Maplewood (New Jersey)

Maplewood is a bedroom community of Manhattan located in Essex County. Known for its thriving economy and beautiful small village, this is a place you'll definitely want to stop by if you have the opportunity. Maplewood Village, in the center of town, is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.

There are multiple ways to get to Maplewood.

There are two commercial districts in Maplewood:

• "The Village" is to the immediate north of the railroad station with stores and restaurants along the Maplewood Avenue strip and some side streets.
• Springfield Avenue, a thoroughfare that runs from Springfield, NJ to Newark and includes in the Maplewood section stores and restaurants.

• 🌍 Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave, West Orange, ☏ +1 973-731-5800. (updated Jan 2021)
• Durand-Hedden House and Garden, 523 Ridgewood Rd (in Grasmere Park), ☏ +1 973 7637712, info@durandhedden.org. One Sunday a month, 1PM-4PM. Maplewood's historic house museum. The oldest section was built circa 1777. Monthly programs focus on a variety of topics such as 18th century open-hearth cooking and farming, landscape painting by local artists, Maplewood history, and African American history, including the annual Juneteenth celebration. Visit the website for program information and schedules. Free; donations welcome. (updated Jan 2023)

• Memorial Park, A large park with multiple sports fields, playgrounds, ponds and rivers located just outside of the business district. Many people come to this park on nice days to enjoy the weather, have picnics, walk dogs, etc. The park hosts many different events on days such as the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, etc. Including Maplewoodstock, an annual two-day town event. There is no fee to enter the park.
• 🌍 South Mountain Reservation, West Orange (a short drive from Turtle Back Zoo). A nature reserve managed by Essex County that covers parts of Maplewood, as well as Millburn and West Orange. Trails and paved walking paths cover large areas of the reserve, and sightings of deer, wild turkey, and other wildlife are common. (updated Jan 2021)

Maplewood Village has a no-franchise ordinance.

Maplewood is known for its many small boutiques, especially in Maplewood Village, along Maplewood Avenue. These stores are unique to the town and sell merchandise that usually cannot be purchased in malls. Sweatshirts, t-shirts, shorts etc., can be purchased at the train station, 145 Dunnell Rd. and at No. 165, a local shop in the Village.

Branching off from Maplewood Ave. are many quaint shops, such as:

• Perch Home, 9 Highland Place. Which sells interesting household items as well as jewelry, kitchenware and art. 
• Hopscotch, a great clothing store for gifts for children from infants to elementary schoolers. Stop by for some great stuff, plus some toys for children to play with while you're there!
• No. 165, 165 Maplewood Ave. With cool wares including clothes, jams, chocolates and glassware. 

• The Village Trattoria, 2 Inwood Place. This is a local family run Italian restaurant. The restaurant features a wide selection of pizzas as well as having a sit down dining area. Prices range from $2 for a slice of pizza, to $19.95 for seafood specials. The service is fast and friendly. Located in the heart of Maplewood Village, with both indoor and outdoor seating. 
• Coda, 177 Maplewood Ave., offering a wide variety of excellent foods.
• Lorena's, 168 Maplewood Ave. A Zagat rated French restaurant. Must have a reservation (make a few weeks in advance). Prices range from $11.00-$48.00. Indoor and outdoor seating available. 

• St. James Gate, 167 Maplewood Ave. A local "Publick House" located in the business district in Maplewood. "The Gate" serves lunch and dinner and at night the bar life begins. A wide variety of beers and wines are available. "The Gate" has a laid back atmosphere with live music and entertains all age groups, as well as great food for everybody. 
• Highland Place, 5 Highland Place. Fun atmosphere for a night on the town with your friends. More of an adult-oriented place, live music is scheduled many nights. Be sure to check ahead to reserve a night for music! 

• New York City, a thirty-minute drive or train ride away
• Short Hills, a five-minute drive, home of the Short Hills Mall
• Newark, a twenty-minute drive or train ride, is home to many different restaurants, especially in the Ironbound section, which are well known in the area
• Sandy Hook, a thirty-minute drive or train ride, is the closest “Jersey Shore” beach to Maplewood