Macy’s smells an awful lot like popcorn these days, and so do other stores at that end of the Brunswick Square Mall. That’s because the mall’s newest vendor, Doc Popcorn, has been selling its treats by the bagful since it opened on Black Friday. “It was a little nuts,” said owner Geoff Frischman. “There was a lot going on that day since it was my first day.” Frischman, who is in his mid-50s, opened this first Doc Popcorn shop in the fall, on the boardwalk at Asbury Park, following a long, successful career selling office furniture. The move ended 25 years of commuting to New York City every …

In 1965 John Dobrzynski Sr. and his brother, Mark, opened a little store on a big piece of property along Route 18 and began selling lumber and giving advice to contractors, residents and anyone else who needed it. Today, Route 18 Lumber is still going strong, and so is John Sr.’s his legacy. “What sets us apart is that we sell good, quality stuff, and our strong relationship with our customers,” said Jack Dobrzynski, John Sr.’s grandson. Jack started with Route 18 Lumber in 1987 after finishing up college at Michigan State. His route to the lumber yard was much like his father’s, John Jr., …

Fast food is relatively inexpensive, convenient and something that millions of Americans spend nearly $100 billion on every year, according to a report from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. But the problem with fast food is it’s incredibly unhealthy, both for one’s mind and the national economy, said Nirit Yadin, the Farm-to-Kitchen coordinator for the Terra Momo Restaurant Group. With three restaurants in Princeton and one in Kingston, Terra Momo uses a variety of fresh ingredients from area family-owned farms. Yadin is also a co-leader at Slow Food of Central Jersey, an organization …

Open since late August, the new Annie Sez in the Summerhill Mall hopes to set new trends not only in fashion, but also in its other stores. “It’s the perfect start, to come in and build from the bottom up, and then see what we can do with the other stores," said Fred Forcellati, Creative Director for Annie Sez. Design elements such as the dark and light wood floor, and color schemes will set the tone for other Annie Sez locations, and as fashions change, so too will the look of the store, said Forcellati. “It’s always a challenge to use the space to best enhance the product,” he said. “It’s …

Updated to reflect how Township Council voted and to more accurately summarize the comments of Anthony Riccobono. The Township Council approved resolutions Monday that will pave the way for the development of the Golden Triangle property, but not before two residents expressed concerns about what might be built there. Anthony Riccobono, a former township councilman, said he fears that a superstore is slated to be built on the site – at the corner of Tices Lane and northbound Route 18 – and that such a store would drastically change the demographic of the area. “It’s not something we should be…

We're excited to inaugurate a new series for our Patch Readers: "Dispatches: The Changing American Dream." Every day, the national media is full of stories about how American families, businesses, and neighbors are adjusting to these trying times. There are so many changes happening so fast that it's dizzying: national debates about unemployment, foreclosures, debt, religion, government and private enterprise all touch on fundamental ways in which we see ourselves and our communities. At Patch, we want to explore that conversation on a daily basis so we can better understand how our neighbors…