BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer
PHOTOSBY JERRY WOLKOWITZ staff HAZLET — Although the television show “Friends” has been off the air for a few months, the Ross and Rachel saga and Chandler and Monica’s romance were just two of the relationships that viewers will always remember. But there was another relationship among the six protagonists that was unmistakable — the connection they had with Central Perk, the little coffeehouse hangout near their apartment.
While it may be difficult for a real-life spot to approach the atmosphere of that place, the Olive & Bean, a new coffeehouse/eatery in Hazlet, seems to come close.
Although it has only been open for a little over a month, it hasn’t taken long for the place to establish itself in town.
“Right from the start, we were welcomed with open arms by this community, and it has been great,” co-owner Denise Mautone Sweeney said. “At the start, people had found out about us just through word of mouth, and then things just got bigger from there.”
Besides having a full menu that lists more than 20 flavors of coffee and many kinds of sandwiches, another thing that sets it apart from its competition is its Bethany Road location.
“When we thought about opening up this business, we thought that customers may not want to travel on the main roads just to get a simple cup of coffee. Plenty of our business comes from people who, early in the morning, just want to pick up coffee and a newspaper and go over to the train station to head into the city for work,” Denise said. “So, instead of having to fight the traffic on Route 34 or 35, we’re right in between those two roads, and I think that makes things easier for our customers.”
The idea was hatched less than a year ago when Denise, her older brother Robert Mautone and younger sister Marina Mautone thought about adding some diversity to their family’s current business.
“We already had been helping out with our family’s construction business, which is also in Hazlet, and we wanted to try our hand at something else as well,” Marina said. “We had no prior experience in the restaurant business, but we thought it was something we could do well at because there really was no business like it in Hazlet. To find something like this, people would have to go to Holmdel or Red Bank, and so we thought there was a need for something like this in town.”
In any family-owned business, there’s always going to be some sort of strife, especially in the beginning. With the three co-owners, though, the problems have been kept to a minimum.
“It’s always somewhat difficult to work with family members, but we just try to sort things out and make things work, and that’s been a big part of our success so far,” Denise said. “We’re all on the same page when it comes to what we want to get out of this business. We just want to serve the community as best we can and keep our customers happy.”
Marina had a similar sentiment about working with her brother and sister.
“We’ve been able to handle each other. Sometimes we don’t all agree on things, but in the end we’re able to get the job done, and that’s what matters.”
For Denise, the coffee is the most important item on the menu.
“I commute at 5:30 a.m. from Manhattan each day just to get here to open up.” she said. “Therefore, the coffee has to be good, because at that hour of the day, I need my coffee.”
Above, Tara Spinelli, Hazlet, brews
a specialty coffee at Olive & Bean. At left, Julie Sokolow, Holmdel (l), and Emily Graham, Blue Bell, Pa., have a meeting in the sun-drenched lounge at Olive & Bean.