perhaps a greek mythology themed cocktail bar?

Why on Earth is a store closing a good thing? In a state that needs more business, more taxes, and more jobs, stores are essential.

i think many of the people in the vicinity of 7 Eleven thought the store was a net negative. they did very little to resolve the persistent loitering on their steps and just outside the store while not offering much to increase the desirability of the neighborhood.

That's a matter for the Newark PD to handle, not the store. Closing a local business isn't a net positive.

closing a local business can be a net positive; it just depends on the context. for example, i think many residents of the ironbound would find shutting down the garbage burning plant to be a net positive, despite it being a business. there was some concern—not unfounded—that opening a 7 Eleven in that location ran counter to local goals of making the Ironbound a more thriving retail and restaurant scene. generally, convenience stores are not huge economic generators. they usually serve a very limited purpose. given the other options for being cheap stuff in the neighborhood, it really wasn't adding much.

Market saturation my friend.

There are 2 7-Elevens on Broad Street and another right around the corner on Market.

It's the exact same store, and they are all 10-15 minute walks within each other.

Something had to change. Things like this are exactly why Downtown has been an Food Desert for ages.

I was one of those Ironbound Resident early on who thought the opposite of my neighbors: my neighbor said it would be a haven for loitering and violence and trash in the area, and I was suspicious. But ultimately when it opened it just was. I was wrong. I hope a New Use comes in there quickly, that is something creative and unique and creates a welcoming gateway to the neighborhood.

Do the problems in that immediate area really have much to do with the 7-11? The park across the street appears to be the closest thing Newark has to a permanent homeless encampment.

Ahhhh so more stores closing in Newark. They really tryna make this city a wasteland.

They want the plant closed, maybe - but when those workers are unemployed, the people saying NIMBY aren't going to be willing to pay bills for them or support them. We need jobs, we need businesses paying taxes in NJ. Until there's a plan in place to make sure those people are employed, and there's some guarantee of tax rev as well, we need those businesses.

If there is a 'local goal', then there should be more competition and someone should have bought them out. It shouldn't be a question of who's going in there, it should be that the moment 7-11 is out, there's a business champing at the bit to go in.

This is probably going to be an unpopular opinion based off of the kind of posts I see on this page but I hate this so much. Some people need to go touch grass and mind their business. This is wack af! That 7 Eleven has been a life saver for me many times during late commutes back to Newark when everything else is closed. I promise you this will solve nothing and will only make things more inconvenient. What’s being done to address this outrageous housing problem and homelessness? It also really blows my mind how much some of y’all hate to see folks outside. People out here really have a problem with Black folks just standing outside. I hear negative comments all the time about Broad street. It genuinely baffles me. Also please study up. The history of anti-loitering laws are racist. Why they still exist in this country is beyond me.

Your response is screaming coded language.

Place attracts the wrong element. They finally cleaned up the little park/monument. Time to clean that up now. Great little building, but they need something better in there. Maybe a nice coffee shop or something.

So the remedy to fixing the food desert problem is closing down a 7-11? By the miracle of magical thinking, the organic coop grocery store is going to sweep in and fill that empty store front?😂😂

The loitering in front of that store existed long before the 7-11 existed. No matter what store you open there the homeless will congregate in front of it.

They'll get something else in there.

DO IT

About time put a shake shack in there

you can just go to the 7 11 on broad and market. 5 minute walk.

There are open air drug markets all over this city in loitering areas. I do not think the local population, many of them black and brown, are single-mindedly racist for having issues with some of the loitering in this city.

As to the homeless population, it's much more complex an issue than simply increasing housing. Some folks do not want to abide by the regulations etc set forth for shelters, and end up outside.

Newark can be equitable and progressive-minded without allowing complete lawlessness and the desecration of public space at every turn. The people who seem to suffer the most with unkempt public spaces are hard working immigrants and minority communities. Most the white people flee to the suburbs, Montclair, and Jersey City, and then put forth some of the same positions you have here.

