A Grove Grows in East Brunswick

The Missus had planned to meet some old--check that, former-- school and neighborhood chums at a place commonly called "The Grove" in East Brunswick. Seems it was everybody's hang out back in the day. Spouses were invited, and since she clearly wasn't going to be home to cook, I decided to join her.

We had actually visited the Brunswick Grove (its official name) many years before for pizza--obviously in the Pre-Sheila Weber Era--because it did not give off the special vibe that it gave off last night. Nor did it have the array of craft beer on tap that it had last night and has every night, rotating regularly.

I mean Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion? Evil Genius's Stacy's Mom Citra IPA? Two from Kane, two from Victory and great offerings from other single taps--sixteen altogether? That sure wasn't there the last time I went, or I would have been back much sooner.

The gathering at my table was there for the famous pizza, which they reminisced about as being their staple while growing up in the East Brunswick/Milltown area. But there were a lot of other things on the menu that piqued my interest. I opted for the French Dip, but a waiter brought out a cheesesteak to another table that looked positively fabulous and loaded, like my French Dip, chock-a-block with meat.

The Luponic Distortion was great, and while I followed it with a Kane Head High, my table buddy Rich Stapleton--another spouse whose wife wasn't cooking that night--said he really enjoyed Stacy's Mom. The beer, I mean.

The place was named as best Sports Bar in Middlesex County a few times, but that award is bit misleading as The Grove is also a solid family destination. The menu is varied and price-friendly, and the bar is separated by a window wall from one of the main eating areas. There's another sizable eating area at the far corner. And there were families galore, older couples, younger couples and, of course, the bar was packed.

I got to chatting with an owner, camera-shy Sheila Weber. She was as busy as she was pleasant, and paused her hustling around to give me some info. "We're busy all the time," she said, "in every season. And so many of our customers have been coming here since they were young. They gravitate to 'their' place." Since The Grove opened in 1934, that means a lot of returners.

The East Brunswick Reunion group I was with was a testament to that. But then she allowed that, come October (hopefully) they may have another place to call home. Tumulty's Pub on George St. in New Brunswick is also a pretty famous watering hole, and lots of folks in the area have patronized it. Sheila and her family bought it and are in the process of renovating and refreshing it, aiming, as I said, for an October renascence.

That new, old pub will also stock The Grove's famous food and pizza, as well as a new, wide selection of craft beers. And servers at Tumulty's have been doing on-the-job training at The Grove, learning the ropes as to how The Grove manages and maintains its loyal clientele. That should stand them in good stead when October arrives.

Now, New Brunswick already has some well-known, fine beer bars and restaurants, so the competition for customers may be a bit intense. But after listening to Sheila, I have no doubt she and the new Tumulty's will be up to the challenge. One of those challenges is to keep the famous "Tumulty's Train" in operation. And another, perhaps more daunting, will be the need for nearby convenient parking, already an issue in the busy Hub City, and a problem The Grove, situated as it is in well, a grove, does not currently have. And parking at The Grove is free.

But who knows? Maybe generations newly born will follow their parents and grandparents to a new place, one that knows how to treat its customers like family. I hope so.

And, since Sheila will give The PubScout an early heads-up on the grand re-opening, I may actually convince her to pose for a picture. Perhaps with the new Tumulty's Train chugging along as a backdrop?