Downtown Toms River is jumping right into the New Year! With plenty to do during the winter months, there’s no better place to welcome 2018 than with a trip to Downtown Toms River. Whether you’re checking out the indoor Farmer’s Market or heading for a drink and appetizers at the local restaurants, you’re guaranteed to have a fun time despite the holiday hangover!

Downtown Toms River Winter Farmer’s Market

From January through May, the Downtown Toms River Farmer’s Market will be moving indoors for the winter season. Join vendors across the state as they set up in The Downtown Shops @ 53 Main Street from 12pm – 5pm every first Wednesday of the month. Even though there may not be freshly grown tomatoes like during the summer markets, there will be plenty of exciting and delicious items that will brighten your kitchen during the cold winter months.

Enjoy New Jersey made wines from Cream Ridge Winery, delicious Italian specialities and baked goods from High Mountain Foods, produce from Krowicki’s Farm, and all the spice blends to make any dish exciting from Wicked Good Blends. With free four-hour parking in the Irons Street Lot (right behind the Wells Fargo Building), you can stroll through the Historic Walkway straight to Main Street. It may be chilly outside, but with the help of Downtown Toms River, you can be sure they’ll keep you warm (and your stomach filled!)

Business Spotlight: Water Street Bar & Grill and The Office Lounge

Located right on the riverfront, Water Street Bar & Grill (4 Robbins Parkway, Toms River 732-240-4800) has a reputation for great live entertainment, daily specials, and delicious food. Enjoy live entertainment throughout the weekend from Friday through Sunday, while you indulge in cold pints of Bud Light pints for $2.75 (Fridays), Yuengling pints for $2.75 (Saturdays), and Coronas and Corona Lights for $4 (Sundays. Then there are always $7 Casamigos Margaritas on Mondays, 2 for 1 Burgers on Tuesdays, 1/2 price bottles of wine on Wednesdays with $5 Margherita Pies, and Leinenkugel Seasonal Shandy Pints for $4.50 on Thursdays. So really, at Water Street Bar & Grill, no matter what your week looks like, you can count on them to make you happy any day or time during the week!

If you’ve ever visited Downtown Toms River, chances are you headed straight to The Office Lounge (820 Main Street, Toms River 732-349-0800). For over 30 years, this tavern and restaurant has been home to an extensive beer collection (over 40 beers with 24 on tap), daily drink specials, and a large assortment of dishes from steaks to seafood, pasta, and sushi. Stop by for happy hour where you’ll join in with friends and neighbors, chatting about your day or watching the big game (they even are an NTN Buzztime Game location with consoles available at the bar). When the weather starts getting warmer, you can count on everyone to head to the outdoor dining area. If you’ve been – you know – and if you haven’t been yet – you’ll know soon – The Office Lounge is a landmark for a reason!

Downtown Toms River News: Phase 1 Waterfront Redevelopment Plan

The redevelopment of the blocks within the Phase 1 portion of the Downtown Waterfront Redevelopment Area with residential units above retail services within walking distance to the Toms River Bus Depot and the existing Downtown Core is appropriate for the community and essential to making Toms River’s downtown a true 24/7 center. It would serve as a catalyst for additional rehabilitative efforts within Downtown, including Block 658.01, which was added to the Downtown Waterfront Redevelopment Area to enable a direct pedestrian connection to the Downtown Core from Iron Street.

The Toms River Township 2017 Master Plan and the incorporated Downtown Master Plan support the concepts of sustainable design as a response to combating suburban sprawl and reducing the Township’s “carbon footprint”. Because of the significance of the Downtown Waterfront Redevelopment Area as part of the historic center of Toms River Township, this redevelopment plan leans on the LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) rating system as a guide for design standards that will promote sustainable design of the Phase 1 area.

The Plan begins with what will be developed along the south side of Water Street between Highland Parkway and Main Street and extends up Irons Street where Washington Avenue is envisioned to extend as a retail lined pedestrian walkway to connect the current Downtown Core to a new redevelopment parcel consisting of the two parking lots on the west side of Irons Street. This approach fits perfectly within the objectives of the various Prerequisites and Credits of LEED ND and ensures that the redevelopment will produce valuable positive ratables for the Township, serve as a catalyst for economic investment in other properties in the area.” (Toms River Township website)

To see the entire plan, virtual models, and videos, please visit the township website http://tomsrivertownship.com/index.php/downtown-redevelopment

Looking Ahead to February…

Next month, expect our hearts to be aflutter as we welcome the month of February aka the month of hearts. Expect a number of Valentine’s Day events and specials as well as an inside look into Downtown Toms River’s antique shops and an interview with Toms River’s new councilmen, Terrance Turnbach.