Posted by admin on Oct 28, 2010 in
New Jersey
The South Mountain Recreation Complex located at South Mountain Reservation houses the Turtle Back Zoo, Codey Skating Arena and now the brand new Safari Miniature Golf Course.
Adults are 7 bucks
Kids are 5 bucks.
You get 19 holes of Safari adventure, complete with jungle themed landscaping and acoustics.
The people are coming out in droves apparently to hit the links because the gate attendant shared with me that there’s over 300 people per day that go through the course usually if the day is decent. And on a fine fall day like it was when we went — attendance topped 500 people already and it was early evening on a weekend night.
Last time we went, it took us 35 minutes to get through. Tonight it took over 1 hour – because the course was full. On a dollar value basis, you could argue that’s really cheap ($5 for over 1 hour of entertainment!).
It’s worth heading out to the Safari MiniGolf course before it gets too cold out. Say hello to Frankie the Elephant for us when you do!
Tags: essex county, recreation complex, safari mini golf, south mountain, turtle back zoo, west orange
Posted by admin on Oct 28, 2010 in
New Jersey
Looks like Papa John’s on Mount Pleasant Avenue closed down. Seemed like they were doing good business – don’t know why it closed.
But who cares? WHY?
Because Papa John’s Pizza just opened up in the UPS Store strip mall on South Livingston Avenue (184 S. Livingston Avenue to be precise). It’s across the street from TD Bank (the old Commerce Bank).
Apparently, it’s under a new franchisee owner. Don’t worry, you don’t have to change your speed dial just yet. The new owner took over the old telephone number for Papa John’s on Mt. Pleasant Avenue, so it will ring through just fine. But they got a new number too.
Here’s the new telephone number for pizza delivery:
PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA
973-533-1300
Tell them FingerClickingGood.com sent you!
Gotta love their $12 XL Pizza deal with multiple toppings.
QUESTION: What’s your favorite pizza topping at Pappa John’s Pizza? Leave your favorite in a comment below!
Tags: delivery, food, papa john's, pizza, restuarant, take out
Posted by admin on Oct 12, 2010 in
New Jersey,
turtle back zoo,
west orange,
zoo
Here’s the math: 19 holes of miniature golf costs $800,000 to build out.
And this is only the beginning. Because it’s part of a $4.8 MILLION development project at South Mountain — including the packaging and rebranding of the Turtle Back Zoo + Codey Arena into the “South Mountain Recreation Complex”. Next-up? Restaurant on the lake… (perhaps like the one on the lake at Verona Park but not operating anymore besides that small snack bar inside?)
Anyway, that’s about $42,000 sunk into each hole on the minigolf course. Essex County is expecting revenues of at least $250,000 per year on the golf course alone. If the sales projections are correct, that means the county will make their money back within 4 years. And supposedly all revenues will be going to the Turtle Back Zoo itself (which you can get to on the free shuttle trolley that cost $180,000 itself).
Woa. Can this really work? Was that massive elephant overlooking Northfield really worth its weight in revenues?
Well, the early results are in, and since the opening day on the rainy September 16th, the Safari Minigolf course apparently took in approximately $37,000 up to the first week in October. That’s about $15,000 per week. Of course you can probably discount that a bit since it’s a brand new facility and there’s a lot of press and those tall flying air-blown tubes in front of the entrance corner on Northfield and Pleasant Valley Way (wonder how much those are costing per day?).
It looks like peak days when all things are going well, the course can handle between 875-975 people a day. About 1,000 rounds of golf at $5 or $7 per person.
Time will tell if the revenue targets will be a hit…or miss.
There are of course, tons of lost opportunities here that one can see immediately — many that are simply low hanging fruit, if someone at the E.C.S.M.R.C. (Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex) paid any attention. Here’s a quick back of the napkin list of ideas that are missing out of the gate:
- If this is truly a part of the Zoo, why isn’t there cross-selling marketing collateral at each venue? Why not a combo ticket? Or a discount offered at the other place with admission receipt?
- Pre-paid multi-ticket booklets for families — or even an unlimited safari pass? The zoo offers an annual membership, the miniGOLF course should too!
- Birthday parties. Book ‘em at $250 a pop.
- Safari gear – every zoo needs a gift shop. You already have the labor, why not install a small gift shop with safari-themed educational toys, games, etc?
- Adopt an endangered safari animal wall – give a chance for kids and families to donate money for a name plate at each of the 19 holes in honor of a given animal in need.
- Corporate sponsored balls. That’s a no-brainer. Sell annual branded sponsorship opportunities on the balls, give them away at the end of the year, and get new sponsors or returning sponsors to buy brand new equipment each year. 6,000+ people could have been handling some company’s logo for 1/2 an hour each already.
