Say goodbye to the portholes of the old Olympic store at 622 Valley Road. Can’t say I’ll miss that look. The new design, above, fits in a whole lot better with the style of the block.
Architect Paul Sionas says the building is being designed for retail use on the first floor and office use on the second. The owner has demolition permits and has begun to gut the interior.
“The goal of the design at the front is to make the building pedestrian friendly at the first floor along Valley Road, but continue the rhythm of the Tudor-styled gables at the second floor with more detail,” says Sionas.
“The goal of the design at the rear of the building is to completely open up the façade and make the building and new brick plaza area welcoming, with the hope that other buildings will follow in the future and no longer look like ‘backs of buildings.'”
Okay folks, start you wish-list of retailers you’d like to see (and not see) on the street…
Whew! I finally got into Baristanet today. I was having withdrawal symptoms.
Seriously. 3 hours is too much, I almost went into shock.
Trader Joe’s!!
Server problems?
Ben & Jerry’s!
The rendering picture at the top doesn’t make sense to me. Isnt’ the Olympic shop that taller building at the end of the block right on the corner?
You can see it here: LINK
The best thing about the new design of the former Olympic store is the creatioon of empty parking spaces. Looking at these drawings, I’m glad to say parking at the renovated retail should be a breeze.
They are both the old Olympic shop buildings. The Williams Sonoma was the women’s shop and the porthole one was the men’s shop.
I love how the renderings even include the Montclair lacrosse bumper stickers.
Yup complainerpuss, that’s why there will never be a trader joe’s there. But with the closing of Lorraine and the cost of gas, perhaps it will become more bike and pedestrian friendly anyway.
I’m really hoping at least part of the vacant space will be leased by a savings bank. When I walk to the Upper Montclair train station, I take Lorraine. If I’m in a hurry and I need cash, I have to walk all the way over to the Chase on the corner of Bellevue, or the bank next to Kings. Or that bank next to the new restaurant where the video store used to be. Or the bank just past that bank, on the northeast corner of Valley and Bellevue. It would be so much more convenient if there was at least one bank on the West side of Valley just south of Lorraine.
I still think that, with the parking in back, it would be a great spot for an upscale gym (upscale by necessity, not snobbery, given the $$ price of the building). The new design even looks right for such a project…
Not sure why this building is going to have high rents – especially if not being used for one big tenant. The rest of the block has pretty regular tenants: Dunkin Donuts, Stationary Shop, Barber Shop, Sushi, Bank, Lunch Place – there is a GAP & William Sonoma, but mostly it’s normal run of the mill shops. The one thing that made this building unique, was its size and ability to house a large business – like a national chain willing to pay high rents. With that scenario out of the picture, I’m not sure what makes this place worth much more then the neighboring storefronts.
the rhythm of the Tudor-styled gables at the second floor with more detail
Tudor? Looks more like a Japanese steakhouse to me.
I miss the portholes. Yes, they were odd, but they were distinct. Why must everything blend. Blah.
Complainerpuss, I have to disagree. I think it’s hightime Montclair made way for a nail salon. Why not two, side-by-side? Or, while we’re at it, a fourplex? Seriously with all the competition from four the prices would be great and as a bonus the owner could rent the rooftop to a hibachi place which could run an eternal flame on the fumes.
“I’m really hoping at least part of the vacant space will be leased by a savings bank. When I walk to the Upper Montclair train station, I take Lorraine. If I’m in a hurry and I need cash, I have to walk all the way over to the Chase on the corner of Bellevue, or the bank next to Kings. Or that bank next to the new restaurant where the video store used to be. Or the bank just past that bank, on the northeast corner of Valley and Bellevue. It would be so much more convenient if there was at least one bank on the West side of Valley just south of Lorraine.”
So many banks, so little money….
Ummmm…as of today there are only 3 national banks left anyway. Chase, Citibank and Bank of America.