At MK Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, Dr. Mark Khaimov provides cutting-edge periodontal care in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Specializing in dental implants, gum health, and jaw support, Dr. Khaimov uses advanced treatments like Teeth-in-a-Day (All-on-4 ®), Pinhole Surgical Technique, Laser Gum Therapy (LANAP ®), and Piezosurgery to address everything from early gum disease to complex tooth loss. Conveniently located in Nutley and Florham Park, we proudly serve Essex and Morris County, offering personalized care with respect and compassion. Discover the difference expert periodontal care can make for your smile. Our Mission & Promise to Patients: “From dental implants and cosmetics to gum disease, our mission is to rejuvenate our patients’ smiles making sure that they return to the quality of life that they deserve.” - Dr. Mark Khaimov.
Welcome Fall!
With the changing seasons comes a change in what we are craving, and with fall that often means comfort food. October is our most delectable issue of the year, filled with some of our favorite dishes and beverages around town. We had the pleasure of sitting down with some of our favorite local restaurants and learned about their fall menus—so get your tastebuds ready, you are in for a treat.
October to me brings the warm seasonal scents of fall and with that, memories to my mind of sitting in my mom’s kitchen, and the aroma of cinnamon, apple, pumpkin, and soups of any kind brings me right back to her table. Today, one of my favorite fall activities with the kids is going to our local farms for freshly made apple pies from their orchards! What are some of yours?
There is an art to creating a flavorful dish that not only satisfies our taste buds but evokes memories. The aroma of certain spices and foods can bring us right back to our childhood, which can be incredibly powerful and comforting. Food brings us all together, and whether we are sharing a meal with loved ones or enjoying a night out on the town, the time spent while enjoying food is invaluable.
We encourage you to try the places we have featured in our October issue and build new memories of your own enjoying our “Local Culinary Creations”!
If you have interesting, fun, and meaningful stories to share or are a business looking to grow within the ten communities we serve, we would love to hear from you. Email John.Meyer@citylifestyle.com for advertising opportunities or Ana. Meyer@citylifestyle.com for editorials or just call us at 973-944-1440.
Chris Jorda Photography, Aaron Andrews, Anthony Bianciella, Zoom Imageworks
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Rachel Otto
LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick
inside the issue
EXCEPTIONAL
DENTISTRY BY SPECIALIZED DENTISTS
Dr. Azizian, DDS & Dr. Sallustio, DDS
Dr. Sallustio and Dr. Azizian practice a full scope of prosthetic and cosmetic dentistry. With a focus on implants, crowns, bridges, Kor whitening, Botox and porcelain veneers, Dr. Sallustio and Azizian help patients regain confidence in their smile. The doctors also provide life changing treatments includng same day All-on-4 implants and bridges, prosthetics for oral cancer, trauma and congenital defects including cleft lip and palate. Consider a consultation with Drs. Sallustio and Azizian to analyze your smile.
Where Beautiful Hair Is
Just the Beginning
Step into GLAZE Salon and experience beauty that goes beyond the mirror. We’re proud to spotlight a few of our in-house team members with over 20 years of industry expertise. Whether you’re seeking a transformative haircut, flawless makeup, dimensional color, extensions, or a full glam moment, our stylist’s artistry and intuitive touch make every visit unforgettable.
Relax in our chic lounge with a coffee, explore our curated boutique, and indulge in our full menu of services— from Brazilian blowouts and lashes to nails and gift-worthy finds. At GLAZE, it’s not just about looking beautiful—it’s about feeling it, too. Book your appointment today and let us elevate your everyday!
GLAZE Salon, the full-service beauty salon located at 7 Townsquare, has expanded its retail product offerings with Kérastase, a French luxury professional hair and scalp care line. The products available through GLAZE will include a variety of curl care and hair repair products. The new Kérastase products join GLAZE’S robust existing hair care brands, including Olaplex, Zen Beauty and Oribe products. Visit Glazesalon.com.
