Toms river diner celebrates grand re-opening

Toms River Diner Celebrates Grand Re-Opening

by
March 17, 2021
··

TOMS RIVER-For those of us who grew up in Toms River, the Toms River Diner (TRD) was one of the four basic food groups.  After a late-night in Seaside Heights, or after a football game where North beat East…or North beat South…or North beat MonDon, we’d all pile into booths and order things we probably would not have ordered anywhere else, disco fries, Reuben sandwiches, big fat burgers or a triple-decker blt with fries.   Did we forget the disco fries?

Owned since 1972 by the Vasilakis family, who many of us even went to school with, it was closed two years ago and the family decided it was time to get out of the business.

In the two years since it was closed, it was missed by many who remember it as being the go-to place after pretty much any Toms River event.

Now this may sound like the start of the Asbury Park Press article published back in May when the place first reopened, but facts are hard to dispute.   Anyone who grew up in Toms River has the exact same experience and feeling about this place.

Now, with new owners, the “TRD” celebrated their grand reopening with some local dignitaries on hand including Mayor Thomas Kelaher and Freeholder Joseph Vicari.

The new owners, Mohamed Emara and his son Ahmed Emara have big shoes to fill to satisfy the expectations of the older TR crowd and to win over the younger generations.  They have some experience.  They also own the Holiday City Diner.

Don’t forget the disco fries.  They were a staple in our diet, because let’s face it…for a booth full of unemployed high schoolers with a few bucks to share, disco fries were the go to shareable of the day.

Editorial disclosure…back in my days at High School North, we didn’t beat anyone in football…just for those who were thinking of fact checking those earlier claims.

Photos by Toms River Township.

Toms river diner celebrates grand re-opening

Phil Stilton
Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

  1. New Jersey Town Where ICE Agent Was Run Down Passes Resolution Urging Repeal of Sanctuary State Policies
  2. New Jersey Dem Lawmakers Move to Expand Assault Rifle Ban As Court Rules Existing Law Unconstitutional
  3. FIFA Is Now Selling World Cup Grass Paid for by New Jersey Taxpayers
  4. Flood Watch, Severe Thunderstorm Risk, and Possible EF2 Tornado Threat Across New Jersey Today