Freehold restaurateur dies

JJeff Jones, 52, the owner of the Court Jester bar and restaurant, East Main Street, Freehold Borough, died Sunday at CentraState Medical Center, Free-hold Township.

According to an obituary notice provided by the Higgins Memorial Home, Jones had been in failing health.

Jones, a visible figure in the borough for more than 20 years, was a co-founder of the Freehold Center Partner-ship, a civic organization which eventually led to the creation of a Special Improvement District in the borough’s downtown area.

Jones, of Broad Street, was a candidate for mayor on the Republican ticket in the 1999 election, losing to longtime Democratic Mayor Michael Wilson.

The burly restaurateur was credited with starting the town’s outdoor cafe seating several years after buying the Court Jester property in the late 1970s. Outdoor cafe seating now lines East Main Street in the borough throughout the spring and summer.

Jones was born in Bound Brook and grew up in the Possumtown section of Westfield, graduating from Westfield High School in 1965.

He was the founding partner of the Court Jester restaurants in Freehold, Hightstown and Aberdeen Township; and was the co-founding owner of the Sagebrush Restaurant, Morris Plains.

Jones began his career as a busboy in the Jolly Trolley restaurant, Westfield, and rose to manager of What’s Your Beef II.

In 1977 he purchased a century-old building on Main Street in the center of Freehold and opened the Court Jester, named for the historic courthouse across the street.

Jones later opened the Cinnamon Tree restaurant on Route 9 near Freehold Raceway, which operated for a number of years.

During his years in the borough, Jones was elected president of the Freehold Republican Club and last year was the Republican candidate for mayor.

Jones was involved with a number of civic and charitable causes in Freehold and other communities. He was a co-founder and supporter of the annual Band Aid Open Golf Tournament, which raised funds for CentraState Medical Center. He was a communicant and trustee of St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold.

He is survived by a son, Ryan, at home; his father, Frederick E. Jones of Stuart, Fla.; a brother, Steven, of Clinton Township; and a sister, Linda Luke, of Freehold.

Visitation will be held at the Court Jester, 16 E. Main St., July 5 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the Court Jester on July 6 from 10-11 a.m. and then proceed to St. Rose of Lima Chapel for the funeral liturgy, which will be celebrated at noon.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Rose of Lima School, 51 Lincoln Place, Freehold 07728. The Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, is in charge of arrangements.