10/21/2026
EJ Gare Garage: Nate Sustick shares his eloquent appeal for the urgency of addressing the rapidly approaching demise. I want to thank him and all residents and business owners who have expressed their enormous concerns about what next:
______________________________________________________
What Does It Mean to Be a Regular?
On December 5, 1978, my parents, Paul and Elizabeth Sustick, opened their business in Thornes Marketplace. Never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined that, in 2026, we would still be a family-run business, thriving nearly five decades later.
But that success has never belonged to them, or to me, alone. It has been the result of a dedicated team and an incredibly supportive community.
We’ve weathered economic booms and recessions, health challenges, retirements, and a pandemic. All the while, Northampton has continued to change, reinvent itself, and search for its next chapter. And today, all of this is unfolding against the backdrop of an increasingly unsettled
national environment.
So, what do we search for in times like these? Familiarity. Consistency. Predictability.
One of the greatest compliments I receive from our customers is that the quality and experience remain the same, whether they visited today, last week, or five years ago. That consistency
doesn’t happen by accident. It takes tremendous effort, from top to bottom, every single day.
Our regulars come for more than a meal. They come to connect, to talk, to feel welcomed, and to enjoy a place that feels as comfortable as sitting around their own dining room table. Over the years, we’ve become part of people’s routines, their celebrations, their conversations, and their lives.
And for many of those customers, access to the EJ Gare parking garage is an essential part of that experience.
Without the garage, the number of visits to downtown Northampton & Thornes Marketplace would undeniably decline. For us, and for so many small businesses, a 5–10% reduction in
business would be devastating. These aren’t just percentages on a spreadsheet. They represent fewer customers, fewer hours for employees, tighter margins, and potentially the loss
of businesses that have helped define this community for generations.
Reports, analytics, and consultants can provide numbers on paper. They can be useful, but they don’t always capture the human element — the emotions, habits, relationships, and everyday realities that make a community work.
I spend six days a week, often 70 hours, on the ground. I listen. I observe. I talk with our customers and our team. I see firsthand what brings people through our doors and what makes it harder for them to come back.
Perhaps that gives me my own “bubble.” But it is a perspective shaped by decades of experience, daily conversations, and a lifetime invested in this community.
And the message I continue to hear is clear:
The EJ Gare parking garage is not simply a place to park. It is part of the infrastructure that allows people to participate in the life of downtown Northampton.
Being a regular means having a place where you’re recognized, welcomed, and connected. It means knowing that some things can remain dependable even as the world around you
changes.
For nearly 48 years, our family business has been fortunate enough to be that place for so many people.
We want to keep being that place.
But to do that, our customers need to be able to reach us.
A garage is not a luxury for a thriving downtown. It is a necessity.
Nate Sustick / Co-owner Paul & Elizabeth's Restaurant
