Photo credit: Village of Ridgewood Tax Assessor’s web site
MAY 1, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The First National Bank and Trust Company building is a Ridgewood landmark, one of the most recognizable sites of the downtown landscape. Erected in the early 1930s, its Classical Revival-inspired exterior is iconic to this day, while the indoor architecture and distinct features continue to stand the test of time.
But existing sans tenants for the past five years, the massive structure has become an unofficial symbol of the Central Business District’s (CBD) plights: several longstanding vacant storefronts, the struggle for adequate parking, underused properties and a drawn-out permitting process.
The building in the heart of the village’s downtown has been without an occupant since Bank of America closed its branch there in January 2010.
Real estate investment and development firm Onyx Equities, however, wants to return the building back to its heyday.
Onyx acquired the bank and property in April 2013; its principals paying nearly $2 million for the deed to the land.
According to the Village of Ridgewood website, the combined property and improvements were most recently assessed at more than $3.9 million.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/business/bank-repurposed-for-big-catch-1.1323143
A perfect way to destroy a classic building…a restaurant.
What’s the point? Like any other restaurant in Ridgewood
It will come and ho within a year… Mark my words.
ok who are you.what is your name so in a year we can talk to see if you are right. maybe we should put in a burger king for you.
@4.52pm: So you think the current owners should just leave it the way it is, just to be aesthetically appealing to you? Any suggestions on what other kind of business could take this building over? I hardly think the restaurant plans to knock the building down and destroy it.
As suggested Two years back a modern boutique hotel and restaurant . We have a massive train station right there to city wud pay taxes too.
“Like any other restaurant in Ridgewood It will come and ho within a year… Mark my words.”
Several restaurants in the CBD have been here for decades.
A hotel? There are lots of towns along the train line. What makes you think there is a market for people to get off and explore NJ? People would come to Rdgewood and spend a weekend eating and banking?
Why would a hotel be a better use of that building?
How can a license for package goods (harding pharmacy) be of any use to a restaurant that requires a consumption license? They are different, that’s why the license that allows you to pour drinks costs 600k not 255k.
What a Bunch of negative thinkers on this blog go to morristown and see what a class A hotel might bring b
That is a magnificent building but it does seem a little short on parking. What ever happens I hope it does well.
“How can a license for package goods (harding pharmacy) be of any use to a restaurant that requires a consumption license? They are different, that’s why the license that allows you to pour drinks costs 600k not 255k.”
Enter through the gift shop, BYOB.
yes the blog gadfly has spoken and derives spoken word as a means to distruction. Thank you for your all encompassing wisdom. For those who demand identification to justify the installation of speedy burnt ground beef I say nay, I exercise my first amendment right to freedom of speech and ask that you govern yourself accordingly.
Morristown has a corporate business base. Ridgewood has what?
Remember when the Superbowl was going to bring visitors to downtown Ridgewood? That never happened. We are an overnight destination for out of town relatives not people looking for a weekend experience.
I don’t want to be negative. If you have the money then go ahead and build a hotel. Maybe it will be the Field of Dreams. Let the market determine whether there is demand for overnight lodging in Ridgewood.