Visions For Vacancies: What Should Move To 635 Bloomfield Ave.?

Let's call this a modern spin on community planning—Patch's version of a charette, a digital drawing board where all ideas are on the table.

In an occasional column, we'll present a new vacant space and ask you to tell us what you think would be the best use. Forget what zone it's in, ignore setback regulations, dump lot coverage rules, and all the other zoning jargon that puts people most to sleep. If you had your way, what would you like to see there? What would be the best use for the community?

We launched this new occasional feature a few months ago by focusing on the now vacant spot at 622 Valley Road in Upper Montclair, the former home of Five Guys Burgers and Fries.

This week, we're asking what you think should move into the space at 635 Bloomfield Ave., just near the recently opened Indigo Kitchen restaurant.

The site used to be the location of Nouveau Sushi, and the business' website still proclaims the restaurant to be the home of new, different, and fresh sushi, a place open seven nights a week for dinner.

But the signs in the window say the space is for rent.

So what should go into the former Nouveau Sushi space? Another restaurant? A retail store? Certainly it should be somewhere that could be enjoyed by those visiting Whole Foods and the just up the road.

The good news is that the space enjoys high visibility and ample parking in the lot just across the street, at the corner of Valley Road and Bloomfield Avenue.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below! Know of a vacant space/building we should highlight? Email Shelley@patch.com.