Welcome to the forums Tom. I , too, am from NJ and i have not found any store that would fit the bill for you. Snake pretty much gave you most of the advice I would have. The classifieds has many reputable members that sell shave ready razors at reasonable prices. That maybe your best bet before you invest in a higher priced razor. Get comfortable with an entry level straight and then you will have a clearer view of what you may like. We all start out this way and then jump all over the place in terms of sizes and grinds of blades before we settle into a comfort zone.
Good Luck!