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Friday, dec 27
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Family Business
Business
Family's Bergen County Italian Restaurant Closing After 46 Years: 'Time To Enjoy My Life'
After 46 years, Vitale's Restaurant in Teaneck is closing its doors. The Queen Anne Road restaurant started as a family business when Tony LaMorte, the current owner, was 22 years old. He ran the place alongside his siblings, Felicia Roveda, Vic LaMorte, and Debbie Sadowski. "I'm still here," LaMorte said on a call with Daily Voice. Not for long. Tony, of Haworth, has been the chef and owner, and is set to close on Saturday, Nov. 2. "It's time to retire," LaMorte tells Daily Voice. "Tie to enjoy my life." LaMorte is married and has two children, both of whom are professional a…
Business
TikTokers On 'Kitchen Nightmares' Close Bergen County Italian Spot
More than a year after revamping their restaurant Bergen County on "Kitchen Nightmares," a family of TikTokers has decided to close up shop. Da Mimmo was opened by retired Hoboken detective Vito Gigante Sr., his wife Melissa, and their son Antonio. Antonio and his brothers, Vincent and Vito, rose to fame on TikTok. The restaurant opened in November 2022 and was on "Kitchen Nightmares" with Gordon Ramsey in 2023. On Tuesday, Sept. 17, the Gigantes announced they'd be closing their doors for good on Friday, Sept. 30. View this post on Instagram …
News
Popular NJ Luncheonette For Sale After 50 Years
An iconic New Jersey eatery is being sold after nearly 50 years of business. Lucille's Luncheonette at 1496 Route 539 in Barnegat, is on the market for $650,000. Lucille's, which was featured on Anthony Bourdain's "Parts Unknown" in 2015 and made it to the late acclaimed chef's official food trail, was opened in 1975 by Jim and Lucille Bates. "This little roadside cafe on 539 quickly became the place to stop on the way to the Shore for visitors to LBI and became the place for the locals to venture to for a good home cooked meal when you didn't want to cook at home," the eatery's websi…
Obituaries
Eric Bernstein, CEO of Berkshire Furniture, Dies At 55
Eric Bernstein, the CEO of his Berkshire Furniture and a Westfield resident, died on Thursday, July 25, at the age of 55, according to his obituary by Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel. Berkshire Furniture, based in Springfield, is a family business that has been passed down through four generations, Bernstein's obituary reads. Bernstein also served as president of the New Jersey/New York Furniture Association in 2017, according to his obituary. Yesterday the we lost a special friend, partner and leader. Eric Bernstein, president of Berkshire Furniture , and..…
News
'And That Is Long Enough:' Family Announces Plans To Sell NJ Restaurant After 75 Years
A Sussex County restaurant is celebrating its 75th year in business — "and that is long enough," the owners said. The owners of the Walpack Inn, located in Walpack Township, are working toward selling the restaurant as they work toward retirement. We are taking reservations for Father’s Day, Sunday June 19th! Visit www.walpackinn.com/reservations to book your table... Posted by The Walpack Inn on Sunday, June 12, 2022 In a statement posted to Facebook, Jim Heigis, his wife, Lee, and their daughters Lara and Jenny said: "We would like to thank our many friends and l…
News
Breast Cancer Diagnosis Was Wake-Up Call NJ Mom Needed To Open Dream Waffle Shop On Route 46
Lisa Baumann spent years waiting for the right time to open a dessert shop. Maybe when her kids were older, or when her full-time job as a construction accountant allowed her more flexibility, she'd tell herself. In 2021, Baumann, of Woodland Park, received shocking news: She had breast cancer at just 39 years old. That's when she decided she was done waiting for the right time. That fall, Baumann opened her mobile catering company, Waffles & Dreams, bringing chocolatey, rainbow goodness in a variety of forms — but most notably waffles on a stick — to customers across the region. On J…
Business
Bergen County Mom Turns Passion Into Purpose With Persian Restaurant
