These new businesses are coming to Metuchen in 2024

METUCHEN – A Chinese-inspired restaurant along with a retro video arcade will be coming to the borough this year.

Mayor Jonathan Busch announced the two new businesses during his mayor's message at Monday’s reorganization meeting in which he was sworn into another term, a position he has held since December 2017.

"This community, our home is a truly special place and serving as its mayor is the honor of my life," Busch said. "I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve."

The meeting also included the swearing in of Borough Council members Tyler Kandel, who was reelected to a second term, and newcomer Vinita Jethwani.

Councilman Jason Delia was again elected as council president.

During his message, Busch said this is an extraordinary period in Metuchen's history. He noted the nickname the "Brainy Boro" is well deserved considering two residents appeared on the "Jeopardy" show last year, one as a first-time contestant and Alan Johnson who appeared in the champions wild card tournament; and the borough also had two Major League Baseball draft picks in the same year, one to the Minnesota Twins and the other to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Busch recalled some of the honors received during the past year, including Best Walkable Town and the Great American Main Street Award, the third community in the state to receive that designation, and one of the most important recognitions for the borough to receive.

"And speaking of our downtown, it is thriving. A number of our retail establishments have become recognized as some of New Jersey's best," said Busch, who mentioned Hailey's Harp and Pub, Fresco's and What's the Scoop, all listed as among the best in a 2023 listing of Irish pubs, Italian delis and ice cream shops.

"Our downtown is the place to be. In spite of the downward trend in national retail sales, our downtown vacancy rate remains at a record low, and we continue to receive significant investment interest from those who want to join our downtown community," the mayor said.

Busch said Meximodo opened its doors late last year, which helped the borough realize the vision for a completed public plaza surrounded by retail and restaurant.

"Soon, the former pastry chef at Heirloom Kitchen will be opening Ram & Rooster, aChinese-inspired new American eatery, and the retro video game arcade, Yestercades, will open here later this month, as its fourth location, joining Red Bank, Somerville and Westfield," Busch said. "And construction is now under way on Metuchen’s very own Starbucks, located on Middlesex Avenue, directly across from Trailhead Park and the entrance to the Greenway."

This year the borough will televise and stream Planning Board and Zoning Board meetings.

Plans for creating a Metuchen Arts District with the Forum Theatre as the centerpiece are continuing with the borough last year authorizing formal proceedings to acquire the blighted gas station property next to the theatre and also receiving an additional $3 million in state funds for the arts district.

"We knew from the moment we acquired the Forum that reopening it would take time, not just because of the theatre’s structural issues or the pandemic, but because projects like these require vision, innovation, collaboration, methodical planning, and patience. We spend countless hours exploring the business operations and economic viability of the Forum and we are continuing to pursue a variety of simultaneous avenues in pursuit of our goal to bring the Arts District to life. It is a major priority of our administration but not at the expense of significant costs to ourtaxpayers," the mayor said. "Thus, we will continue to pursue our goal of finding aself-sustaining business model that carries this project across the finish line. We are closer than we have ever been to achieving this objective but slow and steady will win the race."

After portions of the 2023 film "Eileen" were filmed along South Main Street, Busch said Metuchen has taken steps to be certified as “Film Ready” by the New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission, which will provide Metuchen with additional opportunities to be considered by the entertainment industry, which may result in an occasional source of revenue.

Busch said a new It Takes A Borough (iTAB) will replace the Fuccile Foundation this year as the organization that will host fundraisers to assist families impacted by tragedy or unforeseen circumstances.

The mayor said the borough is close to installing a bicycle lane along Grove Avenue, and the borough also has received a state grant for a bike lane along Hillside Avenue that will connect Grove Avenue to the downtown area.

"We believe that 2024 will finally be the year when we will be able to implement $9.3 million in substantial safety improvements to Main Street from the grant that was awarded back in 2018," Busch said. "This grant money will be used to address several known problems along Main Street – from Brunswick Avenue all the way to Talmadge Avenue.”

Busch said the groundbreaking for the new Emergency Services Center, housing the Metuchen Fire Department, EMS and Office of Emergency Management, at 98 Essex Ave., is expected to take place sometime this year.

In addition, construction of the Jersey Avenue Pump Station replacement project is expected to be completed this spring, and the replacement of the Kahn’s Crossing Pedestrian Bridge in the Graham Avenue neighborhood should be completed in a few weeks, the mayor said.

Also slated for completion in a few weeks is the Edgar Field Project near Edgar Middle School.

"The project features new turf fields for full-sided soccer, youth soccer, baseball, softball and field hockey. Additionally, mark outs on the full soccer field will be made for lacrosse," said Busch, adding the field also will have a pedestrian walking path around its perimeter.

An opening ceremony is being planned for April, he said.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Metuchen NJ welcoming Ram & Rooster restaurant, Yestercades in 2024