>If the Fly’s memory is correct, an assistant manager at the East Ridgewood Avenue Starbucks was arrested earlier this year for allegedly selling drugs in the franchise’s rear parking lot. This is the same location that Ridgewood Police Officer Sean Amoroso was assaulted on Saturday night. Officer Amoroso was trying to detain an individual suspected of being engaged in some sort of narcotics related activity.
These two incidents make the Fly wonder what the story is with this particular Starbucks location? Are these two incidents coincidental/totally unrelated, or is the Ridgewood Avenue Starbucks an established gathering point for drug sellers and buyers? If so, should Ridgewood’s police department enlist help from the Bergen County Narcotics Squad to clean up the mess there?
>You can blame the establishment for what goes on outside of it. Our police aren’t dumb. They know who the players are.
>My teenage kids stopped going to Starbucks at night a few years ago because of the drug activity there. It’s not new. But it is extremely hard to police without posting an officer there full-time, which would be awfully expensive. I have seen police posted there on Friday and Saturday nights, which is good.
>Put up some security cameras and light up the parking lot behind there.
>Several times when I would drive by Starbucks with my high schoolers in the car, I would ask them who the group of kids were in front of Starbucks, or the movie theater, or the park. They always stated that those kids were not Ridgewood kids and that the Ridgewood kids stay away from downtown at night.
>The individual wanted in connection with Saturday night’s aggravated assault on a police officer lives in Ridgewood.
So our crap does stink just like every other community’s. Let’s stop blaming “out of towners” and pressure our elected officials to start cleaning up the area.
Enforcement has been weak thus far because making arrests would result in crime stats going up, which could look bad in the press. I suggest we forget about our image for the moment and just do the right thing – kick ass and take names!
>Glen Rock doesn’t have a loitering problem at their Starbucks because the police in Glen Rock won’t tolerate loitering there. Why can’t we get similar police service in Ridgewood?
The sidewalk near Starbucks on Ridgewood Ave looks so filthy too. Why aren’t the property owners in the area being forced to clean it up?
>Chamber of Commerce issues? What say you Chamber members?
>hey if you want to toke up at starbucks, far be it from me to stop you.
>The Starbucks and RiteAid have been the site of “druggies” for a long time.
Not only should the Ridgewood Police be patrolling, but Ridgewood parents should make sure their kids aren’t hanging out there.
I heard of at least two local RW teens getting arrested this summer for drugs, so there must be a PUSH by the RW police to crack down on this.
They could use the help of parents.
>shut them dowm,we dont need that place any way .
>Wonder if the higher ups at Starbucks Headquarters know about all the filth (trash and drug dealers) on the Ridgewood Starbucks property? If Ridgewood can’t clean it up, then surely they will as it looks bad for their image.
>I think that assistant manager at Starbucks is to blame for corrupting our youth.
>For all of you disgusted with what is happening at our local Starbucks, please register your complaint by going to Starbucks.com. Scroll down to the bottom of their home page and click on “contact” and type away. Let Starbucks headquarters clean up this mess and believe me they will.
>Another Starbucks coming to our upscale little village? Just great. Two locations to serve you (drug dealers) better.
>At the price of a Starbuck’s coffee it must be laced with something.
>Time to boycott Starbucks and get your coffee at any of the other fine coffee establishments in town. That’ll send a message to Starbucks.
>Our village youth are now assaulting our police officers. We ARE turning into a mini NYC, Detroit, Philadelphia, Camden, and Newark. Time to move to Glen Rock.
>Thanks 6:19 a.m. for suggesting contacting Starbucks.com. I did.
>i dont think the village counsil should allow another starbucks in town til the one we already have takes care of busness.
>6:56
Why not move up the tracks instead of down?
Waldwick, Allendale or Ramsey and save on taxes too.
>TOO EXPENSIVE TO POST A POLICE OFFICER…..COST NEVER STOPPED OUR CITY COUNCIL FROM DOING ANYTHING….WHY SHOULD IT STOP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM CLEANING THIS UP ONCE AND FOR ALL. IT WON’T TAKE LONG….A COUPLE OF DAYS OF A COP BEING THERE WILL SCARE THOSE SCUMBAGS OFF FOR GOOD…ONCE THEY KNOW THEY CAN’T GET AWAY WITH IT HERE…LETS LOOK TO OUR POOR DOWNTRODDEN NEIGHBORS IN GLEN ROCK FOR THE EXAMPLE THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT SETS….
>Glen Rock is what Ridgewood used to be: a nice sleepy little town. I shop in their downtown all the time. They have nice shops and above all they have plenty of parking. Glen Rock rocks!
>Where exactly is a Starbucks openining on West Ridgewood Ave??? Downtown Ridgewood = Banks and coffee shop chains.
>Not only does GR have nice shops and parking but they have a Starbucks for all you Starbuck lovers.
