New Jersey Businesses

BY ERIN MCFEETERS AND DANA FIORI

The great Garden State is home to some of the most unique businesses and attractions of all sizes. Businesses open up shop in New Jersey due to its unique location between major cities, tight-knit communities, large and diverse labor force, education attainment of residents, and access to transportation such as major roadways and international airports.

Perhaps most well known for its health sciences, education, and agricultural industries—take a trip around the state with us and discover 21 unique small, medium, and large businesses in all 21 counties that call New Jersey home.

Atlantic

White House Sub Shop—whitehousesubshop.com

Many casinos and restaurants along and around the Atlantic City boardwalk have closed in 2020, but the famous White House Sub Shop has been bringing the Jersey Shore community the best sandwiches since 1946. They are most known for their Italian, meatball, and steak submarine sandwiches, and are committed to providing customers with the highest quality meats in its submarines.

Even during the pandemic, both locations remained open and—like many other food and beverage businesses—started offering delivery through Uber Eats. Burlington

Bergen

Meadowlands Sports Complex—www.co.bergen.nj.us Gloucester Camden

Located in East Rutherford, Meadowlands Sports Complex is Salem home to three major New Jersey attractions—Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, MetLife Stadium, and Medieval Times. As the first venue to open in the Sports Cumberland Complex in 1976, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment is a destination for horse racing, dining, and fun—hosting racing year-round. MetLife Stadium is home to the NY Giants and NY Jets and hosts concerts and events throughout the year. Just a few miles from MetLife is Medieval Times, a definite must for your bucket list—experience a feast fit for a king and thrilling competition between knights.

Burlington

Burlington Stores—burlington.com

A family-run business that opened its first store in Burlington in 1972— Burlington started out only selling affordable coats and outerwear and were immediately successful. The business expanded and they now have over 700 stores across the U.S. As more stores opened, the company began offering more than just coats, and now you can purchase anything from sportswear to home décor. After four decades as “Burlington Coat Factory” the company changed its name from to Burlington Stores to better reflect what they sell.

Camden

Campbell’s Soup—campbells.com

This iconic chicken noodle soup company is headquartered in Camden with annual sales of approximately $8.69 billion. It was founded in 1869 and is trusted by consumers across the country for soups and simple meals. But did you know Campbell’s isn’t just soup? Beyond the classic tomato soup, the company owns Pepperidge Farm bread and cookies, Goldfish snacks, Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels, Lance sandwich crackers, Kettle and Cape Cod potato chips, and so many more. The company has over 10,000 employees and Campell’s stocks are priced at a little over $46 as of Jan. 21, 2021.

Fun fact: in 1962 the soup cans were featured in Andy Warhol’s pop-art displayed at the MoMA.

Cape May

Cape May Brewery Company—capemaybrewing.com

All the way at the Cape May Airport on the bottom tip of New Jersey, you can grab a fresh pint of Cape May Brewing Company beer. The Krill brothers got their start in 2011 when they delivered their first keg of Cape May IPA to Cabanas Beach Bar and Grill and have since grown their tap menu and distribution. Over 50,000 users on Untapped, a beer check-in social networking service, have checked-in drinking their initial brew. Now, their beers can be found throughout the state on tap and in cans at liquor stores and restaurants. It’s Crafted on the Cape, but you can likely find it in your neck of the woods.

Since we opened in 2011, New Jersey has opened its arms and fully welcomed Cape May Brewing Company. We began as a small, local brewery, brewing 12 gallons at a time and serving it up to the handful of folks who were able to find us in the Cape May Airport. Now, we brew as much in one day as we did in our first two years combined, distributing it throughout every county in the state, as well as Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware,” said Scott Armato, Cape May Brewing Content Marketing Coordinator. “We simply wouldn’t have realized the growth we’ve seen without the support and advocacy of the people of New Jersey who have spread the word of Cape May Brewing Company, not only throughout our fair state but throughout the country.

Cumberland

Delsea Drive-In Theatre—delseadrive-in.com

As New Jersey’s only drive-in movie theatre, the Delsea Drive-In is a one-of-a-kind Garden State business. They first opened their doors in 1949, closed in 1987, but then reopened in 2004. Today, the has the nostalgia of going to the drive-in, but have modern technology and more variety when it comes to food choices. The prevalence of drive-in theatres across the U.S. has dwindled due to indoor movie theatres and increasing real estate values. However, pop-up theatres in parks and large parking lots are growing in popularity due to COVID-19.

