After 9 years in Millburn, New Jersey, popular restaurant Common Lot has announced its closure. The restaurant posted on social media this weekend noting that Friday was its last day of dinner service at 27 Main Street in Millburn.
Photo: Common Lot on Instagram
“It is with mixed emotions that we are writing this post. Friday, May 9th, was Common Lot’s last service,” the owners shared on Instagram and Facebook.
“Nadine and I have made the difficult decision to relocate back to Australia. We had always believed we would stay in the US indefinitely given we have built businesses, had a family and rescued a dog here. But circumstances have changed, and we feel it is now the right decision for us to raise our children in Australia, especially our daughter.”
Common Lot in Millburn, co-owned by Chef Ehren Ryan and his wife Nadine, was known for its contemporary American cuisine with global flair. The restaurant had been recognized for its upscale dining experience, great service, relaxed atmosphere, and prix fixe menu options. Some menu highlights included the Black Angus Beef Tartare and the Roasted Duck Breast with truffle sauce.
Back in March 2025, Nadine and Ehren announced the closure of Common Lot’s sister restaurant, Byrd, located in Hoboken rather abruptly, with its website going dark and Google listing being noted as “permanently closed,” without any public announcements. On the morning of Tuesday, March 18th, texts were sent to guests about their upcoming reservations, which said “Regrettably, Byrd Restaurant has closed its doors on Saturday 15th March, which means we have had to cancel your future booking. Apologies for the inconvenience. Byrd Team.”
The closure came just a little under a year after the restaurant’s debut in Hoboken.
“To our customers, thank you so much for your support in helping us thrive and grow over these past 9 years. We have loved creating dishes that we feel best represent Common Lot and the seasons. We thank you for your loyalty and all the conversations we enjoyed together at the pass. We are truly grateful. And lastly – our deepest thanks go out to all the Common Lot staff, past and present. Nadine and I thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Without you, Common Lot would never have been the restaurant it set out to be. Your passion, dedication and belief in our restaurant is second to none. We set out to create a great restaurant in the state and we believe we achieved that and are proud of our legacy.”
“We hope that Common Lot has left a lasting and meaningful impression on everyone who has walked through its doors, and we are confident that the innovation, dedication, and passion of our team over the years will continue to inspire and enrich the culinary scene in New Jersey for years to come.”
Montclair-Based Platform ‘Twocents’ is Reimagining Customer Feedback
This article is sponsored by Twocents.
There’s nothing we love more than supporting Montclair’s small businesses. With eateries and shops on every corner, these places are the backbone of our community. But we’ve all been on the other side of the internet, combing through public feedback (both scathing and positive) to make decisions on where to go and what to buy. A team of locals is reimagining how we share that feedback. Twocents is a platform that includes a user-friendly app for both patrons and merchants designed to bring humanity back to customer reviews through direct collaboration between business owners and customers. It’s totally changing the game, and was started right here in Montclair. Read on to learn more about Twocents, a new, Montclair-based customer feedback platform.
About Twocents
Twocents is a private feedback app created by local entrepreneurs, Tom Strollo and Drew Weaver. Its mission is simple: to build a feedback ecosystem where businesses and customers collaborate to create better products, services, and experiences.
Public review platforms such as Google can often turn from praise to punishment, with rage bait and scathing reviews generating engagement. The way these platforms operate affects small businesses dramatically, whether it be positively or negatively. Constructive criticism is truly helpful, but it's important for businesses to have a safe, private space for useful, honest tips from their customers.
This is where Twocents comes in. Traditional review platforms chase readings and public visibility, but Twocents opens authentic conversations between businesses and customers directly, creating space to thrive, improve, and shape the places we know and love (for the better). In the world of Twocents, feedback doesn’t damage reputations, it drives growth.
How it Works
Bringing humanity back to the customer review experience starts with the simple click. To get started, users can simply visit the Twocents website, enter their phone number, and create an account using their email. For those looking for a more mobile friendly option, the Twocents app is also available with the same sign-up process.
Once you’re in, you can send private comments and feedback directly to any business in Montclair — while remaining anonymous, if you choose. Just choose a category that your feedback is about — such as quality, service, atmosphere or the like – and rate your experience on a 0%-100% scale. The app will be expanding to all of New Jersey this summer, followed by NYC, and then nationwide.
Team MG tested the platform ourselves by submitting two reviews and earned 500 reward points instantly. When users share feedback with businesses on Twocents, reward points can be redeemed for discounts as they accumulate. Plus, user participation enters you into a sweepstakes where one lucky winner each month will receive a free dinner up to $500 at their favorite Montclair restaurant. Gift cards ranging between $25 and $100 are also awarded to eligible users through monthly giveaways at numerous locations, including Boschetto, Ani Ramen, Turtle & the Wolf, Paper Plane Coffee Co., and dozens more.
Joining Twocents
Whether you’re a local business or a patron, Twocents is waiting to hear from you. Residents can share their “two cents” by posting personalized feedback and earn points, rewards, and enter gift card giveaways at some of their favorite spots.
For businesses, Twocents unlocks more control over user reviews and opens the door to a world of constructive feedback to help strengthen the behind-the-scenes decisions guiding each action. Small business owners know that word of mouth is everything, and Twocents creates an exclusive avenue to explore what people are saying.
Twocents is available for all Montclair businesses. The company is highlighting dozens of early partners including Red Eye Cafe, La Rocca Osteria, Giftbar, Paper Plane Coffee Co., Turtle + the Wolf, Tony Boy's Sandwich House, Marcel Bakery & Kitchen, Playa Taqueria, Montclair Bread Company, Dan & Day's Burgers and Shakes, Gleek & Howard, Fish Delish, Minia's Montclair, Boschetto, Ani Ramen House, and many more.
Twocents is currently available for use in the Montclair area before expanding nationwide. To sign up for free, click here.
