Over the past few couple of weeks, there has been plenty of discussion on TLS about groceries, restaurants, and food options in Lakewood. While reading through the comments and conversations, one question kept coming to mind:
Are there simply too many eateries in Lakewood?
It seems that every other week another food establishment, or specialty food concept is opening its doors. Many of them are beautifully designed, professionally run, and offer quality food and consumers certainly enjoy having choices.
But at what point does a market become oversaturated?
Lakewood and the surrounding area already boast dozens upon dozens of eateries. Some cater to families, others to the upscale crowd, and many try to distinguish themselves with a unique menu item, décor, or theme. Yet when you look closely, many are variations of concepts that already exist.
It raises an important question for aspiring entrepreneurs: Does every new business need to be another food establishment?
Lakewood is a growing community with countless needs beyond dining. There are opportunities in services, entertainment, recreation, technology, healthcare support, home improvement, education, and many other fields. Perhaps some of the energy, investment, and creativity currently being directed toward opening the next restaurant could be used to fill gaps in other areas of community life.
Of course, the free market ultimately decides. If new eateries continue opening and succeeding, that suggests there is demand. If they struggle, the market will eventually correct itself. Nobody can fault someone for pursuing a business opportunity they believe in.
Still, it is fair to ask whether we have reached a point where entrepreneurs are increasingly competing for the same customers rather than identifying new needs and creating something different.
What do you think? Is Lakewood’s growing restaurant scene a sign of a thriving community with endless demand and choice? Or have we reached the stage where enough is enough, and future business owners should begin looking beyond food concepts for their next venture?
I would be interested in hearing the community’s thoughts.
A recently-relocated TR resident.
At this point a place will only be successful if they are on the top of their game. Good food, good prices, good service. There isn’t room for mediocre. People won’t go. Why should they when there are so many options. (Me and my husband have found that certain hole in the wall places actually have delicious food.)
My family lives out of Lakewood and they love to comment that there are so many pizza stores… And I always call them: “ There are so many pizza stores because there are so many people. I go to my same two or three stores. I would never drive 25 minutes to Toms River to go to their Pizza Store stores. It’s very far. So as much as there are a lot of eateries, I do feel like they are spread out and most people frequent. The ones that are close to them.
100% couldnt agree more! Us lakewood folk have been going to they same stores for years and every once in a while a new one opens up near us and we try it out if we like it better or its cheaper we start going there instead! Competition is the best for us consumers because they have to keep their food good while keeping the prices in the same ballpark not allowing other stores to go up in price! In regard to upperclass restaurants most happen to be packed on the average night so adding more would probably just ease up the stuffy restaurants and keep the prices down as well. When you live in a town where hundreds of people are having birthdays, anniversary’s, bas mitzvah, dates, reunions, or whatever excuse on a daily basis due to this towns huge population then it totally makes sense to open more restaurants and food places. Ive yet to be in a nice high class restaurant near Lakewood that hasnt felt like a stuffy school dining room in a while (im talking about at night not lunch time…)! Keep them coming, if we need them theyll stay open otherwise theyll shut themselves down. so if theyre all doing fine for the most part I would say quite simply “Yes Lakewood needs them!”
I don’t think so. It’s a big town, there is going to be a nice amount of places. And keep in mind that ( unfortunately) they don’t all make it. Only the good ones. And in those, long lines!
More modern clothing stores should open, no eateries
Yeshivish. It can be offensive…
Over saturation comes naturally.
If there are too many, they won’t be profitable. When that happens, they close.
Its called capitalism. We live in a place where you can do what you want and open whatever business or eatery you want.
Nebech: It’s a bad Tayvuh (desire) of people whom dream to own a restaurant. Many lottery winners destroy their winnings by opening restaurants. The majority are in the red and will eventually close.
Even though it’s still one of the few businesses not affected by online shopping it’s horrible:
Big risky investment.
Long, Hard Hours.
High pressure.
Must have the latest best recipes.
Must have a knack for cooking.
To find and deal with minimum wage employees.
Hot Kitchens.
And very under appreciated.
this man says it how it is!!!
comment deleted.
Even though you’re joking, this is a bizayon of Kavod Hatorah
Please dont call yourself a rabbi and talk like that. It makes those look bad who are TRUE RABBIS the same way a guy who learns in yeshivah, wearing his hat and jacket, a Sefer in hand, curses the next person out cuz he doesn’t like them (yes, have seen it before) and makes me think bad of all those who are actually true learning guys. If you call yourself a rabbi, keep yourself on that standard ALL THE TIME. Shame on you
I Agree: The olam is very spoiled today.
I had no problem with the Yeshiva’s food.
When I was a kid in Yeshiva Cha’san Sofer on 50 street 1968 – 1974 the cooks were an elderly couple Hungarian refugees of which their cooking was the most delicious food I tasted in my life. During every lunch I used to bring my plate back to the window and get doubles and triples, their tunafish melted in my mouth, their soups were unbelievable & my classmates used to comment that I eat so much and I don’t get fat, I was as skinny as a toothpick in those days.
Also while I was in Stolin Mesivta the yeshiva served a delicious breakfast after shachris of which some classmates constantly complained and made fun of it, the yeshiva was angry at them .
maybe the adult was eating like an adult. maybe he ducked out to have lunch with his visiting brother.
being a food concern is actually a tremendous mitzvah. Avraham Avinu provided food, Yaakov Avinu established food markets, and it is really a benefit and a good sign for our community.
instead of opening your mouth with bitter opinions, why don’t you just go over to a store and fill your mouth with something sweet!
From the headline I though this was going to be another “too much gashmius” rant, but it’s just a basis Economics question and the writer makes a fair point. I had the same thought recently about other local businesses like car lease brokers, etc. I hope there are enough customers to go around but just seems like there’s a lot of competition without much differentiation.
Rav Nosson Wachtfogel ZT”L was against public earteries and there were no earteires in Lakewood until after he was niftar. I know that many people will criticize me for saying it is not a Jewish concept to go out to eat. I understand the need for a few eateries, but, the over the top high end ones that cost a fortune (more than I spend in a week for my eat at home food!) I feel is too much. There are definitely too many restauraunts in Lakewood
i think u answered ur own question…
anyways i will leave u all with the quote of the day:
“A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts”
“There is a thought that stops thought, and that is the only thought that ought to be stopped.”
Get a degree, and you will be able to open more establishments.
Its the old law of supply and demand. We demand fancy eateries so there is plenty of supply. I guess we don’t demand schools ,so there is not enough supply.
The “only” difference are: is that…
If you can’t afford to go out to eat, you don’t.
If you can’t afford tuition, your kid still needs to go to school (and who’s funding that?).
If the restaurant is stuffed to capacity you’ll find another place to eat (& maybe even switch patronizing them).
If a school literally has no room you’ll scream “yiddishe neshoma needs a place” when it affects all the other squished kids who also need the teachers attention.
If you don’t follow the restaurants rules they can call the cops on you and kick you out.
If you don’t follow the schools rules (whatever they may be) you start ranting how the school should mind their own business.
I’m not saying not having a school isn’t incredibly painful (even more so for a highschooler who understands vs. a kindergartener) but sometimes you gotta be the nachshon and try the new schools too instead of the brand names.
Definitely over saturated but its not the only business.. When you have a community without degrees (or the same 5 degrees) that need to make lots of money fast there aren’t too many choices…
Theres still room for more. They just need something different about them. Dairy thats open after 8 PM, a better kashrus standard, maybe something that can cater to the sephardic customs of bet yosef. I’m sure there are other “pulls”…