5 Popular Family Restaurants In NJ Close – In Just One Week

Just as Labor Day weekend is upon us, there are few places to take the kids – and the whole family – to eat in New Jersey. And, soon, there will be fewer places to shop.

Five popular family restaurants abruptly closed this past week – just as two large retail chains said they were closing more stores in New Jersey.

The latest casualty is a 55-year-old Perkins whose closing drew a ton of condolences from customers, ex-workers and the legions of people who went there for pancakes and other food.

The news comes just as Sears announced a number of nationwide closures, including its store at the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing. Read more: Another Sears Closing In NJ: Important Dates.

At the same time, Best Buy is also closing one of its New Jersey stores. Read more: Best Buy Closing Howell Store In November

Here is what closed this past week:

Bridgewater Ruby Tuesday Abruptly Closes

Customers who stopped at the Ruby Tuesday on Route 202 in Bridgewater on Monday got a bit of a surprise as a sign posted on the door of the restaurant said the location has been closed permanently.

"This Ruby Tuesday location is closed. We are sorry for any inconvenience that this may have caused you and look forward to serving you in one of our other restaurants soon," a sign on the front door of the restaurant stated.

An employee who answered the phone at the restaurant confirmed the Bridgewater location was permanently closed and said it was a decision made by corporate for financial reasons. Read more here....

Popular 55-Year-Old Family-Owned Perkins In Monmouth Closes

A favorite family restaurant has closed in Monmouth County, and the tributes are pouring in from the many people who worked and ate there.

The Perkins Restaurant in Neptune closed on Sunday after 55 years and the owners, according to owner Dave Stone.

Eugene Stewart, who began working there as a teenager, posted on Facebook that breakfast in Neptune for many years "was synonymous with Perkins 'on the circle.'" Read more here...

Howell Ruby Tuesday Abruptly Closes

Customers who stopped at the Ruby Tuesday on Route 9 in Howell on Monday got a bit of a surprise as a sign posted on the door of the Route 9 restaurant said the location has been closed permanently.

A post on the Howell Happenings NJ page on Facebook said the employees allegedly were given no advance notice of the closure. Read more here...

Hometown Buffet In Edison Closes

Local favorite Hometown Buffet closed suddenly this weekend when their lease ended. It was located just off of Route One.

The Edison location was the last location open in New Jersey, and was part of a chain. The chain's owner filed for bankruptcy two years ago.

For those hoping to take a piece of the buffet home, an auction will be held online through Tuesday. Read more here...

Ruby Tuesday in Hackettstown Closes For Good

There's one less place to grab lunch in Hackettstown: the Ruby Tuesday has closed for good.

A number listed online for the location has been disconnected. The Hackettstown location has been removed from the restaurant's official website; when you search for locations near Hackettstown, the closest options are Phillipsburg or Stroudsburg. Read more here...

Photos courtesy of Dave Stone, Google and Jason Hutchings