Central Jersey Pools won't stop swimming

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – First opened in 1957, Central Jersey Pools’ distinction as one of the oldest pool stores in the area is one claim to fame that certainly holds water.

Founded during the nation’s postwar industrialization and housing boom, “Central Jersey Pools was started by my grandfather, David Metz,” said Steven Metz, who is president and co-owns the business with his younger brother, Michael.

“At the time, our grandfather had a block business and people were constantly asking him to build pools; he was resourceful and got into the pool business as a natural extension of what he was doing,” Metz said. “Our father, Martin, took over the business in the 1970s and relocated it to a different site in Freehold, and then Michael and I took it over in 2000.”

According to Metz, he and his brother were excited to carry on the third generation of the family livelihood. “I feel lucky to have grown up in this business and was always helping out, testing pool water, ringing up registers and selling pools and hot tubs all through school and college,” he said.

And like their grandfather did when he first set up shop nearly six decades ago, both father and sons have strategically expanded to offer a variety of other products as demand has changed. “Nationwide, New Jersey has been one of the strongest and most saturated areas for pool ownership, but home renovations and additions have become a bigger market than pool construction was in the 1970s,” Metz explained. “As a result, we now sell everything from above and in-ground pools, hot tubs, pool toys and components to outdoor furniture, accessories, and outdoor kitchens. We basically sell everything for the backyard.”

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