When Rumson-Fair Haven Patch launched in February of 2011, editors and freelancers ventured to local businesses in order to collect information for its directory. Now, nearly a year later, Patch Places is a spot where users can find descriptions, hours, accepted payment methods, and much more for spots around town. All users can add events taking place at local spots, can rate the business on a scale of one to five stars, and can add a review. But, owners of local businesses get extra bonuses when they claim a listing. To access those benefits, owners or managers should search for their …

Businesses in Fair Haven will have to register for a business license with the Borough of Fair Haven. The mayor and council passed an ordinance last month that requires all businesses to fill out a form that shares name of the business, contact information for the owner of the business and of the building, and alarm information. “The purpose of the ordinance is to be able to communicate with business owners on a more accurate basis, and to be able to reach business owners after hours,” said Michael Halface, the Mayor of Fair Haven. “For example, if a fire or burglar alarm is going off, or if …

Bain’s Outdoor Living welcomed guests to an informal open house to showcase the establishment at 125 E. River Road in Rumson on the evening of Oct. 25. The quaint shop – which shares space with Rumson China & Glass – is owned by Donna and Tom Bain, who previously owned Bain’s Better Day Market for four years. The Rumson couple have been entrepreneurs for five years, and prior to that, Tom worked in corporate America, and Donna was a homemaker. “I was home raising the children,” said Donna. “They all graduated and moved on, so it was time for us to do something together. We opened Outdoor …

Owner Chris Wood met a woman at the door around 7:45 p.m. to help her carry cases of oranges back into the kitchen. After only being officially open for business for less than 5 hours, Woody’s Ocean Grille was out of a key ingredient to their signature drink, the Orange Crush. “I did not expect for us to be this slammed,” said Wood about the opening night. “It is like the perfect storm, part two!” Woody’s took the place of Ichabod’s in Sea Bright at 1 East Church St. off of Ocean Ave. After months of anticipation, and a few set-backs, the restaurant opened with a grand slam. Families and …

Fair Winds Deli may have a new location, but they have the same great food and family atmosphere that keeps customers coming back for more. "The people who work here are very unique," said employee Dave Ballatori. "We have a great relationship with our customers and we keep the regulars coming back." Fair Winds is a family-run deli in Fair Haven. On August 4th, Fair Winds opened its new location at 798 River Road. Previously, the deli was located at 770 River Road in a smaller store. "I had the opportunity to buy a new store," said Warren Adrahamsen, owner of Fair Winds. "The inside of the …

As Coastal Decor and Interior Design in Fair Haven rings in it's third year, owner Nicole Rice is showing off her style.   "I opened this store so people can get to know me and my style," Rice said. "I am an artist at heart and interior design is my passion." Rice opened shop three years ago in a smaller store just a few doors down from her current location at 803 River Road. She had previously lived in California as an Interior Designer and her love for all things coastal was the idea for her store. "I lived in California working for a master home builder," Rice said. "When the housing …

When Ann Marie Elia opened her first consignment shop over two decades ago she had one simple goal: to allow women to turn their closets into cash. Elia opened her first consignment shop called Pretty Woman in Oceanport over 20 years ago. She later moved her business to The Farm House in Long Branch. Just last September, she brought her second shop to to Fair Haven and called it All Things Consignment, which is now the name of both her shops.  "She saw a need for a high end consignment shop in the area," said Pat Forbes, manager at All Things Consignment. "Fair Haven was the perfect place to …

Why do some businesses last and others don’t? Perhaps the answer lies in the people - company employees and customers. In the case of Goldtinker, the common thread of both groups is family. Goldtinker Partner Penny Viau was inspired by her grandmother’s jewelry at a young age. “I started collecting stones and was called a rock hound back then,” she said. “Being Italian, it’s just in my blood.” Viau’s genes for gems led her to jewelry design and drawing inspiration from her family’s home country. “I love the buildings and artwork of Italy,” she said. “The texture of Venetian mosaic tiles …

Is there a doctor in the house? Yes.  Dr. Shanda McManus makes house calls and is only a telephone call away from whatever ails you. Call it retro medicine because this is how it was once upon a time when doctors came to your home and spent quality time with their patients.  Dr. McManus, who is a Fair Haven resident, is board certified with the American Academy of Family Physicians and specializes in family medicine. She makes house calls in Red Bank, Rumson, Fair Haven, Shrewsbury and Little Silver. Armed with her doctor’s bag, she is on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week. “When people call …

Sitting on a yellow fishing bucket, surrounded by rods, reels, and an assortment of tackle, a bleary-eyed Max Berry talked fishing with a couple of shoppers this weekend, part of a steady stream that’s come to check out everything Pride Fishing Tackle has to offer. The shop’s been open a week, opening less than month after Berry earned approval from Red Bank’s Zoning Board in May to turn an out-of-use print shop on Front Street into the area’s newest retail fishing destination. He’s tired, he admits, after pushing towards what he imagines could be one of the borough’s fastest business …

