Everyone knows that the restaurant scene in Montclair is as unpredictable as a toddler on ice skates. But what can be predicted with some certainty today is that at least three new restaurants—all very different—will be opening in Montclair within the next few weeks. First on the list is Kei Kabob at 401 Bloomfield Avenue, a Persian restaurant that will specialize in kebabs. "Items will be low fat and healthy," said owner Ashkan Khalaj, who worked in the restaurant business in Iran. Kei Kabob, which hopes to open by Friday, March 23, is located next to Spice II, a Thai restaurant, which is …

  During a visit to Dot Reeder in Watchung Plaza, customer Jean Grossman stopped by to sing the praises of owner Laura Barker. "I'm intimidated by clothes so this place has been great for me," Grossman said. She explained how she had previously popped into Dot Reeder just before heading out to an important event, only to walk out of the colorful store 10 minutes later armed with the perfect outfit. No doubt lots of women feel the same way about Dot Reeder and will be happy to learn that Barker will be moving the store next week to the space formerly occupied by the recently closed Watchung …

  It's the perfect location—right by Watchung Booksellers. Comfort Food Kitchen plans to open by June 1 at 54 Fairfield Street, the spot formerly occupied by Piazza Della Sole, which moved this month to 620 Valley Road in Upper Montclair. So what is Comfort Food Kitchen? Here's the scoop from Suzanne Michaud, the chef and founder. About me: Cooking is a second career for me. In a past life, I worked in investment banking/finance and traveled the globe. Food has always been such an important part of my life, and having lived overseas three times, I came to respect local traditions of preparing…

  After weeks of writing about the closings of Montclair businesses such as Watchung Plaza Home, Montclair Beadworks, and ColorStoryHome, it's nice to report on an infusion of new faces in the township's commercial centers. One new face is Let’s YO Yogurt at 31 Valley Road (the former ColorStoryHome space), which boasts more than 50 varieties of fresh, puréed yogurt derived from a Midwest dairy farmer. (And this just in: A new Frozen Yogurt shop is going into the former Sugee location in Watchung Plaza!) Customers can select from an array of healthy toppings, including a fun, colorful …

  When New Jersey resident Janice Pedicino graduated from Montclair State University in 1983 with a degree in Political Science, she never envisioned that cleaning people’s homes and offices would sustain her into the future. Janice and her sister Amy had formed a partnership and cleaned their way through school—but at that time it was just a way for two ambitious coeds to earn extra money. But Janice's entrepreneurial spirit has led to the creation of Janny's Cookies, a Montclair baking business that offers free delivery within 10 miles of Montclair. "I've lived in Montclair since 1985. My …

  When other businesses are closing or cutting back, there's one that is actually expanding and hiring—Vamp Hair Studio. Indeed, the studio, which has been a staple in Upper Montclair for five years, has added a second floor where customers can enjoy manicures, pedicures, threading, waxing, and sugaring (sugaring is done at body temperature with no need for heat). The studio is busy—but is about to get even busier. And so this week's business spotlight is on Vamp Hair Studio. If you know of a business that would like to be spotlighted, email Shelley@patch.com. In The Spotlight: Vamp Hair …

  While other businesses move in fits and starts, Little Daisy Bake Shop in Upper Montclair has continued to roll out new products and ideas—almost by the day. Most recently, Little Daisy announced a Valentine's Day Heart Contest! Kids ages 12 and under were asked to come in and get a heart or print one out from the following link here. Kids could decorate it any way they liked. And now, at last, the shop has picked its favorite and there's a winner who will have their design reproduced onto a delicious cake for Valentine's Day! That winner is Claire Kaminski. Congratulations Claire! If you …

  There were a lot of disappointed Mount Hebron Middle School students on Friday afternoon. As always, groups of kids headed down to Grid Iron Waffles at 197 Bellevue Avenue after school for a snack—only to find it closed down. Indeed, although there's no sign indicating the closure, all the furniture has been removed. The popular spot selling Belgian waffles opened in the fall of 2011 in the space formerly occupied by Sticky Buns. It's not yet clear what happened to Grid Iron Waffles although change is common in Upper Montclair. Just within the last few months, Little Daisy Bake Shop opened …

  As this Montclair Patch editor always likes to say, Upper Montclair is a lot like British weather. If you don't like it, just wait a few minutes and the landscape will change. Well, a walk around Upper Montclair early Wednesday revealed that a new store is opening up on March 1 in the space formerly occupied by Alex of Upper Montclair. Indeed, that new store is Piazza Della Sole, which plans to move from 54 Fairfield Street in Watchung Plaza to 620 Valley Road in Upper Montclair at the end of February. According to the owners, the new space is larger, meaning there's more room for more …

