LauraSM

Well, you can expand OK, but it will be a Trader Joe's, not a Whole Foods. http://njmg.typepad.com/jean/2008/01/stew-leonards-a.html I believe the Stew Leonards referred to will not be a full Stew Leonards, but a wine store.

It might not have been. They do both Kosher and non-Kosher catering. That being said, I agree that their Kosher food is terrific. I was married there 15 years ago. It was a mixed marriage but the food was Kosher, and my husband's (non-Jewish) family didn't know that the food was Kosher, and raved!!

The ShopRite on Paulison Ave in Passaic also carries a large selection of Mexican (as well as Peruvian, Dominican, Puerto Rican, and other Hispanic) items, including fresh produce and fresh meats

DH and I went last year, both the food and the music were wonderful! We're doing it again this year. If you like blues-type music (they have more than just straight blues, this year) it is a great weekend.

The Coach House Diner in Hackensack (across Rt. 4 from Riverside Square) used to have a nice one, with good stuffed grape leaves. I haven't been there in a while, but it would be worth checking.

Are you doing catering from there, Fink? A friend is looking for some barbecue catering.

Distributors (aka wholesalers) are not allowed to sell to retail customers, only to licensed stores. Pretty much any decent size liquor store can get a keg on a day or two notice. It will come with their regular beer delivery.

I bet the Acme in Styertown in Clifton has it. They cater to the large Orthodox population in the area. (Yeah, I know Clifton isn't Bergen County, but it is very near the Meadowlands )

Most US Made sodas are sweetened with corn syrup, which is not Kosher for Passover. Not sure how that would affect diet soda, except that it is usually made in the same plant and could be "contaminated" Kosher for Passover stuff must be made under strict supervision.

Well, the bad news is that it burned down a couple of years ago, so I'm thinking you may not do too well getting it there. It was a classic 60s Chinese Polynesian place before it burned.

Princeton Alum, here. Some of the eating clubs may rent out private rooms, they occasionally did 25 years ago. I am pretty sure none have liquor licenses, though, as most undergrads are not of drinking age. And they are not affiliated with the University. They are private clubs and you would have to contact them individually, not through the University. I think the Nassau Inn might be a good idea, too.

Nutley is Essex County, not Bergen, though.

It's actually two, unless the entity or person owned more than 2 before 1962. There is an exception for consumption licenses for hotels, restaurants, international airports and bowling alleys, but that doesn't apply to liquor stores.

There is a huge difference between the liquor license needed to serve alcohol in a restaurant, vs the liquor license needed to sell alcohol in a retail store. I may be wrong, but I believe that the latter is far easier to obtain than the former. ←

Not likely. Liquor licenses in NJ are issued for a particular municpality. You can't move a license from town to town. And I suspect a liquor license in Paramus (they'd have to find an available retail license for sale) is pretty pricey. I would be surprised if the Paramus store had a liquor dept.

Nope, but they are trying to reposition the whole mall, so I think it may fit with the new demographic they are aiming for when the redo the mall.

On route 4 West just before you get to 208. It is now the River Palm Steakhouse. I MISS that place I remember that one too- I think it was in the Bergen Mall?

Well, for starters, there is no such thing in NJ as a "wine license" If they are licensed to sell wine, they are licensed to sell any alcoholic beverage- and the regs permit a corkage fee to be charged by a licensee. The licensee can choose to only serve wine and beer, but that is up to them, not a limitation on their license. The only limited license offered (as to what they can sell) is a warm beer license, which is for retail sale only, not consumption, and they aren't issuing any more of those. (Lawyer here, with some experience in NJ Liquor law)

Pathmark is Friday-Thursday

Piast is at 800 River Drive in Garfield. It is in a strip mall with Spencer Savings.

They do have a website: http://www.dish-nj.com Not sure how up to date it is. I don't know why I haven't tried this place- I live right around the corner.

I think the produce at Food Basics is usually quite good and well priced. For a bigger selection I would go to Corrados Corrados I think there is an Indian market on Broadway in Passaic. Try driving around a little and exploring. There are a lot of small stores.

Not sure what kind of food you are cooking, but I have found the Shop Rite on Paulison Ave to be pretty good for produce, and they have a great selection of Latino items, packaged, frozen, and produce. The Food Basics on Van Houten also has decent produce and a large selection of Latino and Eastern European items. And there is always Corrados and the farmers market in Paterson. There is also a decent Health Food Store on the corner of Main and VanHouten. Nice grains and beans and packaged stuff, some frozen and produce. If you can be more specific about what you are not finding, I may have more suggestions. I've lived in Passaic for 10 years.