The downtown Millburn business district could soon offer guided food tours featuring local restaurants like Fiamma, Saigon Cafe and Casa das Natas.

The Explore Millburn Short Hills Business Improvement District board is set to hear a proposal Thursday, Sept. 17, from Max Gray, founder and self-styled "Eater-In-Chief" of Chow Town Food Tours, at its 6:30 p.m. meeting. Gray's company already runs walking tours in Montclair, South Orange, Madison and Morristown. He has told NJ Monthly that North Jersey's suburban restaurant scene deserves more recognition.

According to the meeting agenda, the proposed Millburn tour would run 2.5 to 3.5 hours on Saturdays or Sundays, with up to five stops and a maximum of 22 guests per tour. A sample itinerary lists Fiamma, Saigon Cafe, Casa das Natas, Shala Boutique and I-Scream.

The base ticket price is $90 per person. Under the proposal, the BID could subsidize tickets by 20% to 30%, bringing the cost down to between $63 and $72 per person. Chow Town would handle planning, registration and food costs, while the BID would promote the tours and provide the discount code. A potential first tour date of Nov. 15 is listed in the proposal.

Millburn Avenue parking update

The board is also expected to receive an update on Millburn Avenue construction. After a reverse-angle parking pilot, Millburn Township said in an Aug. 10 post that the stretch between Lackawanna Place and Holmes Street will return to parallel parking permanently. The roadway will narrow to two lanes, with parking shifted to the former third lane.

Temporary paint and flexible posts will go in first to help drivers adjust before sidewalks are widened at the bumpouts (curb extensions), according to BID minutes from a June 25 meeting.

Paper Mill grant and budget

Paper Mill Playhouse is asking the BID for $1,875 toward a $15,000 marketing push for the renovated F.M. Kirby Carriage House. The initiative, funded through a New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism cooperative grant, requires a 25% match. The Blanch and Irving Lori Foundation is covering the remaining $1,875 of that match. Katie O'Keefe of Paper Mill Playhouse presented the request at the BID's June 25 meeting, and the board is scheduled to take it up again Thursday.

The board will also discuss the 2027 budget. A financial snapshot as of Aug. 31 shows the BID's bank balance at $214,510. The district collected $292,491 in special assessments against a $253,834 budget, or about 115% of its target.

New businesses on the way

The agenda's economic vitality report lists several openings: Tazza Coffee Roasters is coming to 353 Millburn Ave. in November, Cana Mediterranean held a soft opening at 41 Main St., and Dilli Dilli had its grand opening at 27 Main St.

The next BID board meeting is the annual meeting on Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m.