Somerville's Social Bar & Restaurant Closes After 30 Years In Business

SOMERVILLE, NJ — After three decades in business, the family-owned and -operated Social Bar & Restaurant has closed its doors.

Son Bekim Qiku told Patch the restaurant, at the corner of Gaston and Union Avenues, didn't "abruptly" close but rather it was a decision for his parents John and Peggy to retire after recently celebrating 30 years in business in December.

"It was just more retirement for my mother and my father," Qiku said. "They're the ones that really started it."

John and Peggy Qiku were Albanian immigrants with an American dream. They opened the Italian restaurant, originally called Ciao Bello, on New Year's Eve 1994.

"Against all odds, their determination paid off. The restaurant flourished earning rave reviews and loyal following. As competition intensified, the Qiku family innovatively transformed Ciao Bello into SOCIAL, introducing Asian fusion cuisine, sushi and trendy cocktails," according to Social.

John and Peggy Qiku's sons Izzy and Bekim also helped with the business. Bekim recalls starting to work in the restaurant when he was 16 years old.

"Thank you to Somerville for hosting us there for 30 years, and to all the people and all the customers that came out and supported us over the years, from Ciao Bello to Social because, I was there since I was 16. I had customers bringing their babies in. I'm watching those kids come in and they're like, 25, 26 years old now. It's pretty, pretty wild," said Bekim Qiku.

Always together as a family, the Qiku's eventually went on to expand to open Ovations at 295 Canal Rd in South Bound Brook.

They continued to run both restaurants until Bekim Qiku said "It was just time to move on."

"My parents just, we want to let them relax and not have to worry about running two restaurants since we always did things together — my mom, dad, brother, yeah, it's a family business," said Bekim Qiku.

Bekim invites all of Social's customers to come try out Ovations. For more information visit ovationsrestaurant.com

Additionally, Bekim said Social has a liquor license they are considering selling. If anyone is interested in the liquor license they should contact Bekim at 908-307-8800.

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