After 10 years of sitting in an abandoned lot, the once-empty Lackawanna Plaza has been reinvented and is now filled to the brim with local love. The population of small businesses, the Montclair Flea Market, restaurants, and more, Lackawanna Plaza has had a glow-up. The variety of small businesses within the building provides a sense of community. Keep reading for a highlight of the small businesses within Lackawanna Plaza and all it has to offer to Montclair locals.
The History of Lackawanna Plaza
Lackawanna Plaza has had a long history in Montclair. Before becoming the bustling plaza it is now, Lackawanna Plaza was once home to the Lackawanna train terminal here in Montclair. In the 1980s, it was transformed into a shopping mall with a grocery store, as well as retail and office space. At the time, the Pinnacle Companies partnered with the Hampshire Companies to plan the initial Lackawanna Plaza developments within the area. The proposal was not passed until 2019, but it still did not come to fruition due to a lawsuit claiming the space as a historical and architectural landmark.
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In 2021, BDP Holdings, a Montclair-based real estate investment company, acquired the space that had been sitting empty for 10 years. David Placek of BDP Holdings is the new owner of Lackawanna Plaza and had the vision to redevelop the plaza, while preserving its historical and architectural integrity.
Lackawanna Plaza Now
MG visited the new Lackawanna Plaza and here’s what we found: part of the updates to the re-imagination of Lackawanna Plaza are the changes to the physical layout. Upon walking in, we were greeted by a large skylight overlooking the main space where the food hall is located with tons of small restaurants, a co-working space, a mini-bar and the large, open-air room where the Montclair Flea is located. Before hitting the main space, we noticed the presence of a wine shop, a fresh-produce market, and The Little Shops, which are pop-ups highlighting a host of small businesses.
Ironbound Farm
Neither the food court, nor the Little Shops, but still a highlight of our exploration was Ironbound Farm. We picked up ingredients for dinner and saved ourselves a trip to the grocery store.
The Ironbound Farm is a 108-acre regenerative farm, orchard, and craft cidery located in Asbury. The store is chock-full of fresh produce and other goodies. We’re always on the lookout for a new source for Jersey tomatoes and these might just do the trick.
The Little Shops
MG visited The Little Shops which are pop-ups within Lackawanna Plaza offering everything from vintage clothing to DIY charm bracelets. Here’s what we found:
Ceaser Jewelers
Owned by Michael Ceaser, this store buys and sells diamonds, watches and estate jewelry. They also have repair services for jewelry and watches.
Ceramar X Woman to Women
Ceramar sells bags and accessories inspired by traditional Colombian crafts and the vibrant NYC style. Woman to Women is a clothing shop with all clothing designed by Gia André. Before having the physical Lackawanna Plaza location, the brand was established in 2013.
Economize Her
Economize Her is a secondhand store that recycles and resells goods to promote purchasing intentionally.
Framed By Ria
The second location of Framed By Ria is now located within Lackawanna Plaza. The store is founded by Ria Asmaeil, a second-generation framer, who learned the skill from a young age.
Jade Alycia Beauty
Jade Alycia Beauty is a skincare shop with vegan skincare for sensitive skin formulated by Jade Alycia.
Maplewood Shop
The Maplewood Shop is a woodworking store with the mission to build confidence, creativity, and community through portable woodworking programs.
New Faith Supply
New Faith Supply is an LGBTQ+ owned archival vintage store owned by 21-year-old Willow Skyfin. Willow shared that she started collecting clothes at age 11 when her mom introduced her to thrifting. As a kid, she would go to estate sales and garage sales for fun, and style and photograph her finds. Willow’s friend Carol, who owns Phenomenal Woman, also in Lackawanna Plaza told her about the reinvented space, and the rest was history.
Phenomenal Woman
Phenomenal Woman is owned by friend duo Carole Bailey and Thomasina Sallustro-Hyland. Carole and Thomasina have combined their multi media artistry and design to create Phenomenal Woman, a clothing store with handmade and curated clothing with a contemporary vibe.
The Player Agency
The Player Agency is a board game retail shop within The Little Shops. With card games, and board games that are new and used, they’ve got it all for your next family game night.
True Ascend
True Ascend is a charm bar with tarnish-resistant jewelry. DIY your own charm jewelry from key chains to bracelets and necklaces.
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Locals can get involved and feel a sense of community through events at Lackawanna Plaza. The Montclair Flea is every Saturday and Sunday from 11AM-6PM. Additionally, the RecRoom in Lackawanna Plaza hosts a variety of events, such as its free pop-up coworking space every Thursday from 10AM-6PM. See more opportunities to get involved and feel the community vibe via the website.