Style Flows: Summit’s Kohler Store
Showcasing Kohler’s Best With Expert Service, Endless Choices, and a Warm Community Welcome
In the heart of Summit’s vibrant downtown, the Kohler® Signature Store by General Plumbing Supply (GPS) has quickly become a destination for homeowners, designers, and builders seeking the best in kitchen and bath design.
Now celebrating its first anniversary this year, the 5,000-square-foot showroom has drawn praise for its stunning displays, extensive product range, and welcoming community spirit.
“Our store has been very successful in our first year,” says store manager Judy Rogoff. “The local community has been warm and inviting, and we’ve been thrilled to become part of these design-focused neighborhoods.”
A HAVEN FOR DESIGNERS AND HOMEOWNERS
GPS president Justin Freedman notes that the choice of Summit was intentional. “Kohler is one of our strongest relationships and vendors and we felt the Summit downtown district has really created this kind of haven for designers, design retailers and home furnishings stores,” says GPS president, Justin Freedman. “We’re excited to be part of that community.”
The store is a one-stop resource, not only showcasing Kohler but also its entire family of brands, including Kallista®, Robern®, Ann Sacks®, and the popular Shea McGee collection, Studio McGee. From fixtures and vanities to lighting, countertops, and
ARTICLE BY LUCINDA JAMISON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS JORDA PHOTOGRAPHY
tile, customers can explore every finish, style, and design trend in one place.
“Shea McGee really knocked it out of the park with her faucet and hardware designs,” Freedman adds. “Her collection has tremendous appeal, and people are excited to see it here.”
INNOVATION MEETS EVERYDAY LIVING
The Summit showroom makes it easy to stay current with the latest innovations. “We have new plumbing fixtures and lighting on display all the time,” Rogoff explains. Among the standouts is Kohler’s Statement™ & Anthem™ showering system, which lets users personalize temperature and water pressure through both traditional and digital controls.
Smart toilets are another favorite, offering homeowners the option to integrate as much or as little technology as they’d like. “When it comes to a primary bathroom, it’s become a type of retreat
The exterior of the Summit Kohler store.
for people,” Freedman observes. “It’s a place where they can go and relax.”
Another exciting feature is the ability to coordinate finishes across product lines, allowing homeowners to match light fixtures with plumbing fixtures for a cohesive look throughout their spaces.
TRUSTED EXPERTISE AND RELIABLE SERVICE
Behind the beautiful showroom lies the strength of General Plumbing Supply’s century-old reputation. Founded in 1910, GPS is a fourth-generation, family-owned business with 24 locations across the region. The company is one of Kohler’s top distributors nationwide, maintaining over $25 million in Kohler inventory at any given time .
“The majority of our products can be shipped within the week, if not the
next day,” Freedman explains. “That’s one of the great benefits of working with us. We have a fleet of more than 100 trucks on the road every day.”
GPS’s knowledgeable staff—many with years of industry experience—guide homeowners and design professionals alike through product options and installation considerations, ensuring every project runs smoothly.
CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY
The Summit location also hosts quarterly events, drawing local designers, homeowners, and realtors eager to keep up with the latest trends. These gatherings highlight the store’s role not just as a showroom, but as a hub for creativity and connection in the downtown community.
For anyone planning a renovation—or simply seeking inspiration—the Kohler Signature Store by GPS offers the perfect combination of innovation, selection, and service. Additional Signature Store locations can be found in Paramus, Eatontown, and Manhasset, Long Island.
Visit KOHLERbyGPS.com/summit or follow along on Instagram for updates on products and events.
Justin Freedman inside the Kohler store in Summit
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Brands
ARTICLE BY BRIAN BOYER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS JORDA PHOTOGRAPHY
Reinventing Snacking with Taste, Trust and Tenacity
Jason Cohen has never been afraid to hustle. A lifelong New Jersey resident, he was the kid selling baseball cards to buy a bike, working odd jobs to afford skis, or screen-printing T-shirts at the University of Maryland to earn beer money.