Not looking to argue or anything, but just getting outside the box a bit. That said, I'm sorry to hear that you will be losing a resource on late commutes. The way NJT cops treat that station later at night is a disgrace. We need more amenities 24/7 near and in the station, but again, that also comes with alleviating the drug and homeless element that causes issues.

That place was a nightmare there were multiple violent acts and then at one point they had a security guard in there selling drugs in 2020 and 2021 was the height of bad . It's never a good sign when the city assigns a cop just to sit outside of your place of business.

Wonder if a quick check could replace one of them.

Loitering????? Next to Newark Penn Station??? Ion think closing the 711 is gonna do much to solve that lmao

A plant spewing toxic smoke form the burning garbage is not the equivalent to a convenience store selling chips and soda?

The ironbound already has the highest concentration of restaurants, barbers shops and mail saloons in the country l, but sure let’s shut down an existing business to make way for a magical restaurant.

The fact of the matter is simple, I walk by that store in during peak foot traffic hours 4 days a week. The homeless people who congregate there make access to the site an highly unappealing proposition. This is likely the main driver why the business closed. A convenience store in that type of location anywhere else would be a gold mine. Leave it to a moron like Micheal Silva to try and spin this as a good thing.

The police and the city refuse to address the loitering problem.

Wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for the place to be magically transformed into restaurant. No one in his right mind would put one there.

I do volunteer and I don’t feel comfortable with law enforcement because of personal experiences so never that. Closing that 7-11 does nothing to address anything you said nor does it solve any problems. It’s just treating the symptom not the illness.

You don’t know what’s convenient for me.

So it is treating something. How do you propose we treat the illness? That's a generational, 100 year type issue/plan, and it also will need focus outside the boundaries of Newark proper, but I'm open to ideas specific to that area as to how to fix the problems without closing the store.....

I'm just not of the camp that things should be allowed to fester just bc there are bigger societal reasons for it. Newark can do better. The hard working people of this city deserve better than the status quo.

r/theironbound

Closing the 7 Eleven isn’t going to make a difference if the building is just going to sit empty like it was before this store opened. What they should do is open a police substation at that location.

Sorry that was the wrong analogy. Y’all think it’s treating something but it’s not even doing that. How is closing 7-11 doing anything? I’m also sick of folks hiding behind the drug problem as a way to justify how they hate to see Black folks outside. Here is a location that has a park, convenience store, right by a major train station, and proper covering in certain spots. It is a perfect location to be if someone is homeless. God forbid people with very little options find a place where they can just be without folks criminalizing them and viewing them as a bunch of pushers. You’re asking me to give you a solution to our housing problem? I’m just here saying don’t make things worse for the most vulnerable.

How is this a good thing?

Yes, there is a loitering and trash problem.

Add more trash cans. Maybe prohibit them from selling lotto tickets. Have PD actually do something besides sit in their cars.

“Wrong element” you mean homeless people looking for a place to just be. Folks with very little options needing some place to stay in their down time. You have your house, apartment, condo, or wherever that you can chill in during your downtime where are the unhoused supposed to go? They have to move because people like you don’t like to see them? They are the “wrong element” because they have no place to live and have the audacity to find a place that’s convenient for them to be. These are people, human beings! They deserve a place to stay and a modicum of comfort just like everyone else.

If you don't realize people are dealing drugs in that area, or on Broad and Market, you're either niave, or willfully manipulating the conversation. It isn't a perfect location for the homeless...its constantly traversed and the gateway to a large swath of the city. A homeless man killed someone over there a couple years ago. We can have a real conversation, or one shrouded in modern progressive tropes that are only part of the story.

Defecating and urinating in public spaces is not a good or responsible use of the land. Public intoxication is not a good use of the space. Loitering around is not a good use of time. Again, unfortunate that the store had to close. Maybe place some blame on the folks mistreating the space than on the landlords and councilman trying to find a better purpose for it.

You are out in space. People hanging on those steps are not all homeless. I usually see people selling k2, drinking, arguing, and have seen attempted robberies. One that stands out was the robbery of an immigrant man carrying groceries.

