Ocean County Sees a Surge of New Businesses: Here’s What Just

Ocean County has been buzzing with fresh openings over the last two months, bringing new restaurants, cafés, and specialty shops to Toms River, Brick, Bayville, Barnegat, Beach Haven, and beyond. From major national chains planting roots to local entrepreneurs launching new concepts, the region is experiencing one of its busiest seasons for business growth.

Below is a full roundup of the newest spots now open — and the ones officially confirmed to be on the way.

🍴 Major Restaurant & Retail Openings

Texas Roadhouse – Toms River (Confirmed)

• 📍 Location: Toms River Town Center, Route 37
• 🌐 texasroadhouse.com The popular steakhouse chain has officially signed a lease to open its first-ever Ocean County location, replacing the former Pizza Hut. Construction approvals are underway, and excitement is high for this major addition.

Gregorys Coffee – Brick

• 📍 Location: 101 Cedar Bridge Ave, Brick, NJ
• 🌐 gregoryscoffee.com The fast-growing NYC-based coffee chain is expanding into Ocean County with a brand-new Brick location — complete with a drive-thru. Known for its signature “geeked-out” coffee branding and specialty drinks, Gregorys is set to become a major new player in the local café scene.

🍔 New Food & Drink Spots

Smash House Burger – Toms River

• 📍 Location: 2066 Lakewood Rd, Toms River, NJ
• 🌐 smashhouseburger.com A new kosher smash‑burger concept bringing handcrafted burgers, crispy fries, and specialty sauces to the northern Toms River/Lakewood corridor. Early buzz suggests this spot is quickly becoming a local favorite.

Sunset Seafood – Tuckerton Cove

• 📍 Location: 340 S Green St, Tuckerton, NJ
• 🌐 sunsetseafoodnj.com A brand-new waterfront restaurant serving crab legs, shrimp scampi, fried clam strips, and other coastal classics. With lunch and dinner service and scenic bay views, Sunset Seafood is already drawing crowds.

Barnegat Oyster Collective – Barnegat

• 📍 Location: 483 E Bay Ave, Barnegat, NJ
• 🌐 barnegatoyster.com This new seafood restaurant highlights locally harvested oysters and coastal fare. Its recent opening adds a fresh, maritime-focused dining option to Barnegat’s growing food scene.

☕ New Cafés, Bakeries & Sweet Shops

Papa Ganache – Normandy Beach (Lavallette)

• 📍 Location: 3620 Route 35 N, Lavallette, NJ
• 🌐 papaganache.com The beloved vegan bakery has expanded into Ocean County with a new location offering cupcakes, cookies, and allergen-friendly treats — a unique addition to the barrier island.

Rooted Coffee – Bayville

• 📍 Location: 155 Atlantic City Blvd, Bayville, NJ
• 🌐 rootedcoffeebayville.com A cozy new coffee shop serving craft brews and pastries. Its recent opening adds a fresh local option for commuters and coffee lovers along Route 9.

Blend In Ice Cream & Café – Beach Haven

• 📍 Location: 1002 N Bay Ave, Beach Haven, NJ
• 🌐 blendinicecream.com A new ice cream and café concept offering seasonal treats and drinks for locals and visitors heading into the summer season.

🌊 Why This Matters for Ocean County

With multiple openings across the county — and more on the way — Ocean County’s business landscape is expanding rapidly. National chains are investing, local entrepreneurs are launching new concepts, and shore towns are gearing up for a busy summer.

For residents, this means more dining options, more coffee spots, more waterfront experiences, and more reasons to explore the county’s growing commercial districts.

• https://www.tomsriver.org