“I’ve always been entrepreneurial,” he says with a laugh. “I always figured out how to create opportunities for myself.”
That grit, combined with a relentless focus on relationships, has defined Cohen’s journey from selling life insurance after college to building multibillion dollar snack brands. Along the way, he learned one truth that guides everything he does: “Consumers will only buy it once if it doesn’t taste good.” 7 Mile
Today, as Co-Founder and CEO of 7 Mile Brands, Cohen is channeling decades of experience into creating the next generation of better-foryou snacks. “Taste and quality have to come first,” he emphasizes. “You can call something healthy, you can market it as trendy, but if it doesn’t taste great, you’ve lost the consumer forever.”
BUILDING ON A LEGACY OF SNACK INNOVATION
Cohen’s path to 7 Mile Brands reads like a crash course in consumer-packaged goods innovation. In his twenties, he launched Mamma Says Biscotti, a cookie brand that caught the attention of hotels, celebrities and eventually Starbucks and Costco. Later, he introduced American consumers to Veggie Straws — a $100 million brand that became a staple at birthday parties and in lunch boxes. He was also an early backer of SkinnyPop, one of the fastest growing healthy popcorn brands.
He went on to co-found Halen Brands, an incubator that helped launch and scale some of the most successful natural food startups of the last decade, including From the Ground Up™ (cauliflower-based snacks) and OWYN™ (plant-based protein shakes). He built a reputation as a coach, connector, and fixer — someone who could see opportunities others missed.
“My career has always been about relationships,” Cohen reflects. “When you become more valuable than the product you’re selling — when you’re the person who connects people and solves problems — that’s when you really succeed.”
PARTNERING WITH SAMMY KESTENBAUM
The next chapter of that success is 7 Mile Brands, co-founded with longtime friend and industry veteran Sammy Kestenbaum. They first met in 2010 at Hain Celestial Group, the natural foods powerhouse. Cohen had just sold Veggie Straws to the company; Kestenbaum would eventually succeed him in leading the brand’s growth. Kestenbaum went on to become the founder and CEO of Mrs. Thinsters™ and Parm Crisps®, two innovative snack companies he later sold back to Hain Celestial. Along the way, he developed deep expertise in brand-building, retail strategy and operations. CONTINUED >
“TASTE
AND
QUALITY
HAVE TO COME FIRST. YOU CAN CALL SOMETHING HEALTHY, YOU CAN MARKET IT AS TRENDY, BUT IF IT DOESN’T TASTE GREAT, YOU’VE LOST THE CONSUMER FOREVER.”
Their friendship extended beyond the boardroom. Both lifelong pretzel lovers, they often vacationed together with their families on Seven Mile Beach in the Cayman Islands. “That’s where we decided to formally partner and create what we call the ‘pretzelution,’” Cohen says. “We both saw an opportunity to reinvent pretzels in a way that delivers better ingredients, amazing texture and a real taste payoff.”
The Pretzelized brand is only 18 months old and can found in over 15,000 retailers across the country, including Wegmans, Shoprite, Uncle Giuseppe’s, Whole Foods and in January Stop & Shop.
THE PRETZELUTION AND BEYOND
At 7 Mile Brands, Cohen and Kestenbaum focus on bringing real innovation to a snack aisle. Their flagship products put a fresh spin on classic pretzels — transforming them into crackers and chips that deliver the crunch and saltiness people crave, without compromising on clean ingredients or taste.
“Pretzels are a comfort snack, but we asked ourselves: how do we make them exciting again?” Cohen says. “We wanted to create something familiar, but better — the world’s first pretzel crackers, healthier options that people can feel good about indulging in.”
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with major retailers from ShopRite to Whole Foods stocking the products nationwide. For Cohen, seeing 7 Mile Brands on shelves is more than a business milestone.
“It’s humbling. To know that something we created from scratch is being enjoyed by families across the country — that never gets old.”