Essex

Panasonic—na.panasonic.com/us

Located in Newark, Panasonic Corporation of North America is a technology company that primarily sells household appliances with 13,000 employees and annual revenue of $7.6 billion. The company was founded by Konosuke Matsushita as Matsushita Electric Housewares Manufacturing Works in 1918, and in 2008 changed its name to Panasonic. The very first product was an Improved Attachment Plug and mainly focused on lighting. In the 1950s, more electronics were produced, such as refrigerators, TVs, radios, washing machines, and tape recorders. Today, Panasonic is a household name and well known for producing well-made and affordable electronics of all varieties.

Gloucester

Rowan University—rowan.edu

Rowan University is located in Glassboro and is a leading research institution for eco-friendly initiatives and has received more than 10 awards for green initiatives, according to U.S. News Best Colleges. The university first opened its doors in 1923 and began as a teacher preparatory college. Today, Rowan has more than 18,000 students, more than 70 bachelor’s programs, and more than 50 master’s programs. It is also one of 56 universities in the country with accredited programs in business, education, engineering, and medicine. In the 2021 edition of Best Colleges, Rowan University ranked #187 in the National Universities category.

Hudson

Vintage on First—vintageonfirst.com

Hoboken is known for its five-star restaurants, bakeries, and the ease of being a train ride away from NYC, but the trendy city also offers incredible fashion. Vintage on First is a boutique vintage shop located at 257 First Street that opened its doors in 2017.

Having a shop in Hoboken is a gift,” said Mark Rosado, owner of Vintage on First. “The town was built off of local mom and pop shops, and as a small knit community close to NYC—there’s no better place to have a business than Hoboken.

Specializing in vintage finds for women and men from the 1960s-2000s, you are bound to find something you love from decades past.

Hunterdon

Unionville Vineyard—unionvillevineyards.com

The first vines of Unionville Vineyard were planted in 1987 and since then Unionville Vineyard has expanded to six vineyards across three counties.

New Jersey is a great place to operate a winery,” said John Cifelli, General Manager of Unionville Vineyard. “There’s plenty of farmland available, and it feels good to keep farmland farming, rather than see it developed.

According to Cifelli, New Jersey is a major part of the wine market with significant food and wine metropolitans of Philadelphia and New York.

Not only does Unionville offer toptier wine, but its guest can also enjoy firepits, tasting rooms, and events of all sizes.

New Jersey is accessible and beautiful, particularly our region in the Amwell Valley,” said Cifelli. “We enjoy rolling hillsides dotted with hay bales, horse farms, and a half dozen wineries here in Hunterdon County.

Mercer

Case’s Pork Roll—caseporkrollnj.com

In New Jersey’s capital you can find Case’s Pork Roll, the original Jersey ham. Since the mom-andpop Jersey ham store opened its doors, the Case family has used the same secret spice mix and curing process. What was once a small single location establishment, has grown exponentially and is now sold in grocery stores, served at diners and available across five states.

Middlesex

Johnson & Johnson—jnj.com

Founded over 100 years ago in New Brunswick, Johnson & Johnson started with three brothers interested in offering a line of ready-to-use surgical dressings. A year later, they began producing the first commercial first-aid kits. The kits were initially intended for railroad workers but soon became a necessity for the general public. Today, the fortune 500 company is known worldwide as a healthcare company producing a wide range of products from pharmaceuticals to consumer health items. Johnson & Johnson is in partnership with Neutrogena, Aveeno, Clean and Clear, and more. When COVID-19 hit, Johnson & Johnson switched gears and as of Feb. 8 is awaiting FDA authorization for its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. In a press release in early February, Johnson & Johnson announced it expects to supply 100 million doses in the first half of 2021.

Monmouth

Rook Coffee—rookcoffee.com

Two childhood friends left their careers behind to bring New Jersey specialty coffee. Rook Coffee began brewing in 2010 out of a 300-square- foot shack and has since expanded to 11 stores along the Jersey Shore. The team pushes for the perfect product from a steaming cup of coffee from one the shops, to picking up a bottle of cold brew, to getting coffee delivered to your front door—Rook cares deeply about the consumer experience. Throughout the year they release seasonal flavors such as maple, mocha mint, vanilla spice, and more—follow Rook on Instagram to get a true feel for what they’re all about @rookcoffee.

Morris

Morris Animal Inn—morrisanimalinn.com

If you are in Morris County and have a furry friend, you most likely have heard of Morris Animal Inn. This family-owned and operated pet care facility makes pets and their owners alike feel like they are in a five-star hotel. With spa services such as “pawdicures” to daycare, training, and boarding, this pet resort has all the amenities to pamper your fourlegged friend and care for them when you’re not home. Since 1960 when the Morris Animal Inn opened its doors, it has welcomed pets of all breeds and sizes. With a well-educated, animalloving staff and countless awards, this facility is a must for Fido and Fluffy.