Cooking has already given Bergen County's Shahin Rezaei so much. It gave her something to do when her she moved to the U.S. with her husband, Daryush Saadati, from Sweden 26 years ago. She didn't have a car and she didn't have anything to do when Saadati went to work, and so Rezaei passed the time by perfecting her recipes. Cooking gave Rezaei friends: She met so many people through the catering business she opened seven years ago, when the family's furniture store closed. But most of all, cooking has given Rezaei purpose. "Because of all of this, I know who I am," said Rezaei, more …
News
North Jersey Bakery Keeps It All In The Family: 'We Put A Lot Of Love Into Our Cookies'
Alaia and Athena are two of Bergen County's youngest bakers. The two-year old and 21-month old, respectively, are assisting their mother and grandmother in Mimi and Grand Cookies, a new bakery that sells cookies online and is based in Maywood. The cookies are baked in a commercial kitchen in Paterson and the company is named after Mimi, Alaia and Athena's grandmother. "My mother and I wanted to create generational wealth for her granddaughters," Ashley Crump, the mother of Alaia, said. "What better way than to start a cookie company?" Crump said her niece and daughter both like being in t…
Business
Former Callahan's Owner Reveals New North Jersey Eatery: 'My Chance To Start Over'
For hot dog fans in North Jersey, it's been a cruel summer. But after months of teasing, former Callahan's owner Dan DeMiglio has finally announced what his fans have been waiting for: 1950 Originals. DeMiglio's brand-new business is replacing Jack's Café in Westwood. “I’m so excited to start fresh with a brand new business — it’s like having a blank canvas," DeMiglio said in a statement. "This is my chance to start over and dream bigger. "But to me, it’s not always about the brand name. It’s about the people on your team, and our team is truly incredible." DeMiglio, who…
Business
Family's Popular Burger Restaurant Opens Another Jersey Shore Location
A popular burger restaurant is opening a second Jersey Shore location. This one will in Ship Bottom on LBI. Burger 25 has become a family operation as Denise and Steve Vetter's son, Aidan, will co-manage the Ship Bottom location, when it opens on Thursday, June 8. The restaurant replaces the former Surf Taco at 1915 Long Beach Blvd. Denise and Steve's daughter, Alexis, also works in the restaurant. They've operated their first restaurant in Toms River for 10 years. "We feel we have something for everyone," Denise Vetter said. Only a few more days to catch these January collabs and …
Business
'Fat Bastard' Carries On Family's Famed Thin Crust Pizza In Bergen County
The Giaquintos are back in South Hackensack with their trademark thin crust pizza. Anthony Giaquinto, whose roots in Bergen County's pizza scene run deep, has opened Fat Bastard and Sons at 434 Route 46, continuing a family legacy of pizzerias. Giaquinto previously ran Tony G's in South Hackensack, The Balcony in Carlstadt, G Millz in Hoboken and Prime Time Sports Bar in Carlstadt. Giaquinto's mother, Mary Rose Giaquinto, was the longtime owner of Giaquinto's Old Judge, an institution in South Hackensack. Now, Giaquinto is running Fat Bastard with his two sons, Dominick, a student at M…
Business
'Better Life Out Here': Family's Staten Island Bakery Relocates To NJ After 20 Years
A Staten Island favorite has moved its sweetness to the Jersey Shore — and it's already a hit. Bruno's Bakery opened at at 356 W. Main St., in Freehold, on Nov. 15, 2022. Mother's Day will be its last day in business in Staten Island. The bakery is a true family affair involving chef and dad, Biagio Settepani; mom Pina Settepani; son Joseph Settepani; son Salvatore Settepani; daughter Fina Pulaj; and chef Joseph's wife and pastry chef, Daniela Settepani. Biagio emigrated to New York from Italy when he was 12 years old. He worked in his first bakery when he was 17. "Ever since then it's b…
Lifestyle
Five-Time World Series Champ Opens Restaurant With Family North Jersey
Charlie Wonsowicz has gone from Yankee pinstripes to pots and pans. Wonsowicz, who won five World Series titles with the New York Yankees as coordinator of advanced scouting, recently opened W's Village Grille with his wife, Leslie, in Waldwick. The family previously owned W's Grill in Oakland. For the Wonsowicz's, the restaurant is a homecoming. The family lives in Waldwick and wanted to open a restaurant in their community, their daughter Paige said. They celebrated a grand opening on Tuesday, April 4. While Charlie's natural home is at the baseball diamond, where he wore #87 for the Bo…
