Montclair Terminal - Lackawanna Plaza ( near the end ! )

Resurrecting an old thread here.

Just stumbled on this somewhat 'dated' news story....

http://www.northjersey.com/community/hi ... seat_.html

And happily, the classic benches have been saved for restoration....

http://www.northjersey.com/community/hi ... ps_up.html

Where they came from 'then'....

http://lists.railfan.net/erielackphoto. ... tclair.jpg

http://viewoftheblue.com/photography/mont_sta.html ( circa 1969 - thanks Frank ! )

....and 'now'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File%3ALackawanna.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lacka ... ir_jeh.JPG

Related link - In this present day photo, looking EAST ( toward Hoboken ) down the original locations of terminal tracks 5&6 ( right to left ).The photographer is standing upon what was the EOT croncrete bumpers and do note that the station canopies were saved and incorporated into this now mini-mall complex ceilings/sky-lights....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lacka ... ir_jeh.JPG

This sounds like good news. Hopefully the interior beauty of this gem will continue untouched....

http://www.baristanet.com/2012/04/micha ... nna-plaza/

This sounds ominus. At least the LACKAWANNA Bush track sheds were saved and incorporated within the Pathmark and the mini-mall layout when first constructed. Apartments ??....

http://www.baristanet.com/2011/10/major ... nna-plaza/

Artisticly and historically sounds good but still dunno where these lofts and apartments are gonna be....

http://www.baristanet.com/2012/04/breat ... nna-plaza/

BTW, in that last link in the first photo we're looking West with Grove St. above and the domed entrance being where terminal tracks 5&6 once were. In the second photo we see the gorgeous waiting room and the surviving concourse canopy where the concrete bumpers were for - right to left - terminal tracks 1 thru 6. Last photo gives us a partial view of the interior of the waiting room adjacent to track #1. Appears intact and in good condition.

Fingers crossed !

In follow-up of the previous post, these links sound and look good for the terminal....

http://www.baristanet.com/2012/08/montc ... ming-soon/

http://www.baristanet.com/2012/11/montc ... ork-times/

Resurrecting a personal favorite thread....

Has anyone been to this spot lately and/or eaten in the restaurant ?

Any evidence of physical changes or the lofts proposed 2 years ago ?

Thanks.

TSTOM wrote:Resurrecting a personal favorite thread....
Has anyone been to this spot lately and/or eaten in the restaurant ?

I have been to Pig and Prince many times. If you like gastro pubs this is one of the best in the area and I highly recommend them. They have an innovative seasonal menu, huge beer list and excellent drinks.

Plus you get to eat and the fully restored ticket/waiting area.

Again Greg, much thanks.

Grew up in Montclair loving this place and I spent many a morning usually along with 25-30 other commuters waiting for either a 6 or 4-car MU set to depart from one of the 6 terminal tracks. Interior photos of the waiting room I saw 2-3 years ago inferred that the eatery owner intended to maintain much of the gorgeous LACKAWANNA ( Botsford ) decor. Howz it look ?

Since you've eaten there, hope you perused the preseeding pages here for perspective on what once was.

TSTOM wrote:Again Greg, much thanks.

Grew up in Montclair loving this place and I spent many a morning usually along with 25-30 other commuters waiting for either a 6 or 4-car MU set to depart from one of the 6 terminal tracks. Interior photos of the waiting room I saw 2-3 years ago inferred that the eatery owner intended to maintain much of the gorgeous LACKAWANNA ( Botsford ) decor. Howz it look ?

Since you've eaten there, hope you perused the preseeding pages here for perspective on what once was.

The interior looks fantastic, very much as it would have appeared in DL&W times. One touch I liked was at the bar they use rail for a footrest.

I have followed the evolution of this location as one of my first jobs was as a product manager for Supermarkets General who at one time owned Pathmark. When I began this was not a location we enjoyed visiting but I am happy to see it has vastly improved since then.

I'm admittedly an old romantic and I have a very sentimental attachment to this complex. I'll attempt to get down to the restaurant soon but I know I'll be more interested in the decor than the food

FYI, read last week that the Pig and Prince restaurant occupying the glorious terminal since 2012 was scheduled to serve it's last customer this past Sunday.

These folks did a great job of preserving a Lackawanna gem while converting the waiting room into a modern bistro.

Hopefully, the next occupant is partial to railroad history as well.