You’re accusing me of willfully manipulating this conversation and using progressive tropes in the same breath as stereotyping a population as drug users and dealers, filthy, and oh right now murderers. Leave your dog whistle at home next time and maybe we can have a real conversation.

I’m regularly out there working with the homeless population and that is not what I see. You see what you want and look for reasons to hate.

Absolute nonsense. I am stating a fact - there are drug dealers and there is drug dealing going on in each of the areas we are discussing. To pretend my reference to actual activities going on is some kind of racist dog whistle, rather than acknowledging it, is manipulating the conversation, yes.

Here is the murder story: https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/essex/police-fire/homeless-man-charged-with-murder-in-newark-penn-station-stabbing/791592/

People should not be bullied off of logical discussion and valid points by false accusations of racism.

You share this one story of a murder from two years ago and this is what? You’re justification for why everyone should not be hanging out there, living there, and the 7-11 needs to close? I hate to break it to you but drug use and dealing is not just isolated to that area. There’s a reason it’s a nation-wide problem. You’re using one offs and issues that are beyond just this one area to stereotype an entire group of people. I’m not being manipulative and I’m not bullying I’m just calling it for what it is.

You can ignore reality by insinuating that everyone who points it out, or disagrees with you must be intolerant, but it won't change reality.

In sure it's an angry and isolating space to be in when you've gotta consistently categorize people as hateful just to maintain a worldview. But more power to you. I wish you well.

Yeah let’s have a store employee making minimum wage go confront the people that loiter outside the 7-eleven.

Not a chance the ironbound has the highest concentration of restaurants, barber shops and nail salons in the country LOL where are you even pulling that out from?

The Walgreens a couple blocks up is 24/7 if you need something in a pinch. I agree with your sentiments though this is a gross perspective by the councilman and most of the commenters here but I pretty much come to expect these takes at this point.

This is at least not as bad of a suggestion as the guy who told me to just walk 15 minutes extra to the halal guys on Halsey when I complained about the one on Edison having dogshit hours

I’m not angry, again with the dog whistle. I’m certainly not isolated. I have community, I have my people. Sorry if it hurts to have your hand revealed. Sorry that your reality is rooted in biases that you can’t see beyond. I’m going to enjoy my day, I hope you do too.

Yea that’s going to have to be my default now. I appreciate you saying that because it gets frustrating seeing it all the time!

I'm scratching my head thinking about what else could exist in that nook of space that suits the situation. Whatever fills it, the city needs to help the homeless humanity foremost. These are human beings.
Honest ask, does anyone have any ideas on how to approach such constructively?

Relative newbie here, but live down the street and walk past the 7/11 frequently.

I have not seen that the business was closed by the city, rather it was announced they have shut down of their own accord:

Having multiple 7/11’s in such close proximity seems to be a foolish decision, driven by the franchise store operators/management: they are all competing for the same business.

Sales volume to justify any 24/7 operation, the wages, the utilities and dealing with inflation all contribute to making these types of business operate on razor thin margins, in what is a relatively high cost to operate location, proving a limited net benefit.

An alternative business (seems a great spot for a bar, coffee, small restaurant), could provide greater employment, increased tax revenue, and help build community in the downtown area in proximity to Penn.

With all the condo buildings being built the demand for “things to do” will increase exponentially and it’s an excellent location (in a nice building) that could offer the Ironbound and Newark something more than currently exists

Anything that close to the station and the thousands of units that are being built is ripe for something to come in to that space

Fruit house on broad street has good produce and is much needed in the area: I try to go there vs Whole Foods!

Pillars = yes please

When I resided in Pittsburgh last year a couple of 7-11s downtown attracted plenty of bums and lowlifes loitering, especially in the morning. Same for one in Center City Philly. Replacing it with something more upscale and an owner who takes no BS can help. But at the end of the day the city and the ghetto mentality consuming it needs to enforce the law and promote a good QOL. EDIT: Downvoted for being right. The city has a low class ghetto problem which allows crap to occur. Acknowledge it and solve it.

It if the entrance to the business is a homeless encampment 24/7.

The messaging on this is bizarre, makes me question Silva.

