Dont we have enough bakeries (Bovellas, Crumbs, Choc shop), and definitely enough yogurt shops!
Need something unique!

Ugh...the Hoboken version of this 'bakery' served mediocre fare long before becoming a tourist trap. I escaped the circus there, and now hear this. You think it's tough to park in WF now...just wait.

Don't bother Buddy....we like our hometown people. Best of luck in Hoboken

Bovellas Forever! This is another attempt ant an over priced fad coming to town. The only thing this bakery will do for me is provide laughter every time I go by and see people standing in line to buy bakery goods you can get somewhere else for half the price in half the time. Typical of a business to come to Westfield knowing some residents will flock to the store just to say " it's a cake boss creation" to impress the snobbery at the party. Shoprite rules and Bovella's rocks!

Lot of moaners and groaners on here. He's taking (from what I've heard) the empty storefront next to five guys. It's been empty for a long time. Good to see someone filling the vacant storefronts. It is good for the town. Welcome Buddy.

Like Buddy 'needs the dough'....send him to Summit!...Bovella's forever!!!

We should wish any business well that wants to make an investment in our community.
His name will bring more people to town who will hopefully shop in other stores. Good luck, Buddy. Continued success, Bovella's!

Whats wrong with Westfield? Why would they do this to Bovellas? Just what we need another Bakery, already overrun with fad yogut shops? Why doesnt Buddy set up shop in Cranford? I dont get the logic, why not do something different, the town could use a Portuguese restaurant.
And remember the crowds at Crumbs? Where are they now?

Cranford doesn't need another Bakery either.....They have the Buttery Bakery that has been there forever............Not fair to Bovellas at all..........Something different around here would really be nice.........bakery, ice cream, gyms..........enough.

I am disappointed in our town. I understand wanting to fill our vacant store fronts but we need to fill them with what our town needs or at least with business that are unique. Continuing to allow the same type of stores ie. yogurt shops and now bakeries only hurts all of them and eventually they will all fail. Allowing Buddy to bring his bakery here will only cause problems for Westfield. I personally don't care for bakeries since I'm not sweets person however I worked in Hoboken many years ago and their products were not good. My niece had him make her communion cake (it was her gift) even my kids said it was one of the worst they've ever eaten. His bakery will not only hurt our longstanding local establishments but draw unnecessary people to our town.

If the landlords would lower the rents, which is what causes businesses to leave in the first place, it would draw in more unique businesses to our town. The DWC NEEDS to start being more selective about who they allow in otherwise our town will continue to go down hill.

The landlord is entitled to rent the space out to a bakery if they want. Bovella's must not have a non-compete clause in its lease which would have prevented a similar store from opening in such close proximity. Mr. Valastro's RE team obviously knew they would have a competing bakery (two really) just a few doors down. Not good for Bovella's but if Carlo's indeed sells an inferior product at a higher price, Bovella's will still have plenty of customers coming through.

On the bright side, it is not another frozen yogurt store. Not sure the DWC really has a say in which stores fill the vacancies. Downtown is not a mall where one landlord places competing stores at opposite ends to set them up for success. Not sure who owns each parcel but I imagine renting that space out to a bakery with a proven business model and national recognition is more attractive then leasing to a first-time business owner. I believe the landlords are in the business of making money, not offering discounts to higher-risk tenants who will likely close up shop within a year or two of opening.

I understand the comments made by Westfield residents but New Providence residents would welcome any bakery whatsoever. In fact, we would love to have any upscale appealing business come to town. We have nail salons, Smashburger, Subway, banks, pizza parlors, and a wonderful "gold for cash" storefront. To top it all off, a 7-11 is considering building a spot right across the street from South Street Market (which is basically a 7-11).

Everyone is so fired up. I think a lot of people just like to hear themselves talk. I have been a resident here for 6 years and love Westfield. I am raising my two young children here and am proud to support all local businesses including new ones like Bohemian Raspberry and San Marzano Pasta Bar. If Carlo's is quality and provides good service it will stay, if not it will go out of business. I am pretty sure Bovella's will do just fine, it is Kosher and provides challah and other treats to the children of Temple Emanu-El as well as having many dedicated customers. A space filled with merchants is probably better than an endlessly vacant space, no? It seems like some people here have quite a superiority complex about Westfield. It is a great town with wonderful schools, parks and other resources. Our town can use new businesses just like any other town.

