JACKSON, NJ – A familiar Jackson Township landmark is preparing for a dramatic transformation that reflects the community’s shifting identity.
The former Lighthouse Restaurant, once a popular seafood and steakhouse located at 250 Hope Chapel Road, will soon become home to a mikvah, a ritual bath central to Jewish spiritual life.
The change marks both the end of an era for a once-beloved local business and a milestone in the rapid growth of Jackson’s Orthodox Jewish community.
Founded and operated by Jeff and Kathy Hoefler, the Lighthouse was known for its warm atmosphere, high-quality seafood, and BYOB dining. For years, it drew regular crowds from across Ocean County for its simple, community-oriented charm. The restaurant closed in 2015 following the unexpected passing of Jeff Hoefler, who died at the age of 52, leaving behind a legacy of hospitality that locals still remember fondly.
The restaurant was a huge hit with seniors and the younger crowds of Jackson alike.
Now, more than a decade later, the property is being repurposed for a very different kind of gathering place — one rooted in faith, tradition, and community infrastructure and the site is eventually expected to be razed.
Growing need for local religious facilities
Over the past decade, Jackson Township has experienced explosive population growth within its Orthodox Jewish community, which now numbers over 2,500 families. Many of these residents once relied on neighboring Lakewood — home to one of the nation’s largest Orthodox populations — for access to essential religious facilities, including mikvaos (ritual baths).
Until now, women in Jackson have often faced long commutes, limited appointment availability, and late-night scheduling to access mikvah facilities in Lakewood. Organizers say this reality prompted the creation of The Mikvah of Jackson, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to building a state-of-the-art mikvah locally to serve the growing kehilla (community).
The Mikvah of Jackson project
According to public fundraising data and planning documents, the Mikvah of Jackson’s campaign — available online at themoj.org — aims to raise $750,000, with $657,560 already collected from community donations through platforms like Rayze.it. The project emphasizes accessibility, modesty, and comfort, incorporating modern design with traditional religious purpose.
The campaign message explains the importance of the project:
“From a few blocks of pioneering families, Jackson has grown to become a full-fledged, self-sustaining makom Torah. We’ve built our own shuls, kollelim, kosher establishments, and businesses. We have everything we need minutes away from our homes — aside from our own mikvah. Building our own mikvah isn’t just about convenience. It’s about building a spiritual foundation that will sustain our community for years to come.”
Organizers highlight that more than 3,000 families now live in Jackson and surrounding areas, all dependent on Lakewood’s existing mikvaos. The new facility, they say, will help relieve that burden and give local families a serene, accessible, and dignified space for observance.
Plans and design features
Inside the new mikvah, plans call for individual preparation suites, custom lighting, soft background music, and high-end amenities. Organizers say the space will be designed to offer complete privacy and tranquility, allowing women to fulfill the mitzvah of taharas hamishpacha (family purity) in a peaceful and respectful setting.
“From the moment a woman enters The Mikvah of Jackson, she’ll be enveloped by an elevated, serene atmosphere,” the organization states. “Here, there’s no thought of laundry, dinner, or carpools — just the clarity, tranquility, and purity that should come along with this beautiful mitzvah.”
A new chapter for a local landmark
The Lighthouse property’s conversion from a restaurant to a religious facility underscores the changing landscape of Jackson Township. Once known primarily for its rural charm and dining spots, Jackson has in recent years become a fast-growing hub for Orthodox Jewish families seeking affordable housing and proximity to Lakewood’s established institutions.
Since 2018, new shuls, kollelim, and kosher businesses have opened throughout the township where the nearby intersection of South Hope Chapel Road and East Veterans Highway is now full of almost entirely Kosher options.
Aside from McDonald’s and the Jackson Diner, the entire Jackson Crossing Plaza’s food and dining scene has become Kosher in recent years, adding to the allure of the closeness of the Mikvah to a kosher supermarket, restaurants, a bagel shop, and other retail stores geared toward the Orthodox Jewish community.
The establishment of a local mikvah — long seen as an essential component of a self-sustaining Jewish community — is viewed as a defining step in Jackson’s ongoing transformation.
- Former Lighthouse Restaurant at 250 Hope Chapel Road to become a local mikvah
- Jackson’s Orthodox population now exceeds 2,500 families, creating new infrastructure needs
- Over $650,000 raised toward the Mikvah of Jackson’s $750,000 goal
The Hoefler family’s former restaurant once served as a beloved gathering spot for neighbors and families. Now, that same site is poised to serve a new kind of purpose — providing a foundation of spiritual life for the next generation of Jackson’s residents.
