By KAYLA J. MARSH
Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN — HoneyBaked Ham Co. and Café of Middletown has relocated to a new space that offers patrons an expanded menu and a homier atmosphere.
On May 3, local, county and state officials gathered at the store’s new 3,000-square-foot location in the Twin Brook Commons Shopping Center on Route 35, down the road from its previous home in the Union Square Shopping Center, to celebrate the grand opening with a ribbon-cutting.
Among the attendees were Middletown Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger, Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini, Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone and state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth).
“The grand opening today went perfectly,” said Carmine Visone, chairman of the Aberdeen Economic Business Council. “It couldn’t have gone better. I’m actually honored that we had the senator here and mayors from several towns and the freeholder. I’m truly honored that they were here to support the grand opening.”
The Honey Baked Ham Co. and Café of Middletown is open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We moved from a different location and have changed the whole atmosphere of the store,” Visone said. “We now have seating for 36 and a more comfortable setting.”
The store’s expanded menu includes its signature ham and turkey breast entrees, as well as barbecue pork roast, barbecue baby back ribs and pot roast, along with a variety of sandwiches, salads, side dishes, soups, pies, cakes, cookies, brownies and drinks.
“This is a much more expanded operation than we had before,” Visone said. “It’s right on the Route 35 corridor, and right in this beautiful shopping center, and we really get so much more business and recognition, so we are really pleased about that.”
According to Visone, guests will find a much more relaxing atmosphere including comfortable seating, a fireplace, WiFi, a flat-screen television and much more.
“The country look of the store and the fireplace gives you a very homey kind of country feeling, and that is what we want for people, for them to feel at home,” he said.
“Everything in the store is homemade. We make our own salads, our hams are cut and glazed here … everything is very different.
“We want to make it big, very country, and a very homey type of store.
“It is important to be involved in the community and give back … and it really helps me do the things I want to do.”