So, I just spoke with Shawn, a manager at Garden of Eden in Berkeley Heights.  Spoke to him for some time and he made it clear that the store hopes to remain open.  They are looking at a good number of options to improve the store and to improve foot traffic into the store in order to increase business.  They have a survey circling around Facebook and other places and, if you haven’t done so, go ahead and take the time to complete it.  I think they are taking the results very seriously and using it as a guide for where to take the store from here.  Shawn said that he thinks it’s safe to say that the store WILL NOT CLOSE ON SUNDAY as originally reported.  He didn’t have a lot of answers as to when or if it will close eventually as the situation is fluid and the actual decision is ultimately up to the owner.

If you haven’t been to Garden of Eden, you should go before it’s too late.  For one thing, we should support a business that took a risk to open in Berkeley Heights.  For another, they offer such great gourmet items.  We do not purchase the prepared hot foods, etc. mainly because if we are home, I cook.  However, I can say that the food is made using whole foods and is of a higher quality than you would normally find at a generic grocery store.

I made it a point to let Shawn know that they should seriously consider doing something special for the festival here in Berkeley Heights in the coming days.  However, regardless of whether they do that or not, if you are from the area, go in and check the place out as you stroll to or from the festival.  Everything is still discounted at 20% off, so there are deals to be had.  While you are there, if you end up liking it as much as I do, stop by and tell Shawn or whoever is managing at the time that you are local and appreciate what they are doing.

In my opinion, Garden of Eden is a great addition to Berkeley Heights and the surrounding area.  It’s local (based here and in NYC), they offer a great selection of difficult to find items, and have some quality premade food and deli items.  It would be a shame if they went away and we who live locally are forced, once again, to travel to different towns (or order on-line) to find items that are currently in our own back yard.

There’s my two cents.  Hope it helps persuade a few of you to try Garden of Eden and I certainly hope Garden of Eden listens to the many people from the area that have already expressed their support for the store.