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I'm not sure if the owner is just cashing out, but is $200k in property taxes for a business of that nature on a property of that size normal? It seems a bit excessive to a layman such as myself.
The quality of food at Pal's has gone downhill over the last few years. I live right down the street and never go there anymore. I ordered a chicken breast and it looked and tasted like something you would get at McDonald's, and it was $18! I know people think this place is a local landmark, but there is no point in keeping it around if the quality isn't what it used to be.
There are already 2 other CVS's within a mile of that location. I wonder if those will both stay open, or will they be moving the one on Eagle Rock to the new location?
Location: Splitting time between Dayton, NJ and Needmore, PA
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Man! Sorry to read that, but ansky is right. The food quality has hit the skids. Still, the place holds a lot of fond memories for my family and me. At least I have the recipe for the Cream of Mushroom soup!
food was ok when i went, the mushroom soup was excellent, but the steak i had was so-so. we were happy with our meal, but not enough that we've made a point to go back. it's just sad to see a business close and be replaced by another big chain. maybe different plans can arise?
I can't confirm the #'s are real, valid, accurate, but these guys were in the business their entire lives. They owned over a dozen restaurants at one time. They're professionals. Regardless, it sounds like the economics are just not working any longer.
Moot discussion anyway. I used to like the burgers there, but that was a long time ago.
I'm not sure if the owner is just cashing out, but is $200k in property taxes for a business of that nature on a property of that size normal? It seems a bit excessive to a layman such as myself.
A house assessed in the $500K range in WO will have property taxes of nearly $20K. There are $2 million mansions in WO with nearly $100K property taxes. Pal's Cabin is assessed at about $4.2 million. Knowing that then, the $200K in property taxes seems about right.
Despite that, though, they were still, according to the Star-Ledger articled linked in the OP, breaking even. Maybe if the property taxes weren't eating up so much of their profits, the owners would have been more inclined to stay. Of course, the current economy and unemployment certainly contributed to falling profits too.
This really is a shame. I was sad, too, when I discovered that Mt. Fuji closed in WO a few years ago. Along with Pal's, that was another fond WO memory place for me. Growing up, both those places were "special occasion" restaurants...the restaurants your parents took you to after graduations, awards ceremonies, birthdays. I remember also when Don's closed in neighboring Livingston. Yet another sad day in west Essex restaurant history. (By the way, anyone know what opened up at the old Mt. Fuji & Don's sites?)
A place like Pal's Cabin, with its history and lore, is one of those landmarks that adds character to a town. I hate to see another chain store setting up there. It especially chaps my ass that it's ANOTHER CVS. If they want to open up another location on that corner, can't they do it in that Whole Foods strip mall? Isn't there empty space there?
A bit off topic, but also, I wonder would a CVS in Pal's spot be given a higher assessment, and therefore bring in even more than $200K in taxes for WO? The land is assessed at $2,423,300 and that probably wouldn't change, but Pal's Cabin itself is assessed at $1,798,400. (source: Property Detail) Would a new CVS building be assessed at higher than that?
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