- Discounted “2nd chance” rounds. $5 child $7 adults for the first round, let them go around again for $3 each. You already have the customer there, now take more money from them.
- This is a NON-revenue related item, but there should be more “kodak moment” photo opps inside and outside the golf area. For example, that huge elephant is a wasted photo opp far behind the fence. If you designed some of the animals so that the “Safari miniGOLF” logo was in view, the photo opps would turn into free advertising as customers show off their photos to friends and family.
- Add a $1 option for animal conservation at the zoo for each admission. “Would you like to add $1 to your admission today to help care for and save the animals?”
There’s tons more ways to generate extra value and hence extra revenue with this same venue. Just my $0.02.
Tags: essex county, safari minigolf, south mountain recreation complex, turtle back zoo
Posted by admin on Sep 17, 2010 in
New Jersey We took another shot at making the rounds at the new mini-golf safari experience in town today.
Out in the bright lights, it was apparent where (literally) millions of dollars went in terms of building out this miniature golf course. Sound effects. Landscaping. Numerous animals integrated into the course. And that shiny trolley bus sitting out front…
The minigolf safari was at capacity – we waited for one other group ahead of us to begin. After that it took us 35 minutes to make it all the way through. Hopefully it would be at full capacity everytime we (or you) go to play the 18 holes in the wild.
I must say, though there’s a couple of things that came to mind as we worked our way through the entire course today:
- SIMPLE GREENS. While the place is certainly impressive, they could have been a little more creative with the actual playing field. There’s a lot of razzle dazzle surrounding the course, but the actual greens aren’t as imaginative as could be. What do I mean by creative? Check this out:
- SAND. Because it is supposed to be “safari” themed, I guess they chose to put down sand instead of grass or mulch around the course. But this is one of the most impractical things they could have done. Just wait for heavy rains and that sand will be moving around *onto* the actual greens. What’s more, people keep walking right through it and making deep foot prints everywhere. One staff member was assigned to just go around and rake the sand clean — needless to say, she didn’t have a break the entire time we were golfing.
- GARBAGE. They sell concessions at the main hut, $1.50 for a can of soda, $2.75 for a hotdog, etc. But once you enter the course, there’s not a single garbage can. How inconvenient. I was so tempted by hole 12 to just leave my soda can on a bench. But luckily the sand-raking woman was around to take the soda can off my hands.
- REPLAY. On our last vacation, we noticed at the local mini-golf that when you’re done with the last hole, they upsell you with another round for just $2 more. Here, they kick you off the course at the last hole (it’s actually the 19th hole where you loose the ball to the ball collecting grate in the ground). If they’re going to hit the 1/4 million dollar revenue target each year, small upsells like this are important.
- REDIRECT. While this is part of the “South Mountain Recreation Complex” it’s all alone on the outside. How about a 1/2 off admission to the zoo with your golf receipt? Or free skate rentals with skate admission and your golf receipt? There’s no cross sell signage, deals or anything! At the very least, why not promote the other venues and vice versa?
- CONCESSIONS. The concession desk is at the ticket booth. But the seating area and the entrance/exit to the golf course is around the corner. You’re probably more apt to buy the kids some ice cream or other treat at the entrance/exit of the course than you are when you are basically in the parking lot by the ticket booth.
OK, enough brainstorming for now. Take a look at some pictures of the golf course safari in the daylight!
Posted by admin on Sep 17, 2010 in
attractions,
west orange,
zoo It seems like overnight, the overflow unpaved lot at the Codey Arena by South Mountain turned into a new attraction for Essex County residents and beyond. The Turtle Back Zoo now has a Safari addition, complete with a huge elephant and 18 other animals. These animals aren’t moving anytime soon, since they were installed as part of a whopping $4.8 million project to create a safari mini-golf course.
Opening night was a washout with drizzling rain on a Thursday night, but people still came – enough that there were lines for the free mini golf rounds. A band, free hotdogs and soda were also available for the determined miniature golfers.
At $5/child and $7/adult, it will take awhile for Essex County to make their money back — they estimate $250,000 in revenue a year from this venue. The real test will be after this winter season when the Turtle Back Zoo season is back in full swing and the to-be-built restaurant will be up and running (a boat house is coming too apparently).
Essex County has another mini-golf course over by Eagle Rock in Roseland that was recently renovated with fresh carpets too (actually a fun little course to go play for $5/round too), but it is no match for this safari wonderland smack in the middle of New Jersey.
