TOMS RIVER, NJ – For those who grew up in Toms River, when you think of places that are no longer there, you might think Old Time Tavern, Ground Round, movies at the Ocean County Mall, go-kart tracks and more. But there’s one place that reminds us of the days gone by each time you pass it.
Baiamonte’s at the corner of Fischer Boulevard and Hooper Ave, for many Gen X’ers, was a beacon of fun in Toms River. Forget the pizza and the food; there was a BMX track, an arcade, and a go-kart track at one point.
I had birthday parties at Baiamonte’s. Baiamonte’s was my Toms River East Little League sponsor not once but twice, and I proudly wore the PIZZA KING name on my cap when I played ball as a kid, even though when my team won the TRELL championship in an undefeated 1984 season, we were sponsored by Vito’s Pizza on Route 37.
Yes, undefeated to those Cardinals players who might be reading this.
My wedding rehearsal dinner was even held there.
Now, the building sits vacant after Boston’s left town a few years back, and there still doesn’t appear to be a plan for the historic local landmark.
Owned by the late Anthony “Tony” Baiamonte Jr., a longtime community leader and successful businessman, Baiamonte’s has left a positive mark on many of us who grew up here.
From the savory scent of pizzas to the echoes of laughter in his bustling restaurants, Tony’s legacy is a rich and diverse tapestry that weaves through the very fabric of Toms River.
Farming Dreams to Culinary Themes
Born in the urban heart of Queens in 1937, Tony’s journey to Toms River began in 1943. A promising family chicken farm turned into despair after a disaster, yet from the ashes of loss emerged the King Kustard Drive-in. A bustling spot; it was here that Tony discovered love, not just with his future wife, Barbara, but also with food. King Custard was located at the corner of Route 37 and Route 166. Eventually, it was demolished when Route 37 was upgraded from two lanes to three lanes.
The King Kustard Chronicles
The drive-in wasn’t just a restaurant but a cultural hub, where the community converged for cheesy cheesesteaks, tantalizing pizzas, and frosty root beer mugs. The closing of King Kustard marked an end to a beautiful chapter but set the stage for Tony’s reinvention.
From Police Badges to Pizza Ovens
Tony’s adventurous spirit led him to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and later the Dover Township Police Department. Dover Township is what the town was officially called back then.
His heart, however, remained in the kitchen, and it wasn’t long before he donned his chef’s hat again.
Baiamonte’s Era: A Culinary Kingdom
1970 saw the birth of Pizza King, which metamorphosed into Baiamonte’s Italian Restaurant and Pizza King and eventually Mugsy’s Sports Bar. Standing tall for over 30 years, this culinary kingdom was more than a landmark; it symbolized Tony’s dedication, creativity, and entrepreneurial flair
Today, all we have left is memories and a building that looks a little like our childhood.
The building is owned by LeApple LLC, a company based out of the law offices of Stephan R. Leone in Downtown Toms River. The Leone family were mid-century developers. If you know Aldo, Stephan and Maria Avenues in Silverton, they were named after Leone and his siblings.