Favorites Comes To Toms River

If all goes according to plan New Jersey’s third off-track wagering facility will open in Toms River today against the wishes of some opponents who have predicted dire consequences. Favorites at Toms River is a 759-seat betting parlor with a restaurant and bar that is located on Route 37 West in what used to be a Grand Union supermarket. It will join OTW facilities that are currently operating in Woodbridge and Vineland and comes seven years after state officials approved a resolution that would allow up to 15 licenses for betting parlors in New Jersey. The move was made to help the state’s slumping horse racing industry and the operation in Woodbridge is already a huge success with many predicting the same for Toms River.

This state is way behind the times when it comes to making it easier for those who like to bet on horse racing as OTB and similar operations have been in existence for years all around us. The new Off Track Wagering Parlors are not to be confused with store-front OTB stores like those in New York. This is a state-of-the-art facility with plasma TV’s everywhere and its expected people will come for a day or night of entertainment.

Opponents might have a valid concern or two but they’ve gone way too far with some of the arguments. How much of a traffic problem can there be, especially at night when that part of Route 37 is least utilized. We are not talking about a place that holds thousands of people so with few exceptions the impact should be minimal and no greater than other retail establishments in that area. Some question the location of a gambling facility in close proximity to so many senior citizens living on a fixed income and I could laugh at this one. First of all a large percentage of those who enjoy horse racing happen to be seniors and many of them have had to drive to Monmouth Park for live or simulcast racing…now they have a place much closer to home. And if we’re going to all of a sudden get involved in morality let’s not forget about those busses loaded with seniors heading to Atlantic City each day and of course there’s the state-run lottery in which you can purchase tickets on just about every corner. On the other end you have the enticement to young people and just like at the race track you’ll have to be 18 to make a bet and 21 to have a drink in the bar or restaurant.

Look Favorites of Toms River will have some bumps in the road but at the end of the day I think the positives outweigh the negatives…only time will tell if I right or wrong.

End Of An Era

Since 1949 drivers on Route 166 in Toms River have viewed one of the great business signs of all time. Sitting on top of the Dover Diner are the words “Eat Here or We’ll Both Starve” and no matter how many times I’ve passed that sign I’ve chuckled. However the popular diner will close after Sunday to make way for an office building as part of the future expansion of the Dover Mall. Joella Nicastro knew this day was coming but you can excuse her for having a hard time accepting the end because she’s spent some 21 years serving breakfast to hungry patrons. An Ocean County native, Joella started working at the diner as a waitress, moved up to manager and eventually took over the operation from the Jamison Family who opened the eatery in 1949.

The structure is a Silk City Diner, built by the Paterson Vehicle Company who operated from 1927-64. The stainless steel structure is a complete unit which Ms. Nicastro is going to keep and try to re-locate. For now she’ll store the diner while she searches for a location as many customers have vowed to follow her not only for great food and bottomless cups of coffee but the loud, bustling atmosphere that comes with the territory. Seats may be a premium at times but conversation is endless and loyal customers can usually solve all the problems of the world by the time they get to their third cup of coffee.

Joella praised the Donofrio Family, owners of the property because from day one she knew that eventually the site would be needed for other construction. She is cautiously optimistic that one day in the future the Dover Diner will re-open and again we’ll be greeted by the words “Eat here or we’ll both starve.” However you have until Sunday to be guaranteed a chance to enjoy one of their great omelets, crispy home fries and even sausage gravy. Take a picture because an era is coming to an end.