TOWN SPOTLIGHT
Discover Downtown Metuchen BY ERIN McFEETERS
T
he tree-lined streets, charming homes, and countless small businesses welcome you into the Borough of Metuchen, and as soon as you take the exit, the hustle and bustle of the New Jersey Turnpike dies down almost instantly. This community is known for its small business commercial growth, community pride, easy access to major transit, and more. “Metuchen is a small tightly-knit walkable community, with access to transit and neighborliness that is hard to find elsewhere,” said Isaac Kremer, Executive Director of the Metuchen Downtown Alliance. The alliance is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization whose goal is to manage and revitalize the business district of Metuchen. Since the late 1800s, after the New Jersey Railroad finished the tracks to New Brunswick, Metuchen has been known as a commuter town with strong commercial ties. Those doing business in New York City sought after Metuchen in the late 19th century and began to build homes during this era—many historic homes around town are from this period. Even though it became a commuter hotspot, Metuchen was not an independent borough until 1900. 14 | NEW JERSEY REALTOR® | March/April 2022
“We’re a community of volunteers where people give generously of their time and talent on projects of importance to them and the community,” said Kremer. “Other communities look to Metuchen as a standard for innovative thinking in planning and design, supporting small businesses, and creating a vibrant community that includes everyone.”