It’s not spinning, Kim Gottlob explains, it’s indoor cycling. See, a regular stationary bike, she said, is good for cardio, and for toning the muscles in your legs. But, riding in place, speeding up, slowing down, does little to strengthen your core, and even less for your upper body. Here, at Hammer House on Broad Street, when she tells her class to turn right, they turn right. Left, and they do the same, their bikes following their bodies as they continue to pedal and start to lean. When she ratchets up the resistance and tells them they’re riding a mountain path, the bikes sway back and …

Two local women are on a mission to bring health and wellness to New Jersey residents. Jen McCarthy and Maggie Paterno are in the process of developing YourWellnessNJ.com, a website that is a resource for discovering wellness providers and creating a community with a common interest throughout New Jersey. “Were not doctors and we are not trying to replace anything a doctor would provide,” said Jen McCarthy, the wellness director at Orange Skye Day and Wellness Spa and co-founder of YourWellnessNJ.com. “We’re really about providing alternative and complimentary healthcare connections.” She …

Local Entrepreneur Anne Delaney announces her new business the Gold Soirée, which is tackling the feat of Rumson-Fair Haven’s most tangled jewelry boxes. “The Gold Soirée is a full service gold buying company which enables groups or individuals to sell their unwanted gold jewelry to be recycled,” Delaney explains. “Everyone has some banged up bangles in their drawer, why not recycle them and make room for things that you really love?” Delaney, who has been living in Rumson for eighteen years now, saw a need for this business after personal experience selling her exhausted gold. “I ventured …

 Shoppers sipped wine and tasted cheese while they tried on clothes and checked out the art at In-Style Vintage on Thursday evening.  Kathleen Slavin, the new owner of the consignment shop, hosted the event and offered 25 percent off all winter items.  The store offers clothing for women, children and men, as well as accessories and home furnishings.  The store was formerly called The Attic and was owned by a Fair Haven favorite, Melanie Selick. Slavin reopened the shop under its new name in December. Slavin says that she respects Selick for building such a successful business and stays true …

The year was 1973. In Elmont, Secretariat won the Triple Crown. In Los Angeles, the Dolphins won the Super Bowl. In Fair Haven, artist Priscilla Bahr set out to win the heart of her community. Thirty-eight years later, she continues to do just that. Nature’s Emporium, a boutique offering whimsical one-of-a-kind gifts, opened in what was then considered the “Black Sheep Building,” now known as River Shops. Bahr started small, occupying only a corner of what later became her expanded boutique. “When I first started in that little corner, I sold seashells, butterflies, insects and beads,” said …

Valentine’s Day is to florists what Black Friday is to retailers: lots of business.Valentine’s Day is the single busiest day for most florists. Guaranteed Plants and Florists, located just north of the Oceanic Bridge near Rumson, said they will handle about 200-300 orders over the Valentine’s Day holiday. They said that about half of their business is delivery and half is pick-up.“I just recently spoke with a wholesale company we deal with, and they have sent out over 3.2 million dollars in flowers in the last 3 days,” said Steve Powers, one of the owners of Guaranteed.The current owners of …

Victor Rallo Jr. is the perfect mix between old school and new school tactics. Dressed in his cuffed jeans and trendy large rimmed ray ban glasses, Vic portrays himself as a man of this century, but the look behind his eyes is purely from the old country. Victor grew up with the restaurant business ingrained in his system. His parents owned and operated their own restaurant, Rallo’s Pizzeria, which gave Vic his first taste of what the business entailed. Working from the ground up, Victor knows all the in’s and out’s of the restaurant business including bussing tables. “I started out very …

Kick Dance and Fitness Studio is celebrated their 10 year anniversary. What started off as a small studio with 6 students has grown to over 400 students and two locations, one in Fair Haven and on in Rumson. Check out the video below to learn more about this great local business. 

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream… Even in January! Crazees, soon celebrating their 20th anniversary, is one of the few independent ice cream parlors that operate throughout the year. With snow on the ground and more on the way, manager Emily Baker continues business as usual. Though winter is less hectic than summer, little adjustments are made from season to season. “We reduce our hours, but our menu items always stay the same,” said Baker. “We have hot chocolate all year, but of course, it’s more popular in winter.” Nevertheless, Baker explained that only 20% of winter …

If the rest of the winter is going to be anything like the blizzard that has ended 2010, then you should be prepared with warm and cozy clothes keep you warm no matter how low the temperature goes. I first heard of the Gear Loft (to all those Fair Haven locals, I know I was out of the loop), Christmas morning when someone received a beautiful and warm Horny Toad sweater. After that, I was intrigued. So, a few days after digging myself out of the blizzard, I ventured out into the snow and into the Gear Loft. From its extensive collection of Patagonia apparel to other popular brands including …