UPDATE: It seems as if there is some trouble in permit land. Apparently, the state is looking at Hoboken’s “Chief Construction Officer” (whatever the hell that means) to determine if he is guilty of ethics violations.
I’m not sure if anyone else has noticed this but it takes forever for a store to open on time in Hoboken. This observation of mine has been made on more than one occasion – mostly on resturants but I’m positive I remember non-food stores being held up or delayed. While I’m not exactly sure as to why it takes forever to open a business, I’ve been told its because the permit system here sucks. Either its one person who is overworked/lazy/inept or the system is broken. Either way, something has to be done about it.
I’m sure I casually noticed it before but it really came to light when the Cold Stone Creamery announced that it was opening in the Spring only to announce later that it was going to open in the summer… then fall… then in the winter. It finally opened in the dead of winter and didn’t attract many customers until that next summer. But Cold Stone isn’t the only store to take forever to open.
Favia Lite hasn’t opened either. While it could be related to the expense of renovating or one business taking over for another, its been in the process of being renovated for almost two years. Very little work is done and all I see on the window is a construction permit sticker. There are numerous banks that have been under construction for months and, again, all I see are permits for construction but its obvious no such thing is going on.
Ignoring the two dozen bank branches and ice cream parlors we have on one stretch of road, they all have nearly all of them have been under construction for months and months at a time when they shouldn’t have to be. I had to manage an office relocation project once and watched over the entire construction in NYC and the whole job – from gutting the existing space to installing HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and an entire computer data center (with its own HVAC, power, and fire suppression system) took two months from start to finish – and that was for 5700 square feet of office space.
The obvious disparity between construction in Hoboken and elsewhere in the world is so great that it has become a running joke with some of my friends. We always take notice of the commerce here in town (thinking we may want to start our own business someday) but know that it will open at least a year late. We cringe at the idea of having to deal with local inspectors knowing that the process could drag on for ever and we could end up paying rent on some yet unused space that wouldn’t have even started generating revenue.
Anyway…
Does anyone know if this mythical inspector is the real reason for the delay? Its always the reason that is told to me but it could be one of those urban legends like ghosts in Arthur’s Tavern , the Hoboken Monkeyman, or that the Hoboken police commissioner makes more than the NYC commissioner does. If someone can clarify why it takes forever maybe I can understand why my favorite wings place, Chicken Rib ‘N Crib is still renovating when both stores in that building said they would be open in December…
… of this year.
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