After reading the above, I'm so glad I moved out of your snobby, elite town. All of you deserve each other.

While your comment about our "snobby, elite town" is a bit much, I think many of the comments are short-sighted. It is good for all downtown businesses and taxpayers if we can attract people that would not ordinarily shop in Westfield. This new bakery location will require parking in a lot, which could lead to additional shopping in Trader Joe's or any number of other stores, and an occasional meal in a local restaurant.

Blame the greedy landlords. Thie cake boss is the only one that is willing to pay the astronomical rent the property commands. That's why it's been vacant.

This business could also lead to overtime parking for the fools waiting in a two hour line to buy an overpriced cake. Good for revenue in town coffers.

perhaps they could change the recipes to at least make items taste good.

I'll pass

Let's celebrate one less empty storefront in town! Maybe it's not the perfect business for Westfield, but it will bring more customers to town! Bring it, Cake Boss!!

As a small business owner here in Westfield, I am so happy to be here and so grateful to my many loyal customers who go out of their way to buy from me. It is time for me to grow out of my really small store but the rents to go to a store the size of the Coach space is $9-10,000. a month. You need to make 6-10 times the rent to make it (paying for the stock, the rent, the staff & utilities) as a merchant but how many stores intown have the traffic to support sales of $55-90,000. a month? Unlike a mall, we are not open in the evenings and we loose the evening shoppers who leave the kids with dad after dinner to shop. Certain days are slow and weather affects us.
The chain stores pay the high rents because they can support the retail stores with the internet and catalog sales; many stores move the chain sale stock. While we all like Urban Outfitters, Victoria's secret and the like in our downtown, the landlords hold out for these high rollers or reduce the asking for the right client. Landlords also expect annual increases and payment of the taxes on the property. What amazes me is that many of the building owners were business owners and know the margins in our business. It is positively scary to be supporting this delicate puzzle and then have another competing business come along and split the business and the profits.
I dream of owning my own building and controlling my rents. But I love my job and the many skills it demands.

Best of luck Buddy! More traffic downtown means more business and higher home values because of a thriving downtown. Not much to complain about. Competition is tough but it just means you have to up your game. God Bless America!

Bovella's is and always will be #1 in Westfield! Compare Cake Boss cannoli's with Bovella's there is no comparison Bovella's are best!!!!

I find it hilarious that some people in this town do not see the bigger picture. Instead of focusing on "the old days", talking about the jolley trolley back in 1983, and bovellas, look to the future. We need more high end, desirable stores to keep foot traffic in our town vs. the summits, montclairs, etc. It's how the world works. While I like the small business owner, we need all shapes and sizes of stores. Is an empty store better than a famous bakery that will bring more positive attention and media to our town? #stopfocusingonthepast

I guess Wesfield guy is a new commuter transplant to the town. Most of us who have been here forever, remember Brooks Sealfons, Mccrorys and the Leader Store. What is so great about having 3 bakeries, four pizzerias and another yogurt store? These yogurt stores lead to loitering by middle school students who stand on the sidewalk blocking pedestrians from getting where they need to go. And why cant Coach, VS etc stay open to at least 9 pm? I dont understand that, I'm sure many of us would love to run out and do some shopping after dinner. Buddy is def no better by renting a space near another Bakery. Just like Crumbs, they will have people waiting on line out of curiosity for about a month, then every one will be back to Bovellas for they have a superior product. Once out of towners realize how fast Westfield Parking Auth gives out tickets, they wont be back trust me. Its not worth it.

Some of you are just so ignorant I can't believe you have a job that pays enough money for you to live in Westfield. Maybe your spouse is the brains behind the operation. It certainly isn't you. First, for those of you that think Bovella's is a good bakery let alone a great one that's laughable. For starters, any average bakery in the Ironbound blows them away on just about any metric starting with product, variety, and price. I know most of you are never going to set foot into that area so ignorance is bliss so hang on to Bovella's. Their selection stinks and so do their prices.

Secondly, as someone who had to find a storefront in Westfield to rent in a past life I have behind the scenes knowledge of "how it works" that most of you don't. First of all, no one "controls" what goes where starting with the DWC. So much ignorance on here. Do you think the downtown is just one giant jigsaw puzzle?

