WOODBRIDGE – The former Woodbridge National Bank building in the heart of the Main Street business district in Downtown Woodbridge will serve as the future home of Strickland Steakhouse.
Mayor John E. McCormac also announced two new additions to the Main Street Buy Local business community, with the grand re-opening of the Main Street Barber Shop and the grand opening of Daffy’s Holy Cow Donuts and Ice Cream.
“The Main Street Renaissance continues with the complete renovation of the former Woodbridge National Bank building into the future home of Strickland Steak House – a premier, upscale casual steak house that will serve as the cornerstone for the continued redevelopment of Main Street and the Downtown business district into a destination location for residents and visitors,” McCormac said after the June 3 announcement. “The redevelopment projects now underway will not only serve as the catalyst for new businesses to locate to Main Street, but will add substantial tax ratables to the township as the economic upswing continues to grow in Woodbridge proper.”
Joining McCormac to announce the Main Street Renaissance was Michael Strickland, a renowned New York restaurateur and lifelong resident of the Port Reading section of Woodbridge. Strickland is the owner/operator of the successful Staten Island-based West Shore Inn Steakhouse and the Fig & Vine Restaurant, according to the statement.
“There is no doubt that the upscale and much anticipated development in downtown Woodbridge will be a huge catalyst to reinvigorate the Main Street business district. It goes without saying, that in reviewing the various opportunities to locate my new restaurant in central New Jersey, that the Main Street business district came out on top as the No. 1 market demographic for the successful operation of the Strickland Steakhouse,” Strickland said in the statement. “I look forward to our grand opening and am thrilled at the opportunity to serve our new friends and neighbors here in Woodbridge Township.”
McCormac was joined by Mike Apito, owner/operator of the Main Street Barber Shop to announce the grand re-opening at their new location at 114 Main St., along with the grand opening of Daffy’s Holy Cow Donuts & Ice Cream right next door at 114B Main St.
Additionally, Sharon McAuliffe, owner/operator of Knot Just Bagels, announced that her business will relocate to 93 Main St. and is slated to re-open later this year.
Also participating in the June 3 announcement were Caroline Ehrlich, executive director, Woodbridge Redevelopment Agency; Karen Barnes, executive director, Woodbridge Metro Chamber of Commerce; Marta Lefsky, director, Planning & Development; Municipal Council President Brian Small; and members of the Main Street business community.