43 Willow Grove Rd, Shamong, NJ 08088 | Zillow
This 0 square feet Single Family home has 0 bedroom and 0 bathroom. It is located at 43 Willow Grove Rd, Shamong, NJ.
www.zillow.com
Good thing you didn't have to relieve yourself. It says zero bathrooms. I wonder how they got around that.I remember eating there when it was open, probably at least 15 years ago. They also served British food in addition to the pizza, if I remember correctly. Something of an odd combination. The couple that ran the place were very friendly people.
I drive by it often, but I guess I hadn't considered that it's in such bad shape that it would have to be torn down. That's a shame.
Good thing you didn't have to relieve yourself. It says zero bathrooms. I wonder how they got around that.
I’m sure it was open. 10 years ago. My best would be it closed around 2017 give or take a year. I come home that way and would drive by. I used to see the sign for Bangers and Mash. With my wife’s family being English we have them quite a bit and I always thought of trying them. They always seemed to close early like before 6:00 though so I never stopped. Then they permanently closed.Wasn't me. I did stop by yesterday to snap a couple of pictures of its current state, though. In case someone immediately starts razing it.
View attachment 22034
The former "Regency Room" around back.
View attachment 22035
It definitely needs a lot of cleanup work, but at least from the outside, it doesn't look so bad as to require demolition. The second floor residence might be in worse shape. I think the restaurant was open as recently as 10 years ago. The whole place seems to be a hodgepodge of structures built at different times.
Looking at some old photos from when it was open made me sad. It is a shame that we are losing more and more unique little places like this. Sometimes you don't appreciate them as much as you should until they are gone.
Also, I assume the small house next to it is also on the same property or included with the 2 acres.
As to making it work, my first thought when I first drove by is; where would customers park? How many prospects said to their driver "ain't no place to park, I know of a place further up 206, not far from here".The best case scenario is that the person or people who buy this property have the funds to clean the place up and the talent to turn it into a successful business again.
It is a long shot, but it could be done. Buzby's has a similar story and sat empty for much longer periods in its history, before Marilyn bought the place. In the early 1990s I think that building may have been in even worse shape than this one is now. Following her passing, it has been brought back to life once again by new owners that also seem to have respect for the legacy of the place. I would love to see that sort of thing happen here.