The only ones that control anything in the downtown are the greedy landlords. Most of the buildings in the downtown have been in the same family for years. They are just handed down. Many families own several. Rarely are any actually sold. And while I can't prove it, I believe from time to time collusion goes on between landlords to keep the rents high.

As I said, I am so glad to be rid of all of you. Moving into your town was the worst mistake I ever made and moving out was the best. One day among you is too long.
Just listen to yourselves. It's sickening.

Bovella's is a pastry shop and a good one at that but it is not a full bakery like Carlo's is .....This greater area is lacking Bakery's, not sure you will even suport a good bakery, when people rave over shoprite for a birthday cake, or call a cup cake or cookie shop a bakery not so sure.

Where is your business located now? Just asking...
Pinhos is a very good bakery by the way, and I do set foot out of town on occasion.

The quote of the comment below by Seneca really "takes the cake" so to speak. Out of all the comments so far it is by far the most ignorant one.

Bovella's probably does have a "non-compete" cause as you call it. However it only applies between them and the landlord of THEIR building. Translation for the ignorant - THEIR landlord can not rent any space THEY own to a competing business. That is a standard cause in any commercial lease. However any OTHER landlord can whether that space is next door or across the street or in China.
------------------
The landlord is entitled to rent the space out to a bakery if they want. Bovella's must not have a non-compete clause in its lease which would have prevented a similar store from opening in such close proximity.

WHAT IS ALL THE FUSS ABOUT, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE BUDDY IN WESTFIELD. HIS CAKES ARE AWESOME AND SO ARE ALL HIS PASTRIES. HAVE YET TO FIND A BAKERY THAT CAN COMPARE TO HIS. I BEEN FROM CRANFORD TO THE JERSEY SHORE AND NONE COMPARE. RAISED IN UNION COUNTY

Well, I am all for an attraction- type store taking up a vacant store front and driving people to our town. Look forward to Buddy's shop. I wouldn't really consider Crumbs a bakery. Bovellas is good for some things and not so good for orhers so another option would be nice. so the only person this sucks for is Bovellas and their business.

Now, can someone tell me what happened to the Coach store? An upscale, boutique anchor store like that leaving is a big loss for the town.

And we laughed out loud when we saw the signs that another yogurt place was opening. Really? Is a third ( fifth if you count the ones just outside of downtown) you hurt shop really going to bring any added business to downtown? All it will do is split the business away for the others.

By the way, I do have a strong suspician that landlords in town have colluded together to keep rents high. And believe me, if I feel that way there is no doubt in my mind that the local politicians in town have got wind of it too. Don't worry, no one will ever go sniffing. Can you imagine the scandal? No one is going to rock the boat.

I think Cake Boss will be a nice draw whether it not a bakery is needed. Some businesses will benefit from the additional foot traffic. Opening another yogurt shop is ridiculous and I know you'll never see me step foot in there. I love the Lets Yo in Blue Star and Yapple has my loyalty when I'm in town.

The Coach store was a waste, Lord and Taylor is down the street. If you wanted a purse, sometimes marked down, you would shop there and not have to deal with the parking headache in town.

What everyone should get from this thread is that we all have different opinions and that is what is great about America. Liberty and freedom to do and speak as we wish. "VOTING with your dollars" as someone said IS ALL AMERICAN. I (my opinion) wish everyone that opens a business in this town success. I try to support all our local merchants. I have been in all the yogurt stores in our town and will continue to support them all when they are in close proximity to where I happen to be shopping. I would not drive to town just to have yogurt or for that matter something from Bovella's or Crumbs. If I am in town for a meal or shopping, I do patronize these merchants. If I am at home and want some yogurt or pastries or cake for the house, I find myself on South Ave where parking is much more convenient. GOOD LUCK to Buddy and all our local merchants. Shop Westfield.

bitter bitter people, let the man do what he wants in a free capitalistic society. Bovella's is mediocre at best, we ordered a cake for my boss from the Hoboken location, it was horrid. there's a fine bakery in Clark, not Vaccaro's, the name escapes me. It's a small, independent friendly run and everything I've gotten there has been far superior to anything I found in NJ since moving from Manhattan. If I recall the name I'll post it..it just escapes me, it's set off Westfield ave with parking out front

omg couldn't be easier..that bakery. is it's name..having a bad day.

Bake You Crazy in Berkeley Heights bake on premises. Give it a chance.