Outdoor dining returns to downtown Toms River May 5
TOMS RIVER - Downtown Night Out, Toms River's popular outdoor dining program, returns to Washington Street May 5.
Born during the pandemic, downtown dining quickly drew hundreds of patrons between 5 and 9 p.m. on warm Friday and Saturday nights.
"We started Downtown Night Out during COVID and it was the most amazing thing, 500 to 600 people down there on a Friday and a Saturday night," said Mairin Bellack, executive director of Downtown Toms River, the township's business improvement district. "The majority were Toms River residents."
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Downtown Night Out received a boost with the opening in 2020 of two long-awaited establishments: Battle River Brewing and Garden State Distillery Co., both located on Main Street.
Outdoor dining has been credited with luring many people to the downtown during the evening, which business and township leaders had been attempting to do for many years. Washington Street has been shut down through cooperation with Ocean County, as it's a county road.
The business improvement district has been marketing Downtown Night Out to residents of Monmouth and Atlantic counties, trying to convince people to give downtown Toms River a chance.
"Toms River is definitely not a 'pass-through' town, it's a destination," Bellack said.
Last year, Downtown Night Out had a sponsor, Downs Ford. This year, Bellack said the business improvement district is seeking a new sponsor for the event.
"We are always looking for continuing partnerships to capitalize on these community events, so we can do more," she said.
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New events in the downtown this year will include a Cinco de Mayo festival, which will actually be held on May 6, and will include vendors and food on Robbins Street. Performances by singing stars are also planned for the downtown this year, Bellack said.
Other events coming soon to the downtown include the Toms River Pride Festival, Summer in the Street festival and Comfort Food Festival.
The cruising events, which bring classic cars and music to Washington Street, will be held the second Wednesday of the month, from June to September. The downtown farmer's market will be back in Huddy Park this summer, and starts on May 24.
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This year could be a big one for redevelopment of Toms River's downtown. Capodagli Property Co. is expected to break ground on two, 10-story apartment towers at the intersection of Water and Main streets.
The towers, a $68 million project, will contain 285 apartments, and the development is also expected to include a restaurant and retail, as well as a public boardwalk and ampitheater on the Toms River.
Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and has been writing about local government and politics at the Jersey Shore for nearly 38 years. A finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in public service, she's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, [email protected]om.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Toms River NJ outdoor dining downtown returns May 5