Regardless, I have zero opinion on this

Having visited LA, SF, Seattle etc, I think your description of a homeless encampment is overblown in the context of Newark.

Immediate proximity to any major transit line (especially end of the line) will have a similar set of issues.

I’m curious on your opinion of the Shaq tower and the Gateway developments?

The cheerful attitude is a bit odd here, unless there’s something really good lined up to replace the 7/11. I do think this could be a good thing if a better business (coffee shop, cafe?) replaces it, just hope it doesn’t sit empty for long. The building is beautiful and it’s a prime location.

The 7-Eleven on Broad Street is also closing I believe.

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I do agree the 7-Eleven's downtown are close enough together that it's overkill, but the one in the Ironbound is far enough that it's location seems viable. There are 3 Krausers downtown too - all within 10 to 15 minute walks apart; no one is taking issue with that, so I don't think the concern is retail redundancy. The loitering is really the concern.

I wonder how long they'll stay in business. I hope they do. I go there occasionally but rarely see people in there. Reminds me of Markit that opened on Broad Street just past Broad Street Station maybe 10 years ago. I think they survived a year before closing...

Homeless population has increased quite a bit in recent years, I wonder why?

State funded psychiatric hospitals were closed years ago via shady Republican campaign promises. Resulting in an increase in homelessness. A lot of these homeless/addicts being manipulated by drug dealers today suffer from severe mental illnesses have resorted to self medicating. The reopening of said hospitals could greatly improve the situation.

7 - 11 at least employs people and opens 24 hours a day. It can attract some undesirable people , homeless, beggars , drug addicts. It can be subject to shoplifting and robberies . But lets not blame Newarks problems on 7-11. Pretty ridiculous there councilman.

Bandaid to serious problem in that area with homeless population that’s coming in from out town being dropped off in Newark so they can foot the bill and deal with the poor quality of life

711 isn't a local business. Most of the money that passes through that store doesn't remain in or serve the community.

Idk why it’s coming off as he’s personally closing it. But it was announced about 5 7/11’s in the city were closing. They’ve already closed the 1 on broad and William st. The 1 on market / Halsey is closing and unrelated the Walgreens on broad as well. Shit is super saturated. Hell the other Walgreens on ferry can close too!

But my honest opinion is the homeless in the area are going to hang wherever they can. Da Silva has to “tackle” that issue as well. And that issue isn’t so easy. But if the goal is relocating the homeless tbh the initial step was the ending of mass food handouts which is fucked up but obviously a attraction for those in need.

The patrons of this 7/11 are largely poor people. In Silva's eyes the "wrong" kind of people, which is why he is so happy it's closing. Don't get me wrong. I don't love 7/11 but this is clearly an attempt to get poor people to stop hanging out on that corner. Not everything needs to be a cocktail lounge. Poor people need a place to buy things too.

When the liquor stores near me closed it dramatically improved things lol

I see a lot of black folks hanging out on that corner so I'm wondering what you mean by "wrong element."

I share a story bc murders do and have happened with the homeless population in the specific area we are discussing. Yet you acted like my mentioning that was some sort of outlandish dog whistle. I'm aware of the drug problem in this country. And it can be seen very vividly in the areas you mentioned. I'm also pretty positive there are a ton of white people hanging there and on drugs as well. Nothing to do with dog whistles and people "being outside".

Liberal psuedo-intellectualism has got to be one of the most boring frontiers of modern "thought".

Conservative racism and hatred of the poor has to be the most boring frontier of modern "thought."

I'm not a conservative, not a republicOn, nor a Trumpie.

I just have normal cognitive function, and the crap that goes on in Newark is not normal, nor is it advantageous or fair to the majority minority and immigrant families who have to live here and deal with it.

Poor is a lady with 3 kids who pulls a shift at work and still has to be on benefits, who needs better city services and not to be cat-called walking to the train.

I don't feel sorry for grown able-bodied men who choose to live a certain life.

There are plenty of places to buy inexpensive things in the neighborhood. That particular establishment was adding to the loitering situation, yes, but there were also instances of violence and a drug issue that I know little about (but remember hearing details last year). The councilman allegedly has plans for the park across the street which is supposed to help with the homeless situation. Not sure what the plans are, though.