  Walk around Upper Montclair and—besides the still-unoccupied former Five Guys Burgers & Fries shop—you'll notice a lot of signs announcing sales. And not just minor sales, but big sales, the kinds that can really make an impact on your spending. At Crookhorns Men's Wear, for example, the owners have been offering up to 70 percent off the entire store inventory in celebration of their third year in business. Indeed, it was on a cold January afternoon in 2009 when Crookhorns Men's Wear opened, offering a great selection of men's sportswear and dress attire for the men of Montclair and the …

  Just a stone's throw from the Montclair Municipal Building, and right next to the popular store, Dem Two Hands, stands a new resident of North Fullerton Avenue—Next Cleaners. The business offers a laundry list (ha, ha) of discounts in an effort to reward loyal customers and entice new ones to come in. They include: —20 percent off for new customers —20 percent off for senior citizens —15 percent off for anyone who works for the town, including school teachers, police officers, janitors, and everyone else Next also offers 15 percent off for those who prepay on Thursdays as part of a "Going …

"We don't discriminate between people and pets." That's the motto espoused by the owners of A Well Feathered Nest, a new home and gift boutique for people and pets that is celebrating its grand opening on Saturday. Located at 547 Valley Road, the unique shop is nearly directly across the street from the pet store in Upper Montclair known as Iggy's Place. But the two establishments are very different. "We focus on things that you aren't doing to see in any other store," said co-owner Ann Harries. And she's right. Among the items on display are a stainless steel bowl in which one can grow their…

With the near-recession causing so many businesses to close, it's nice to see Montclair businesses expanding. Indeed, Patti Safian, a licensed acupuncturist, has announced the "radical" expansion of her NJ Acupuncture & Fertility Center.   In addition to acupuncture services, Safian has now begun offering Yoga for Fertility classes on Saturdays in The Sacred Space, a private yoga studio located in the Center at 70 Park Street, Suite 208, Montclair.  The Yoga for Fertility classes are specially designed for women who are trying to conceive. Yoga for Fertility uses specific yoga postures and …

With Halloween only three weeks away—exactly—it's time to start thinking about whether your kid is going to be Charlie Sheen or a mermaid. At Halloween Secret, which just opened on Bloomfield Avenue, a salesgirl said Nicki Minaj was the most popular costume so far this year. At Just Kidding Around, a salesgirl said the $59 fireman costume is a bit hit. Other places to check out for costumes and decorations include Aunt Jean's Toys and Treats, Grove Pharmacy, and Milk Money. But what if you want to make a costume? Then you are in luck. Rock Paper Scissors on Bloomfield Avenue is offering …

After 50 years at 620 Valley Road in Upper Montclair, Alex II (formerly Alex), the upscale women’s boutique, has moved around the corner to 193 Bellevue Avenue.  In addition to getting a fresh new space, Alex II has undergone a third name change: Susanne n, after owner Susanne Neckermann. Neckermann, who has a long history in fashion and wholesale, has owned  Alex II since 2009. Although she “loves” her business, Neckermann did not have the same sentiment about the shop’s space. The fire last April, along with compounding structural issues, led Neckermann to seek a location that would better …

You can’t flip through a fashion magazine or watch a style show without someone waxing poetic about the denim trend this season. It’s showing up on manicures and a dizzying array of jean styles; even acid wash has worked its 90210-way back into the rotation.  Whatever your denim fancy, there are several shops in town offering all manner of washes, fits and price tags. Four of the boutiques are within a few blocks of one another, making your denim quest a cinch. —Culture Couture, 53 Church Street Among the quirky change purses, graphic tees, jewelry and Buddha statues, Culture Couture has …

Just below Bloomfield Avenue on South Fullerton lies a powerhouse of local shopping. Dining, clothing, home goods, accessories, and more are tucked into a roughly two-block radius.  To celebrate this little-but-big shopping strip, the storeowners have joined forces as the “Fine Establishments of South Fullerton” and created the first ever Fall IN Fullerton shopping and dining event. Barbara Lemley, owner of the chicly fun ColorStoryHome at 30 S. Fullerton, helped bring the Fall IN Fullerton event to fruition, with help from her fellow storeowners. “There is such an assortment of shops on …

Everyone knows that if you don't like the weather in Britain, all you have to do is wait five minutes. It's sort of the same in Upper Montclair: if you don't like the business landscape, all you have to do is wait five minutes and it will change. Upper Montclair has long been the go-to neighborhood for The Gap, Williams-Sonoma, Tinga Taqueria, and Cold Stone Creamery, among other destinations. But the tenor of the neighborhood continues to change, as businesses open or expand. For example, only a few months ago, Patch wrote about the openings of Four Seasons Kebab House, Five Guys, and Baby's…