Olive Garden to Replace Jersey Freeze in Freehold?

[RGR]

Acc. to the local rag, aka "News Transcript":

"On Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Borough Hall, the Freehold Borough Zoning Board of Adjustment is scheduled to hear an application filed by Chesapeake Companies Diversified Group LLC, of Minnesota, seeking a use variance to build an Olive Garden Italian restaurant on the property where Jersey Freeze now sits."

Link to the article: http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news...

[gudeatz]

3/31/09 Ledger...Taystee Freeze to stay for at least one more year...

[JessKidden]

Where's there a "Taystee Freeze" in NJ? (A seach at the Star-Ledger site didn't turn up any articles).

[mbw1024]

Tastee Freeze is on Rt 33 East - not sure which town. If you were going West you would make the U turn at Lobster Shanty and take Rt 33 East for about a 1/4 mile. They are actually opening another location further East on 33 - across from the Knob Hill entrance.

[mbw1024]

Sorry - got my names mixed up. It's Creamee Freeze on Rt 33 East

[mbw1024]

here's some info about Jersey Freeze.
http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news...

[jfedorko]

An article in today's (03/30/09) AP Press states "Olive Garden just elected not to proceed."

Here's the link: http://www.app.com/article/20090330/N...

[Tapas52]

Thats great news!.......so now my fantastic favorite peanut butter malteds are safe!!

[RGR]

Safe for now. But because of its location, Jersey Freeze's site is prime real estate. Unless he can find a buyer with deep enough pockets to buy the place as is, it is my guess that, eventually, one of the chains will scoop it up.

Btw, making peanut butter malteds at home is not very difficult.

[shabbystorm]

I was here yesterday. They are open! A guy in front of me asked the owner, for how long. He said "at least one more year" Make sure you visit and get your fix! Will be sad once this place becomes just a memory.

[Tapas52]

I love their Peanut Butter malteds YUMMY!!

[diablo]

Oh no! Say it ain't so RGR. My heart....it's breaking...olive...#$@%^&*...garden...no, no..

[RGR]

Unfortunately, diablo, 'tis true, 'tis true. And as someone famous is always quoted as saying, I feel your pain! :-(

[shesallthat]

We still have this summer...is that correct? Think of those poor people who live across the street? Who would want to live across the street or next door; talk about property taxes going down. No good can come of this!

[RGR]

I don't recall reading anything about exactly when Jersey Freeze will close.

Those living close by were the ones fighting against the variances needed. It didn't take an Einstein to know they were never going to win.

Btw, I think you meant property *values* going down. It would be nice if the coming of Olive Garden meant that, at least, taxes would come down. But, alas, I fear not! As far as what will happen when those people want to sell their houses, there are enough Olive Garden devotees out there (the line waiting to get into the one on Route 18, in E. Brunswick, always amazes me!), so that some of them would most assuredly love to be within walking distance. lol

[JSHAFT78]

I was actually born in the Boro and moved to the Township when I was 2. My parents still live there. Always loved a nice soft serve cone covered in sprinkles during summer, even if it involved a wait. Many friends from HS worked at Jersey Freeze. Along with Federici's, although I was never a huge fan, one of the few food institutions Freehold could really claim. I wish Monmouth County well with its all you can eat soup, salad, and bread sticks...

[RGR]

Although I've never been to Jersey Freeze, I agree with you that it is very sad when an eatery considered an institution closes and gives way to an Olive Garden. However, the owner of Jersey Freeze had every right to make as much as money as he could from the sale of his property. Obviously, that meant the deep pockets of a chain. And to be entirely fair, no matter how altruistic we may think we are, which of us would not do the same?

The same thing happened with the small farmer very near our house. The nicest people, and I loved being able to hop over and buy their wonderful vegetables. Now, they are moving to the midwest and recently sold their property to a small developer who just received permission from the zoning board to build 6 houses there. While I will miss having this farm nearby and am not exactly crazy about more houses being built in the town, I can't be angry with these good people who did what was financially best for them and their future. Again, who among us would not do the same?

[shesallthat]

I wonder why nobody thought to take it over? KNowing the success of the business...if he sold it to someone who would continue to operate it as Jersey Freeze, he would be certain to have the same clientelle. ONe of the workers in JF had told me this winter that "they would have another summer there" but I'm not really sure if she knew what she was talking about.

[bgut1]

I'm convinced the reason was solely monetary. The chains have quite a bit of money to throw around and they probably paid a boat load for the site. Obviously an independent wouldn't have been able to compete with a chain and I'm sure there isn't that much money in ice cream as compared to all you can eat pasta. :)

[RGR]

bgut,

I said as much in my previous reply. If JF's owner was merely looking for someone to buy the business while he retained the property, I'm sure he could have gone in that direction. But that's a prime location. worth a fortune I am sure, and he was, obviously, looking to cash in while the getting was good.

