Considering moving to Poconos/DE Watergap Area (Stroudsburg, Matamoras: Home Depot, live)

[glyvere]

Hello,

We're considering relocating to Milford or Stroudsburg/E Stroudsburg. We're in our early 50's, liberal, not overly religious. We're looking for a small town that's close to "civilization" - culture, entertainment, Home Depot, stores, etc.. I hope to open a food service business.

Does anyone have any advice or opinion about this area? Are either of those towns growing? Changing? Dying? What is the political/religious and economic climate?

Your help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

[DavidWebb]

While the type of food service you plan on opening doesn't matter...where you open it does...in the Stroudsburg/E. Stroudsburg area there is no shortage of places to eat...from pizza shops to Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Longhorns, Ruby Tuesdays, Friendly's, and others...in the S'burg/E. S'burg areas where you open makes a difference depending on what you plan to offer...we had a Quiznos go out of business but I'm pretty sure it was due to it's bad location...you could've driven right by the little strip mall where it was located in Bartonsville on Rt. 611 and not notice it...and I don't think it was managed right either...the kids working there didn't seem to care much about their jobs working there and were always either chatting on their cellphones, with friends hanging out in the store, or texting...as for change the area sure has changed since I've been coming up here since 1996...all the above mentioned businesses didn't exist back then and the choices were slim and mostly local mom & pop businesses...we have a Home Depot and a Lowes (which I prefer over Home Depot) on Rt. 611 also...we even had a Starbucks at one time but when the economic downturn came corporate closed it mostly because around here it's hard to justify paying $3 - $6 for a coffee or hot chocolate that tastes the same as the one you can make at home...there are Subways and a Panera also up here...search the forum for "Stroudsburg" or "relocating" and you should get some hits and different opinions about the areas...if you need more information drop a note here or send me a direct message and I'll do my best to help you out...Good Luck!!

[kimwick]

Come to Milford we need restaurants here. Not many to choose from. Homedepot is in Matamoras and so is Lowes.

[ff18wife]

Originally Posted by kimwick

Come to Milford we need restaurants here. Not many to choose from. Homedepot is in Matamoras and so is Lowes.

Ditto what KIMWICK said, try Milford. Very interesting town...lots of gallerys, shops, touristy place. There are also a bunch of eateries but nothing big name like Outback, etc., all local places. A few fast food places out by HD & Lowes... Micky Ds & Wendys. Have to go into Port Jervis for BK though.

[sheena12]

Milford was a conservative stronghold or at least Republican when we looked into it a few years ago.
I found the area to be quaint but a bit inconvenient, with children still at home.
The area is changing and there has been an infux of others in their 40 and 50 as well as younger couples just starting out, I think the political ideology might be turning a bit to the left.

We like to eat out about twice a week, and the dearth of restaurants was one of the reasons that we decided to look elsewhere.

It is a pretty little town. There also does seem to be a Jewish presence in Milford which we liked.

Stroudsburgh is more diverse and it does have plenty of restaurants, but if it's a good restaurant or one that fills a need I am sure you will do well!
I like Stroudsburgh from a tourist's POV.