Mara’s Café & Bakery, a casual, family-friendly café offering pastry, gelato, sandwiches, salads and more, has opened at The Gateway in downtown South Orange.
Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and anything in between, Mara’s has everything from omelettes and French toast to burgers and paninis.
Dessert includes a wide array of items including cheesecake, gelato, cupcakes, cookies and more. The coffee is freshly roasted. Desserts are sold by the individual piece and whole cakes and pies are also available.
See the menu online. Take-out is available. Visit their Facebook page for updates.
On Saturday morning, the cafe tables inside the stylish, spacious interior as well as outside on the patio were filled with couples, groups and families. The patio, and indoor counter seating facing South Orange Avenue, are great spots for watching the crowds go by.
Mara’s is still in a “soft opening,” and all food is made fresh to order, so be prepared for a wait as they work out kinks in the service. The staff all are extremely friendly and the space is very comfortable, so it’s a pleasant wait.
Will and Alyse Eisenstein are the franchise owners. “We are pleased to have the Eisensteins on our team,” said Ian Magley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mara’s Franchise Systems, LLC in a press release. “Their small business and customer service experiences make them motivated franchisees to Make Every Day Delicious at Mara’s Café & Bakery in South Orange.”
“We are so excited to become a part of the Mara’s family after being customers for more than 20 years,” said Will. “Mara’s brand represents great award-winning products served in a comfortable environment.”
Here’s more about Mara’s from the release:
Mara’s was established in 1984 when Mara and Glenn Magley created a line of desserts and coffee products. In 2004 Mara’s Café & Bakery in Denville was opened and the product lines expanded to include soups, sandwiches, salads, quiches and handcrafted gelato. The menu has grown to include seasonal specials and freshly roasted coffee beans.
Mara’s Café & Bakery has been recognized regionally and in New Jersey as the Best Coffeehouse, and has won numerous awards for its cheesecake, gelato, cupcakes, cannoli, sandwiches and more.
“For over a quarter century, our motto has been to offer a customer experience we would expect for ourselves. We look forward to expanding our customer base in the South Orange area,” said Mara Magley, Co-Founder and Vice President, Franchisee Support.
Mara’s Cafe & Bakery, 9 West South Orange Avenue, South Orange, 973.762.8100. Hours: Monday-Thursday 6:30am-10pm; Friday-6:30am-12am; Saturday 7am-12am; Sunday 7am-10pm.