As people have mentioned, the homeless situation is out of control in that area. Often times when they are taken to a shelter they end up back on the street because they prefer to be there. As a former police officer, Im sure Silva is familiar with many of the homeless in the area.

Ok Karen.

I agree with you. Normal people do not wake up and spend hours hanging out in front of bodegas... This city needs a quality of life plan.

Wow, THIS post was a read...

Hasn't fruit house been open since before the pandemic?

If the owners of that 7-11 consistently bothered the Newark PD to handle it, they likely would. They didn't want to.

Bottom line is that is a shitty spot for a 7-11. Would be better for a third wave coffee shop that actually cares about quality food.

Damn that’s crazy!! How did they find out he was selling drugs? Any news article on this? Would love to read about it. That’s like something out of a movie.

He didn't arrest him the 7eleven and his company fired him

I agree. Loitering is illegal but not enforced. I believe arrests should be made. Loitering just make areas look bad. Especially in front of convenient stores, and liquor stores. Also bad for business

Haha, good. What an idiot to think that he can get away with such a thing.

I used to go there all the time when I worked nights on Halsey St. It usually was the only place that was still open that late and UberEats wasn't crackin' yet. Not surprised it's being closed down. Shit was more hood than some cornerstores. Didn't feel like a 7/11 at all.

Well, I suspected this guy was a dipshit, and I guess I'm glad to have it confirmed?

It's a convenience store. Like, I can understand wanting something better there, but if you're claiming that a convenience store is a cause of problems other than those problems being a symptom of something else, you may have your head up your ass.

I suspect Silva would agree with you that the police should address the loitering problem, but I definitely don't. Loitering is not a real problem, and over-policing is.

They all opened at virtually the same damn time too.

?uestion Mart. Last I knew, the signs were still up.

I liked that store, but they seemed to have trouble keeping the things you'd need in stock.

I'm pretty sure they've been open a little more than a year.

Give them a place to live. It apparently works. I know it sounds like I'm joking, but I'm not.

Especially from that dude. He's literally a cop.

Fuckin' A.

I mean, when they're repeating racist tropes, yeah, they should. You can't just fix that problem by putting the word "false" in front of it.

I'm not aware of a second 24-hour real store around here, so I'm definitely attached to the Walgreens on Ferry.

Maybe mind your business.

They "cleaned up" the park by building a nice monument/water feature there, and then built a fucking ugly fence around it because it bothered them that people were hanging around there. It's embarrassing.

These all opened at the same time in areas where they were maybe not necessary, so I'm not sure this is much of a statement on anything.

There's one not that far from there (not that that slowed 7-Eleven down).

It bothered them that people were tossing trash and pissing on it. What twilight zone do you operate in?

Well, it looks way better now obscured by a huge fence, so mission accomplished?

Go set up a commune.

Go fuck yourself?

I'd rather the fence than trash and bodily fluids...its a shame Newark can't accomplish that without the fences...but then again, we've got people like you who embrace that type of thing and wear it like some badge of altruistic honor. Honestly, I think you're full of it.

The most common interaction I have with 7-Eleven is someone who appears to be living on the street asking me if I will go in there and buy them some food. So, that would sort of seem to support the association between the poor/homeless and 7-Eleven, but it’s literally food.

All rage, no substance.

The actual problem is that this whole country is full of people like you who think that something like this is fine as long as you don’t have to see it.

You know what, when your substance is suggesting that we should sweep undesirables out of your field of view, maybe rage is warranted.

What isn’t warranted is the amount of time I’m wasting on this thread.

Thanks much, though, for your valuable “go set up a commune” contribution to the discourse.

Ha! Well that explains that. Wasted discussion atp.

It was cop versus cop in that election. I believe the one that lost had a ridiculously high number of use of force complaints (like highest in the department? it’s in the news) so at least there’s that, but still…

You say as you continue to make sweeping generalizations about a group of people. Great job there buddy.

All rage. No reality.

I am pointing out facts. Some people do not respect public spaces and desecrate them.