Tags: codey arena, essex county, mini golf, safari, south mountain recreation complex, turtle back zoo, west orange
Posted by admin on Aug 28, 2010 in
New Jersey Jump On In is one of the latest bounce house places for kids that have opened up in the area. Kids love these places and they’re celebrating their anniversary this month too apparently.
The Boonton NJ location is a bit hidden amidst a set of commercial buildings, but it’s relatively close to the exit off Interstate 287. Just take Mrytle north about 1 miles and then it’s a quick left onto Fulton and you’ll veer left into the commercial zone. 85 Fulton St, Boonton NJ.
The facility is not huge, but it’s big enough if your kids are in their sweet spot, which I’d say is between 4 yrs old and 7 or 8 yrs old. There’s basically, two large rooms. If you’re having a birthday, they also have two party rooms. So if you can imagine it, they can run two parties at once, each one taking turns in one of the large bounce rooms and then switching and then party room to end.
Because it’s a relatively new facility, it’s clean and modern. You can take a look at the photos below to see what they have in store for the kids.
They have OPEN JUMPS which are open to the public, $10 per child — which is reasonable for the 1 1/2 hour sessions. Parents don’t pay anything here.
Not much for parents to do there – they do have some chairs on the side of each room for seating. No free wifi available, couldn’t find any open signals at all.
QUESTION: WHAT AGE IS THE UPPER LIMIT FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND THESE JUMPING FACILITIES?
Tags: boonton nj, bounce house, jump facility, jump on in, kids
Posted by admin on Aug 22, 2010 in
morristown,
restaurant This is one of those stories that just get burned into your memory.
One where you wish you never had to tell in the first place.
But it is also one so shocking that I am still, well…in shock.
Take a look at this video I took on the spot and see for yourself. WOW. That’s all I have to say. . .
UPDATE: Actually, I’m not speechless anymore about this experience gone bad at Raul’s Empanadas Town on Morris Street, Morristown NJ. Here’s a link to the Yelp post that shares more of the details.
QUESTION: WHAT’S THE WORST DINING EXPERIENCE YOU’VE EVER HAD?
Tags: morristown, rauls empanadas town, restaurant, review
Posted by admin on Aug 20, 2010 in
07039 Some astronomical number of households in Livingston township subscribe to the West Essex Tribune.
Aside from www.LivingstonNavigator.com, the WE Tribune doesn’t seem that well adapted to the Google world we live in. They do offer some brief highlights from the paper available online at the Navigator site, but that’s about it.
So this is where competition is good for the rest of us. Micro-local websites are creeping in everywhere, and Livingston, NJ isn’t immune to it it seems.
Enter www.LivingstonPatch.com — a micro local news outlet that has steadily been providing coverage of the town’s news, events, and more.
QUESTION: What elements of the West Essex Tribune are keeping you from going digital and getting ALL your local news from LivingstonPatch.com, NJ.com and other websites?
Posted by admin on Jul 26, 2010 in
New Jersey It’s has been scorching HOT around here this summer!
This past weekend, we experienced the hottest day of July so far — almost 100 degrees in many areas.
What are you doing to survive the summer heat this season? It’s the perfect excuse to go to the mall, library, skating rink or the pool.
If you’re a squirrel, you don’t have as many choices. Check out this little fella I found in the neighborhood, trying just to get through the heat wave. . .
QUESTION: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO STAY COOL THIS SUMMER?
Tags: activities, heat wave, summer
Posted by admin on Jul 14, 2010 in
New Jersey,
amc lowes,
amusement park,
borders books,
coupon,
discount,
dunkin donuts,
east hanover,
ice skating,
livingston,
livingston mall,
madison,
modells,
morristown,
movie tickets,
museums,
paramus,
printable coupon,
restaurant,
shoprite,
skiinig,
target,
west caldwell,
west orange If you live in New Jersey, this is an offer that is basically risk-free. The 2010 Entertainment Coupon Book is now being liquidated at crazy prices — the lowest they’ll go this year.
You can buy two Entertainment Books for $5 each with $1 shipping and handling.
And if Shop Rite is your grocery store of choice, you’ll find $5 off coupons at the front of the book, basically making the rest of the book free. Actually, if you get the book in time, you might be able to use a 2nd $5 ShopRite grocery coupon before the expiration date (the coupon valid thru dates are scheduled basically one per quarter throughout the year)
Just think: If you use just one more coupon in the book, you’re ahead of the game.
Some big discounts can be had in the book, such as $15 off Radio Shack or buy one get one ski lift tickets, or $7.50 AMC Lowes movie tickets, etc.
This last-ditch promotional discount is scheduled to end August 2nd, so go ahead and spend that 10 bucks today, you’ll be glad you did after your first couple of discounts.
Tags: discount, entertainment book