Business
Fordham Grad Trades Corporate Gig For Bergen County Bakeshop
Baking has always made sense to Despina Kontomanolis. It's methodical, scientific, and she knew if she followed the steps meticulously, she'd get exactly the product she wanted. Baking proved to be imperative to the 36-year-old New Milford after she graduated from Fordham Business School, and began working in the corporate world in 2009. "I felt like my soul was dying," Kontomanolis said. "I was feeling like I wasn't living up to my full potential because I wasn't getting pleasure out of selling insurance or writing up leases." In 2015, she quit her corporate gig at the urging of friends…
Business
North Jersey Mom's Babka Business Gets Brick And Mortar Store
A North Jersey mom who had help from her husband and daughters launching a charitable babka business at the height of the pandemic is moving into a storefront. Hoboken's Michal Prevor started Babka Bailout to help pay her housekeeper's rent at the height of the pandemic. On Wednesday, Sept. 14, Prevor will hold a grand opening for Babka Bailout at its new digs on 476 Central Ave. in Jersey City from 1 to 4 p.m. Babka is a dough filled with chocolate then rolled up or braided and baked. Babka BailoutBabka Bailout Babka Bailout offers a variety of flavors including Nutella-Oreo, cereal…
Business
Legendary Route 46 Pizzeria Sold After 64 Years In Business
An iconic family-owned pizzeria has been sold after 64 years in business. Pizza Town USA on Route 46 in Elmwood Park made the announcement last week on Facebook. "Pizzatown would like to thank everyone for their loyal patronage over the last 64 years," the wrote. "We have sold our family business but we can assure you that the product will not change. Please support the new owners the same as you supported us over the years. Thank you all very much." Pizza Town has been manned by Michelle and Bruce Tomo, whose dad, Raymond, opened the popular eatery. Raymond died in 2019 at 93 years …
Business
Biggie's Clam Bar In Ramsey Closes
Biggie's Clam Bar has closed its Ramsey location. The family-owned eatery opened six years ago on Route 17 southbound, attached to the Best Western. Biggie's announced the closing Saturday on its Facebook page, where customers began grieving the Football Sundays, food, chef and more. The restaurant began as a push cart in Hoboken before owner Joseph Yaccarino opened a storefront on Madison Street, in 1946. Yaccarino had moved to the U.S. with his parents and many siblings from Naples, Italy, and recruited his son for the business endeavor. The family's fourth generation took over in…
Business
'You Will Be Missed': Closing Of Boonton's Hamilton Farms Marks End Of An Era
After more than 20 years in business, Hamilton Farms has been sold and will shut its doors. Three generations of the Deckenbach family worked as farmers on the five-acre farm, which became known for its romaine lettuce and its green houses -- which were installed by the second generation. Thousands of pumpkins and Christmas trees were sold each year. The farm closing marks the end of an era for the family and customers both. Community members lament the closing of Hamilton Farms.Facebook "I remember being a little girl and my Mom and I getting our vegetables from Grace sitting under a…
Business
Fort Lee Pizzeria Thrives Through Changing Times
Much has changed in Fort Lee since Franco and Antonietta Bazzarelli opened their pizzeria, Franco's Metro. The shop's name. Its location. The menu. But one thing remains constant at Franco's Metro: Loyalty. Bazzarelli's adult kids who spent their childhoods watching their parents build their family's future are the ones spending upwards of 12 hours a day running the show at Franco's Metro. And his customers -- both old and new -- turn up at the store at least twice a week without fail sometimes to eat, sometimes just to say hello. "Our lives are inside of these four walls," sai…
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