Leaping from me pointing out basic reality to suggesting that means I want to sweep undesirables under the rug is an absolute misnomer. It's laughable.

So according to you revolutionaries, you can either tolerate bad behavior or else be accused of wanting to whipe people away and being racist? Such an absolute false premise.

You're just angry that standards exist in the world at all. Why not place some blame on those doing the wrong things rather than someone who has the audacity to call it out? What is with this new generation and their absolute rejection of common decency and their embrace of crime and the lowest common denominator?

Do you kids aspire to anything other than autonomous zones? (Which failed anyway)

That something like what is fine? What the actual hell are you talking about? Stop raging generally, and get real. Some people, who ruin public spaces and do nothing productive can be called out, or maybe left alone but just not permitted to destroy the public areas. All the world's ills are not the fault of me wanting a nicer area around the train station for people to enjoy.

Let me break some bad news to you btw - the world is a tough, harsh, and chaotic place. The universe is. You don't have to try and find people to personify your anger about that in....we all feel that way.

Here is some tougher news for you - Marxism is just as unjust and futile as our current system here...its been tried and failed, miserably. If you'd like to help, take some people into your home. I'd commend it. Hell, I'd even donate to the cause. Let me know when you do so. I'm sure a few folks down by the station right now would benefit from your hospitality tonight. Let us know when you go down and do it

I'm finished with this ridiculous conversation.

Good; you were wasting my time.

For people to enjoy. Just not those people.

My point was that as long as these problems are out of your field of vision, it's apparently "problem solved."

Thank you, yes, the practical solution to homelessness is to invite everyone to come live with me in my studio apartment.

Dipshit.

I'm not sure why you think that people who aren't respected themselves should have any particular respect for public spaces. People are far more important than public spaces.

I'm blaming someone doing something wrong: you. You have opinions like this, you make arguments like this, and I suspect you vote like this. You are part of the problem. Moving people on from a 7-Eleven does not solve any of these problems, it just makes sure you don't have to see them.

I graduated from high school in 2000, bro. I'm not sure what kind of "kid" that makes me.

Loitering is not a problem if you are not the business owner who is running that 7-11.

I bet you would not think it over policing if a large congregation of homeless people were permanently camped out on your door steps, throwing their refuge indiscriminately, playing loud music, dealing and using drugs in the open. As much as I empathize with the homeless, I don’t see the logic of allowing them free reign to what are public spaces. How does it help them?

The well to do liberals who live in the heavily policed suburbs like Montclair and Glen Ridge and pay high property taxes for the privilege of not having to deal with the unwashed masses tell you that the homeless must be allowed to do as they please. They assuage their own guilt this way because it cost them nothing to so. It’s the poorest and most disadvantaged members of our society who pay the price for the failed policies they push.

Crime is up 30% at a time when the nation is at full employment. Only the delusional can be tricked into believing that “criminal justice reform” in the form of eliminating cash bail and setting dangerous repeat offenders out on the streets to victimize the poor and defenseless is a net good to society.

The truth is much more hard to digest. Criminal justice reform is the “cheapest” wokie policy that the dems could come up with to placate a base that they have been cheating for decades. Not higher minimum wages or better public education or publicly funded health care or higher education. All of that would cost their donors and their favored constituents; the laptop class to much. So they give you a policy that is failing even before it’s has been fully rolled out.

There is a housing crisis in this country and both parties are busy funding a proxy way with Russia that has us at the brink of nuclear catastrophe! 100billion for Ukraine and there are homeless people right now forced to take a shit in Peter Francisco park🤦🏾. Not one “progressive” opposes the war!! Tells you all you need to know about their priorities.

Is it any wonder that the Republicans, despite being a morally bankrupt party of reactionaries and outright loonies has managed to pull away upwards of 15% of the black and Latino vote!

More and more people are clueing in to the simple fact that the so called progressives don’t give one fuck for the people at the bottom beyond using them as cheap votes and canon fodder in the culture wars, but hey; you keep blaming the police; getting rid of the police is the solution we all deserve.

Yeah, that's it.