To stay up to date on the latest Montclair + Northern New Jersey news, follow @themontclairgirl on Instagram and TikTok, sign up for our newsletter that shares the top stories in your inbox here, and check out our events calendar.
New Montclair Cannabis Dispensary, Kush Connection, Receives Planning Board Approval
A former car dealership on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair will begin a new chapter in 2025 when cannabis dispensary The Kush Connection moves in. The Kush Connection is a family-owned enterprise with roots right here in Montclair. The cannabis dispensary was originally planning to open in 2024 at 135 Valley Road, but has since delayed the opening date and changed locations. As of July 2025, the new dispensary has received approval from the Montclair Planning Board. The Montclair Girl spoke to the team back in 2024 about the business and what neighbors can expect from this new spot. Read on for more about The Kush Connection, coming to Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair, New Jersey.
About The Kush Connection
The Kush Connection is a family-run business. The Kushner family has lived in Montclair since the 1990s and company president Jake is a graduate of Montclair High School. Matriarch Patty Steele Kushner said that she chose Montclair as a home base even before her children were born, and the process of opening a business in town has led her to learn even more about her beloved city.
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“Throughout this whole process, we’ve been getting to know people, attending town council meetings, working with leadership,” Patty told The Montclair Girl in 2024. “We are learning more about the culture of cannabis in a town like Montclair. I didn't want to come in and open a business that wouldn’t fit in. Through this experience, I’ve been falling in love with a new layer of Montclair and the sensibilities of the town. This business is going to be heavily infused with what Montclair is all about.”
^ Artwork by Julian Gelbard
In addition to making sure that the business will make sense in Montclair, the Kushners say that the dispensary’s design has been inspired by Steve and Patty Steele Kushner’s long-standing careers in broadcast media. “I’ve traveled around the country and visited many dispensaries,” Patty said. “Some felt like a bus station and others like a makeup boutique. We want to have something in the middle. It’s going to be about how music is influenced by cannabis. The space will represent music and art.”
As the family was thinking about getting started with the business, they came upon a building at 135 Valley Road. The building sits across from the popular Tierney’s Tavern and was built in the early 1900’s. “The building was originally a store,” Patty said. “But, it’s been vacant for the past 15 years. If you looked at it now, it would scare you; it's falling apart. We've been working to shore up the structure and then we will be getting started on the interior. We can turn into something really interesting.”
Per NorthJersey.com, The Kush Connection has changed locations, but will still be located in Montclair. The new cannabis dispensary will now be located at 665 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair, which was formerly home to car dealership Montclair MotorCar.
As of Monday, June 30th, 2025, The Kush Connection has now received approval from the Montclair Planning Board, per Montclair Local.
Patty, a self-described history buff, currently hosts a podcast called The Backstory with Patty Steele. The podcast focuses on the background stories of famous people and events. Eventually, Patty would like to host a podcast that combines cannabis and music. “We want to interview musicians and other creatives about how they use cannabis," she said. "Or host live broadcasts from the dispensary. There's a lot we could do."
What to Expect
The business received one of several approvals from the Montclair Township Planning Board in January 2024. Per Montclair Local, the business received operating permits from the city but still needed to get site permits.
Jake previously said that there was still a way to go before the doors of The Kush Connection are officially opened. “The permitting process has taken much longer than any of us have anticipated,” he said. In addition to the approval process for selling cannabis, the team has been working with the relevant authorities to get the building construction squared away.
As far as what neighbors can expect, both Patty and Jake say that their goal is to create a business that works in Montclair. “We want to show that this is a family-owned and operated business that people can respect,” Jake said. “We want to fit in Montclair’s culture and create something that the town can be proud of.”
^ Artwork by Julian Gelbard
The two say that they are eager to get involved with the community through the intersection of cannabis and social justice. “Community outreach is really important to us. we've been in discussions with Dr. Dunn, he does a lot of different social justice activities and outreach. we plan to work with him to benefit the town,” Jake said. “We are thinking about running a few programs on our own. We have a lot of ideas.”
See More: A Comprehensive Guide to Cannabis Dispensaries in Hoboken, Jersey City, + Beyond
Patty and Jake are excited about connecting with other Montclair residents through their business. While an official opening date is not know at this time, this post will be updated with any further details.
To stay in the know with all of the local news, follow @themontclairgirl on Instagram and TikTok, sign up for our newsletter that shares the top stories in your inbox here, and check out our events calendar.
