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Contact:
Beth Anne Macdonald, 908.541.1600
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Vince Baglivo, 201.410.3758
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New and Expanding Businesses Contribute to
Downtown Somerville’s Dynamic Shopping Scene
SOMERVILLE, N.J., December 1, 2015 – Brittany Burton and Cathie Golden, the
mother/daughter team behind Revive in downtown Somerville has created a new word to
describe their fashion niche – “glamtique.” The combination of glamorous and antique is an apt
description for their unique business – combining consignment and new clothing, plus the work
of local artisans – as well as the evolving local retail scene in Somerville.
Revive was one of three local businesses, along with From the Hive and Retro Classics,
celebrating their recent grand openings and expansions with ribbon cutting ceremonies that
attracted friends, family and customers, in addition to Somerville’s Mayor, several council
members and representatives of the Downtown Somerville Alliance (DSA).
Mayor Brian Gallagher thanked all of the business owners for choosing Somerville, noting,
“There’s a new breed of business owners who are helping to redefine our downtown with
exciting new products and services that are drawing people from throughout the region. They
are young and looking to make their mark, and the way they conduct business, emphasizing
collaboration and cooperation with their fellow business owners and merchants, brings new
ideas and energy that make Somerville central New Jersey’s destination of choice.”
Revive, 30 S. Doughty Street
Brittany Burton has a degree from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology and a designer’s
savvy when it comes to the fashion finds she handpicks to buy and sell at Revive. She even
purchased her wedding dress at a consignment store! Her mother, Cathie Golden, brings years
of experience as a top marketing executive to the business that also sells trendy and popular
designer brand name women's clothing, as well as jewelry, shoes, handbags, home décor and
shabby chic furniture.
Revive also features unique items from local artists, including longtime Somerville resident and
neighbor Damon A. Schenck and South Plainfield’s Aaron Leszczynski. The local connection
extends to the stylish makeover of Revive’s retail space by Joseph Lammi Restorations of
Piscataway.
Somerville Councilman and DSA board member Steve Peter noted with surprise the
sophistication and size of Revive’s boutique setting, adding “the space is distinctive and a
welcome addition to the downtown shopping scene.”
“Fashion is our passion and we give the utmost service and fashion advice to each client,”
Burton stated. “We cater to all woman and all sizes. Whether shopping at Revive or consigning,
we ensure you'll have the perfect experience; the fashion you want with a guilt free price tag.”
New and Expanding Businesses Contribute to
Downtown Somerville’s Dynamic Shopping Scene
December 1, 2015
Page Two of Three
“We did a lot of research and looked at a number of potential locations for Revive before
deciding on downtown Somerville,” Golden concluded. “Somerville was by far the best choice;
the support of the town, the DSA and other business owners was unmatched.”
From the Hive, 4 Division Street
Carey Marago, the owner of From the Hive, started as a beekeeper, with hives in her backyard
in Raritan Borough. She loved the idea of building a business based on honey and handmade
beeswax products. She did extensive research, educated herself about the niche and decided
that downtown Somerville, and specifically the Division Street Plaza, was the perfect place to
set up shop.
Marago looked at the space on Division Street four years ago, but decided in 2015 the time was
right to go for it. In addition to the honey she produces herself, From the Hive also offers honey
from different locations around the country, providing a variety of flavors, as well as handcrafted,
all-natural products made from beeswax including candles, soap, flavored honey sticks, hand
and body lotion bars, boo-boo cream and custom gift baskets.
“Years ago, honey was an integral part of everyday life,” Marago noted. “People need to
understand the vitally important role of bees in nature; my goal is to educate people and to help
other beekeepers get started by sharing information and resources including hosting classes for
kids and adults.”
Retro Classics, 5 Division Street
Dylan Bobeck is a video game enthusiast from South Amboy, who traveled to Somerville with
his aunts, Laura Smith of North Brunswick and Roz Smith of Delray Beach, Florida, to check out
the wide array of vintage games and systems at Retro Classics. The Smiths noticed the store
while visiting downtown Somerville for antique shopping, and knew Bobeck would be impressed.
“This store has great stuff, with lots of games and systems not available near where I live,”
according to Bobeck.
That’s music to the ears of Retro Classics owner, Paul Snearowski, who in less than a year
needed to relocate to its new and larger space on Division Street to accommodate the demand
from people of all ages and backgrounds eager to buy, sell and trade vintage video games of all
eras.
Posters on Retro Classics’ Facebook page used words like friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and
fair to describe the store’s owner and staff, also highlighting the extensive selection.
“Many people want to share the games they grew up with and loved with their children, other
family members and friends,” Snearowski added. “That nostalgia, and the interest of younger
video game players in games and systems from the past, is the driving force behind the growth
and expansion of Retro Classics.”
New and Expanding Businesses Contribute to
Downtown Somerville’s Dynamic Shopping Scene
December 1, 2015
Page Three of Three
“The partnership between the business community, the town and the DSA is helping individual
stores and our downtown district continue to grow and thrive,” concluded Councilman Jason
Kraska. “By working together, we are promoting a collaborative and supportive environment that
is attracting new businesses, new customers and new investment that’s good for all of
Somerville’s stakeholders.”
For up-to-date directories of businesses and restaurants in Somerville, or more information
about programs and services provided by the Downtown Somerville Alliance, visit
downtownsomerville.com, or follow news from Somerville on social media at
Facebook.com/DowntownSomervilleAlliance and Instagram.com/DowntownSomerville.
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Photo caption: (left to right) Participating in the recent grand opening of Revive in Somerville were
Councilman Steve Peter, DSA Executive Director Beth Anne Macdonald, Councilman Jason Kraska,
Mayor Brian Gallagher, owners Cathie Golden and Brittany Burton and DSA Chairman Tom Genova.