Galloway Township Restaurant Shut Down After Wild Animals Found In Kitchen: Police

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, NJ — AJ’s Café on the Lake was shut down after numerous wild animals were found in the restaurant on Friday, according to Galloway Township police. It will be closed to the public until further notice as it has been deemed unsanitary and an unsafe structure for human occupancy, and the restaurant owner has been charged.

Police responded to the cafe, located at 195 South Old New York Road in the Smithville section of the township, at about 12:08 p.m. on Sept. 29 for an unrelated matter. While there, police said they found numerous loose wild animals — including three exotic birds and a cat — in the kitchen and food preparation area.

Further investigation revealed that AJ’s was operating without a township-approved mercantile license, and it was immediately shut down, police said. The County Board of Health was notified. The animals were turned over to a friend for safe keeping and caretaking while the restaurant was closed up and posted by both Township Code Officials and the County Health Department. Staff and patrons were sent home.

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