BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
METUCHEN — An arcade is coming to downtown.
Chris Flynn, owner of Hailey’s Harp & Pub, which is located at 400 Main Street, said he has heard the continued battle cry of residents for an arcade downtown and is doing something about it by opening Hailey’s Harp-Cade in the late summer.
With the development of the Metuchen Downtown Alliance (MDA) in full swing, Flynn used the process by approaching property owner and MDA Chairman Eric Berger about expanding his business to an adjoining property at 15 Station Place.
“We’re excited about expanding the Hailey’s brand into an arcade business,” said Flynn. “We continually look to stay attuned to the feedback of the community and look to push the envelope where we can. From our recent biergarten at the JuneBug Arts Festival and now through the development of our arcade.”
Hailey’s Harp & Pub has been a favorite landmark for the community since 2009 and has provided continued support to major community events through food drives, supporting local community events/tours and providing its residents a local watering hole to relax, watch a game and enjoy al fresco dining.
Flynn said with the arcade they intend to provide the same level of casual and fun experience as the pub offers and they look forward to attracting families and patrons, young and old. It will feature a variety of classic video and pinball machines.
The MDA is excited about the new addition and the growth and development of new and existing businesses in the Metuchen Main Street.
“The Metuchen Downtown Alliance is off to a great start and excited to help our existing and new businesses in support and development in our community. We expect to see more interest and collaboration amongst the Metuchen community groups and our businesses in the future.” said Chris Crane, board member and co-chair of the promotions committee for the MDA.
The concept of the MDA has been discussed several times in Metuchen since the 1970s, and Metuchen’s Development Commission has historically advocated for a downtown management organization.
After months of discussion and public hearings, the ordinance to name the MDA to be the management organization for a new downtown improvement district was adopted by the Borough Council on May 2.
The MDA will operate independently as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization formed under the auspices of Main Street, NJ, part of the National Trust of Historic Preservation, sponsoring Main Street America.
The district area, which consists of only commercial businesses and/or commercial businesses with residential units, centers on Main Street, Middlesex Avenue and Amboy Avenue, and includes the Metuchen SportsPlex on Durham Avenue.
Stakeholders of the alliance and borough officials say they hope the formation of the MDA will hopefully revitalize the downtown area.
A nation-wide search for an executive director is underway.
Councilwoman Allison Inserro and Jan Margolis, a member of the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce, said they have conducted a nationwide search, which garnered nearly 100 applicants from across the county.
The search committee is made of a small team of the 13 trustees from the Board of Directors of the MDA. They are in the process of interviewing finalists over the next few weeks following the guidelines recommended by NJ Main Street at the Department of Community Affairs.
The committee hopes to have an executive director in place on or around Sept. 1.
Inserro and Margolis said the process is highly inclusive and many district business owners will have an opportunity to meet the candidates.
The executive director will be the central point of contact for businesses interested in locating in the district. The job duties include retaining and strengthening existing businesses; beautifying the district to draw tenants and customers/clients; coordinating joint marketing, advertising and branding, including social media; integrating new developments with existing properties/businesses; leveraging the borough’s transportation assets; and being a liaison with the municipality to get new businesses in.
For more information visit www.downtownmetuchen.org.