While building snack brands has made Cohen a recognized name in consumer goods, his sense of purpose extends beyond business. He serves on the
Board of Trustees for the University of Maryland and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Clinic, and in 2019, his family trust established a grant for the University of Miami Concussion Center.
“Giving back is part of the responsibility that comes with success.”
LOOKING AHEAD
For Cohen and Kestenbaum, 7 Mile Brands is more than another startup — it’s the culmination of decades of experience, friendship and a shared belief that snacks should be both better-for-you and undeniably delicious.
“Everything we do comes back to taste,” Cohen says. “Because if it doesn’t taste good, nothing else matters.”
LA PERGOLA AT FIFTEEN
WHERE MILLBURN GOES TO CELEBRATE LIFE
ARTICLE BY ANA MEYER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTHONY BIANCIELLA, ZOOM IMAGEWORKS
If you’ve ever driven down Millburn Avenue and caught a glimpse of the glow from La Pergola’s floor-to-ceiling arched windows, you’ve probably wondered what magic was happening inside. The sound of laughter, the sight of wine glasses catching the light, plates of beautiful pasta being whisked from table to table — it’s the kind of scene that makes you want to park the car and pull up a chair.
For the past 15 years, La Pergola has been more than just a restaurant. It’s a place where the food is as authentic as the welcome, and where celebrations — big and small — are served with a side of warmth and charm.
“When we opened La Pergola, our dream was simple: to bring the warmth, flavors, and traditions of Northern Italy to Millburn,” says co-owner and executive chef, Driola Kaloshi. “Food is like a poem to me. Every chef has a story. It comes from the heart.”
A FLAVORFUL LABOR OF LOVE
Every day starts with Agron, Driola’s husband and co-owner, checking deliveries like a conductor tuning an orchestra before a performance. “The best meals start with the best ingredients,” he says. From locally grown produce to premium meats and seafood, nothing makes it onto a plate without his approval.
And those plates? They’re the kind of dishes you remember long after the last bite. Think house-made tagliatelle al tartufo with seasonal shaved truffles and Parmigiano-Reggiano, risotto with meltingly tender osso buco, or figs stuffed with gorgonzola and walnuts in the fall. There’s always something new to tempt you — squash-filled ravioli, braised wild boar with pappardelle, or delicate stuffed quail — alongside year-round favorites like Pan-Seared Tuna with cherry tomatoes, roasted corn, and arugula.
“All of our pastas, gnocchi, and desserts are made from scratch,” says Driola. “We put the best ingredients into every dish.”
GARDEN DINING MAGIC
While the cozy dining room glows year-round, there’s something almost cinematic about eating in La Pergola’s garden. Strings of lights twinkle over tables surrounded by flowers and greenery. “It’s peaceful, romantic, and a little magical,” says Driola. “The garden feels like an escape — perfect before a show
“Every chef has a story. It comes from the heart.”
at the Paper Mill Playhouse or for a long, lingering dinner under the stars.”
It’s also a favorite for celebrations. Engagements, anniversaries, milestone birthdays, even weddings are toasted under those lights. Driola makes sure each one feels personal, from arranging flowers and candles to designing custom menus that suit everyone at the table — including kids and those with special dietary needs.
BYOB: BRING YOUR OWN BOTTLE, BRING YOUR OWN STORY
La Pergola’s BYOB policy is more than a perk; it’s part of the experience. Guests bring bottles that mean something — a wine from a honeymoon in Italy, champagne to mark a promotion, a special reserve saved for an anniversary. “Our service is like a family table,” Driola says. “People take their time here. They talk, they laugh, they connect. That’s the real heart of La Pergola.”
A COMMUNITY OF MEMORIES
Ask any regular and they’ll tell you — the Kaloshis don’t just serve food, they become part of your story. One longtime patron, a senior with dietary restrictions, had lunch and dinner delivered from La Pergola every day for eight years. Others have celebrated nearly every life milestone here. Many birthdays, anniversaries, engagement parties, wedding rehearsals and entire weddings, baby and bridal showers, graduations, religious occasions, and other events have been celebrated at the restaurant. “The most surprising thing over the years is how much our guests have become like family,” Driola reflects. “The joy is in the connections.”