>Not only should Starbucks put in security cameras but our police should be outfitted with those nifty little cameras that hook onto their uniforms (these are being used down at the jersey shore).
>”Where exactly is a Starbucks openining on West Ridgewood Ave???”
In the same block as the former Davis Pharmacy and Marcello’s on the Avenue.
>The new Starbucks is coming to 10 Wilsey Square.
>If Glen Rock is what Ridgewood used to be, then I’m glad we have moved on. Glen Rock has 2nd rate shopping, no good restaurants…the only reason I go is for Glen Rock Hardware (I do wish we still had a hardware store in Ridgewood). Glen Rock is too sleepy — great if that’s what you’re looking for, but I prefer Ridgewood’s downtown 100 times over. (Yes, we need to deal with the problem of the drug dealers at Starbucks, but that’s no reason to hate the entire downtown.)
>How about a security camera on the light pole, one in front of Irish Eyes and one by Daily Treat, both looking at rite aid and starbucks.
How about one in the back parking lot of the Post office to cover the lot behind starbucks?
>this glen rock poster is very funny…let’s move there…they have the number 6 high school in new jersey.
>If they have the #6 high school in NJ then RHS must be #32, right?
>Your disdain for GR is showing; is it because your newspaper editor Susan Sherrill lives here? FYI we can’t choose our neighbors.
>Starbucks needs to clean up its act. And they better do it soon.
>ohmygod what will our neighboring towns think of us? our image is ruined. no respectable family will ever move to our town again. we are tarnished goods. boo hoo. starbucks go away. you’ve ruined everything.
>Why are we blaming Starbucks? How about Rite Aid? Lets sue all of corporate America because OUR kids are buying drugs in town. Wait.. they’re not OUR kids.. that could never happen.
>Could we be blaming Starbucks because THEIR ASSISTANT MANAGER WAS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY SELLING DRUGS??????? Hello — McFly?
>There are other corporate America businesses in town that keep their sidewalks clean and as far as I know don’t have a drug problem. Both Ben & Jerry’s and Haggen Dazs are hangouts for kids. I think the difference is that their owners take pride in their shops and keep an eye on the crowd.
>Is this Assistant Manager still there, or long gone?
Hmm… and the problem remains.
I dont need Starbucks to watch my teenager or provide video surveillance. I dont let my kid hang out there, nor will I blame others for the problems in this town.
Start parenting, ok Biff?
>”I dont let my kid hang out there”
How old is your kid?
>the assistant manager is probably the manager now
>The Starbucks in Glen Rock upholds the quaint friendly atmosphere of a suburban town. I too always have liked Glen Rocks friendly town atmosphere and have preferably shopped there for many years, and still do for hardware store, drugstore, jewelry store, beauty shops, bookstores, restaurants, friendly supermarket, banks, post office, you name it, all friendly and easy parking access.
People are more courteous to each other, and actually pleasant, unlike the brisk snobby pace of what has become of Ridgewood’s commercial business like downtown. Glen Rock’s town maintains a ‘charming’ quality, unfortunately that has long disappeared from Ridgewood‘s commercialized downtown. But that’s progress~~ Sad.
>Here we go again, “How lovely every other place than Ridgewood is”. I disagreed vehemently. This town is still the best in my book. I like it here. I love it here. We’ve got to stop looking outside of ourselves; to what other towns have or haven’t (we’re like envious children wanting what others have when we’ve got it all).
>Beware Glen Rock — Starbucks could ruin your town’s fine reputation like it ruined ours.
Ridgewood resident
>If you think that the sidewalk and alley by Starbucks looks trashy, you should use their bathroom. Ugh.
>Sorry 6:13, I totally disagree with you. I don’t like the feeling in Glen Rock. I love shopping downtown Ridgewood, people are friendly, not any more snobby than anywhere else in north Jersey… I guess we are each entitled to our own preferences.
>Rise and shine. It’s time to make the donuts. Dunkin Donuts brews a better cup of coffee than Starbucks and its a whole lot cheaper.
>you will never remove the problems of youths gathering. for all you newbies here, the problem years ago was exactly the same..except it was in VAN NESTE SQUARE. alleged drug dealing/use etc… PD took action and cleaned it up..then there was a playground on broad street that actually had a shooting…that place was replaced by some ‘affordable’ houses…. so put the pressure on starbucks..it will disappear…then as usual…will show up somewhere else.
>I was a loyal Starbucks customer for years until their coffee started tasting burnt and their service deteriorated. I am now a loyal customer of the Ridgewood Coffee Company. Great coffee. Friendly service. Clean environment. I’m glad I switched.
>AT least the troublesome youths keep moving south down Ridgewood Avenue. They’re getting closer and closer to the Ridgewood Police Department.
>The kids wont know its the police station because there is no sign and then the police can bookem danno.