The same thing happened with the property at the intersection of Rtes. 9 & 34, in Old Bridge. That was where the restaurant Clare & Coby's stood at least from the time I moved to NJ in '68. When the owners decided to retire, instead of just selling the restaurant, they sold the property to the company that owns Outback, which then renovated the existing structure inside and out. To say that it's a success is an understatement. The parking lot is almost always full, and during the summer, there's usually a huge crowd on the outside porch waiting for a table. Again, for the original owners, it was all about the money. And I'm sure they got quite a haul.

[stffgpr2003]

Flash! The Olive Garden deal fell through. Jersey Freeze lives for another day! Credit the awful economy. We'll all be homeless and enjoying Jersey Freeze. Maybe not - it's way too expensive! I want some Bavarian Chocolate - HIS BEST! It' like frozen chocolate pudding. Ummmm

[mbw1024]

I had a feeling this might happen and frankly that's AOK by me.

[Tapas52]

I love the Peanut Butter Malteds!!

[JessKidden]

Back in October, they already had a handwritten sign saying "We will be open next season" on an inside window of the ice cream counter.

[shesallthat]

Wooo Hoooooo!!!

[Angelika]

That is so depressing - and so wrong that a low quality chain will be standing in the place of a great local favorite.

[shesallthat]

I was in Jersey Freeze last night practically pleading with them not to do this. Isn't there a better chain to put there. I would have been happier with Trader Joe's or even another supermarket. Olive Garden - blech. For people who don't know anybetter

[bgut1]

I wouldn't be surprised that they didn't care who or what was put in its place as its all about the "doe ray me".

[JSHAFT78]

Anything new on this? Born and raised in Freehold, and the town needs an Olive Garden about as much as Bill Gates needs money...

[RGR]

It's a done deal. The board voted several weeks ago in Olive Garden's favor.

[wench31]

Found the latest on News Transcript

http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news...

[Deb9962]

Been there all my life, a shame to see the oldie but goodies go...Deb

[local_guy]

Hold on. Apparently the latest is that the JF property sits on both Township and Boro lines. The township has used all ther liquor licenses but the Boro hasn't. Floor plan too big to locate everything in Boro property. Can't have a bar and then people no alcohol with your dinner. So say my connected neighbors.

[RGR]

Obviously, you haven't read the article I linked to in "The Transcript." Info there refutes your statements.

[shesallthat]

How annoying. I've always said Olive Garden is for people "who don't know any better" and yet they wait also for hours to get in why I don't know. It doesn't sound like the Jersey Freeze owner wants to reopen...it says in the article how he is tired of the long days. They keep building restaurnts in this town and none of them are any good.

[RGR]

Update: After 3-1/2 hours of testimony and discussion at the Aug.28th Zoning Board meeting, the application for the variance necessary to build the Olive Garden was continued until Oct. 23rd.

http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news...

[rosygogo]

By all that is good, please tell me NOOOOOO. With all the good local mom and pop Italian restaurants, why would anyone eat at Olive Garden.

Jersey Freeze is an institution, maybe not on the scale of the Windmill or Max's or the Circus Drive In in Wall. Home made fast food, that is well priced.

[yankeefan]

Im not sure if it is because of this, but I am down there almost every week for some soft-serve and this weekend (Labor Day weekend) it was EMPTY. Was very surprised but it was delicious as always.

so so sad. just the fact that its olive garden makes it so much worse.

[RGR]

The Zoning Board put off the vote until October 23rd. The article in the APP also says Jersey Freeze's owner has not made a decision about re-opening in another location.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...

[RobertinRedBank]

The JF was more about hanging out and not cuisine, although they did serve up a nice jersey dog and their shakes and malts were pretty good. Too bad the deal to locate Ruby Tuesday or whatever behind the JF didn't work out. Sad to see another Monmouth County icon go down.

[jaydreb]

This would be sad news indeed. I have many fond memories of coming here as a kid for 4th of July fireworks. Or my dad taking me here for hot dogs and a root beer float after a trip to the track (classy, I know).

[yankeefan]

Please PLEASE tell me this is not for real.
Jersey Freeze is my favorite and my opinion of OG is obvious. What a freaking joke this is. Between this and the opening of cheesecake factory, just sickening in Freehold.

I just hope that Jersey Freeze is moving and not completely shutting down. Worst thing Ive seen since closing of the East Brunswick stuff your face.

[RGR]

Hey, y.f., Seems you didn't click on the link and read the article. :-o lol If the plans are approved, JF's owner intend to re-open elsewhere.

[seal]

Thank goodness - at last we will have some decent italian food in Freehold.

Wow - it was hard typing that with a straight face ;o)

Seriously now, even though we are not big fans of the food there, or even the ice cream, it is still a sad day when a local institution gives way to a chain.

[bgut1]

What a shame.