Ocean

Six Flags Great Adventure—sixflags.com/greatadventure

Millions of people each year visit Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park in Jackson to experience dozens of rides and attractions. In the park’s 2018 annual report Six Flags is on 2,200 acres with three separate amusement parks in one—Great Adventure, the Wild Safari, and Hurricane Harbor. The amusement park’s newest attraction which opened in 2017, Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth, is the world’s largest pendulum ride. Great Adventure is also home to other attractions that are some of the best in the world such as El Toro, one of the top wooden coasters, and Kingda Ka, the world’s tallest coaster. NJ.com reported this March, Six Flags Great Adventure plans to hire 4,000 workers to come on until January 2022.

Passaic

Palazzone 1960—palazzone1960.com

Starting as a small Italian pastry shop in 1960, Palazzone 1960 is now a full-service cafe in Wayne, offering authentic and fresh Italian cuisine. Their menu ranges from specialty meals to delectable pastries you would find on the streets of Italy. This family run business has grown tremendously since it first began and is a favorite among residents in the area. Notably, in 2017 they were listed as Buzzfeed’s most popular sweet spot in New Jersey as part of their “Best Bakery in Every State List.”

Salem

CowTown Rodeo—cowtownrodeo.com

You probably did not know New Jersey is home to the oldest weekly running rodeo in the U.S. CowTown Rodeo started in the 1920s in conjunction with the Salem County Fair and today it sits just eight miles east of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Every Saturday from Memorial Day weekend through the end of September you can grab your cowboy boots and hit a rodeo show. The owners are unique because not only do they produce rodeo shows all over the East Coast, but they also raise most of their stock.

The arena holds 4,000 spectators and you can buy your tickets ahead of time and use them any Saturday night during the rodeo season. Arrive early to buy your cowboy hat and tailgate before the show, the CowTown Rodeo is BYOB.

Somerset

Pluckemin Inn—pluckemininn.com

The Pluckemin Inn in Bedminster holds a significant history. Pluckemin, which is now Bedminster, was a destination during the Revolutionary War. George Washington spent time in the small village of Pluckemin and even mentions it in over 20 letters that can be found in the Library of Congress. In the Spring of 2005, the Pluckemin Inn was opened by Carl LaGrassa after having a lifelong dream of opening a restaurant in New Jersey. Today, the well-established restaurant serves delicious meals and award winning wine. In 2020, Pluckemin Inn celebrated its 15th year as a top culinary destination.

Sussex

Grand Cascades Lodge—crystalgolfresort.com/stay/grandcascades-lodge

You can have a perfect getaway just an hour from New York City in North Jersey at the Grand Cascade Lodge. Situated on over 4,000 acres, the lodge offers activities for the whole family to enjoy. Treat yourself to a spa treatment and take in stunning views of the rolling hills. The 4-star resort also offers golf, dining, snow tubing, and more—making it a destination to visit all-year round. A sister hotel to the Minerals and Mountain Creek hotels, Grand Cascade Lodge opened its doors in 2007 and has provided its guests with a memorable experience ever since.

Union

Get Stuffed Jersey—getstuffedjersey.com

While COVID-19 proved to be detrimental to some businesses, Get Stuffed Jersey in Union has thrived. This one-of-a-kind pretzel shop not only features creative pretzel concoctions on their menu, but also offers essentials like masks, hand sanitizer, wipes, Lysol, and even puzzles to pass the time. Get Stuffed Jersey’s success has come from not only helping their community during this difficult time; they also deliver within a 25 mile radius—a radius far above most food delivery. The pretzel shop also offers Do It Yourself Sweet Pretzel Kits which include four pretzel doughs, toppings, dipping sauces, and instructions on how to twist the perfect pretzel. With features on NBC News, News 4 New York, and hundreds of positive reviews, Get Stuffed Jersey is a go-to shop.

Warren

Hot Dog Johnnys—hotdogjohnny.com

Hotdogs are an American classic, and Hot Dog Johnny’s is a classic for New Jerseyans. Situated on Route 46 in Warren County, what was once a small hotdog stand started in 1944 by John Kovalsky and his wife Lousie, is now a 1950’s inspired restaurant selling hotdogs, sodas, burgers, and even buttermilk. The original hotdog stand is still on the property where the current restaurant stands. Hot Dog Johnny’s has been noticed by the Travel Channel as one of the most popular roadside stands in the country. Today Hot Dog Johnny’s is run by John’s daughter Patricia.