THE NEXT CHAPTER
Whether you’re headed to the theater, toasting an anniversary, or simply craving pasta that tastes like it came from your personal chef, bring your favorite bottle and pull up a chair. After 15 years, La Pergola isn’t just a restaurant — it’s Millburn’s table for life’s best moments.
LaPergolaNJ.com
Surprise Your Loved Ones With Relaxation
NOURISHING EVERY MOMENT WITH FLAVOR, FRESHNESS AND COMMUNITY
Chatham’s Toastique
ARTICLE BY BRIAN BOYER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS JORDA PHOTOGRAPHY
It’s about fueling people with food that’s good for them, without ever sacrificing taste.
When Michele Wardius was searching for a fitness franchise to complement her healthy lifestyle, she stumbled upon Toastique — a fast-growing gourmet toast and juice café brand that perfectly blended her love of wellness, flavor and community. Two years later, Toastique in Chatham has become a go-to destination for busy professionals, families and health-conscious residents who want food that is both nourishing and convenient.
“I’ve always believed in living a healthy lifestyle — my daughters both played Division I tennis, and we were constantly on the go,” she says. “When I discovered Toastique, it just fit our lives perfectly. It’s about fueling people with food that’s good for them, without ever sacrificing taste.”
HEALTHY FOOD FOR BUSY LIVES
At the Chatham café, the franchise promise of healthy food for your busy life is front and center in menu items like avocado toast topped with vibrant garnishes, cold-pressed juices packed with nutrients, or wellness shots designed to give an instant boost.
“Consumers will only buy it once if it doesn’t taste good,” Michele emphasizes. “That’s why taste and quality matter so much to us. We don’t add sugar to anything — the sweetness comes naturally from fresh fruit. We even make our own granola bars in-house with honey and dark chocolate, and we offer gluten-free and nut-free options to make sure everyone feels welcome.”
Customer convenience is key. Guests can order ahead on Toastique’s app, or through delivery platforms. Catering is an important part of the Chatham business.
A BRAND THAT FITS A LIFESTYLE
Michele, who runs the café with her daughter, Macey, says her path to franchising Toastique is a story of timing and vision.
“When I first discovered Toastique, the brand had only eight or ten locations. Now there are over 50, and it’s growing fast. But what drew me in was how it aligned with our family’s lifestyle. It’s not just about food — it’s about encouraging people to make healthier choices and creating a space where they want to spend time.”
The interior of Toastique Chatham reflects that vision, with a warm, modern design that feels both inviting and energizing.
CONSISTENCY ACROSS A GROWING BRAND
As Toastique expands nationwide, maintaining consistency across locations has been essential. Wardius says the brand has invested in strong systems to ensure positive guest experiences.
“There’s a look in mind and a build-out phase that makes sure every Toastique has that recognizable feel,” Michele explains. “The menus are consistent, and the corporate team is supportive — they have a large employee base that really ensures brand standards are met. That gives me peace of mind as a franchise owner and lets me focus on my customers.”
COMMUNITY AT THE CORE
For Michele and her team, success is measured not only in sales, but in the relationships they build.
“We’re lucky to have such an amazing team,” she says. The feedback we hear from customers about their friendliness and care means the world.
Community engagement is also part of the Toastique DNA in Chatham. The café frequently donates catering trays and gift cards for local events and fundraisers. “A lot of our customers are deeply involved in the community, so it’s important that we support those efforts,” Wardius says.
Wardius hopes to continue building Toastique’s presence in Chatham by growing its catering
business, rewarding loyal customers through its app and rewards program and deepening connections with the local community.
“At the end of the day, we want to create an experience where people feel good about what they’re eating, they feel welcomed and they leave wanting to come back,” Wardius reflects. “That’s what Toastique is all about — nourishing every moment, one bite at a time.”
