Relocated Business Asks Patrons to Shut Up and Eat

The owner of a relocated business on Main Street can often be seen serving French toast in her pajamas.

The purveyors of Shut Up and Eat! have moved into the old Friendly's location at 804 Main St., next to Cherry Lane Day Care. Complete with a friendly staff, interesting scenery and out of the ordinary menu names, Shut Up and Eat! made the decision to move away from it's former Water Street location for various reasons.

Owner Anne Gauthier said the move is best for the business. "It’s a bigger spot," said Gauthier. "Better location, too." 

Gauthier, who has been in business for six years, said the restaurant will live up to its motto at the new address. "It's home. It's comfort. Nothing beats home cooking and nothing beats comfort."

In addition to their home-style menu and atmosphere Shut Up and Eat! employees come to work in their PJ's. "I wear pajamas to work because my mother and father never served food in a tuxedo shirt and khakis," Gauthier said.

The Main Street building was abandoned for several months after Friendly's left. During the last few months Amy's Omlette House was scheduled to move in, but plans to open fel through a few months into the renovation. Gauthier and her workers moved in recently and designed it to resemble their previous location.

Jody Alessandrine, executive director of the Toms River Business Development Corporation, said Main Street "is a better location. It's better for the walking and driving traffic, and its pretty much what they thought to be a better opportunity for them.

"They weren't getting a lot of office traffic and walk-in business (on Water Street)," Alessadrine said.

Downtown Toms River will see a few new businesses soon. "There's a gym opening up on Main Street, on the 100 block, a new candle shop and a new bath and body store going in on Washington Street and of course the new Traco Theater," said Alessandrine.

Shut Up and Eat! is open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for breakfast and lunch, and dinner is served from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

According to Gauthier, a big seller on the breakfast menu is strawberry chocolate chip cream cheese stuffed French toast. Daily fresh fruit and a wide assortment of different juices also are included on the breakfast menu. Individual meatloaf, chicken pot pies, pot roast and stuffed burgers are on their dinner menu and invoke a feeling of home cooking, she said.

Meals are a great value if patrons come dressed comfortably; very comfortably.

"You get 13 percent off if you wear your pajamas," Gauthier said.

The restaurant can be reached at 732-349-4544.