and will be the new home of the health food business, , which has moved out of West Caldwell.