The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille plans to open up to 15 location in New Jersey in a major expansion
NORTH BRUNSWICK -- The Greene Turtle is on the move in New Jersey.
The first location of the East Coast sports bar chain has opened in North Brunswick with plans to open up to 15 spots in the Garden State as part of a major expansion plan.
"The Greene Turtle is about being the local community hangout spot," said Raj Rana, owner of The Greene Turtle at 211 Main Street in North Brunswick. "We are hoping we can be successful in this location."
Here's, the highlights from a look inside the new North Brunswick location:
- THE SPACE: Almost everywhere you look, you'll find a flat-screen television playing some type of sporting event. The restaurant is located near the train station, hotels and stores, including Target and Wal-Mart, which are also located in the transit village. There lots of parking.
- THE FOOD: Greene Turtle prides itself on being a "neighborhood hangout" with comfort food and a casual atmosphere. The restaurant features typical sports bar and grill fare including hamburgers, french fries, and sandwiches. The Greene Turtle also brings flavor from its hometown of Maryland, including its crab cakes and crab cake soup as well as funnel cake fries. On Yelp, hog hammers and crab dip with pretzels are among the favorites.
- THE DRINKS: The bar features an array of beer on draft, including several local craft beers on tap like Demented Brewing (Middlesex), Kane Brewing (Ocean Twp.), Jersey Girl Brewing (Hackettstown), and Forgotten Boardwalk (Cherry Hill).
- THE MUG CLUB: More than 1,200 numbered mugs hang above the restaurant bar, reserved for the members of the Mug Club. Club members receive a personalized mug which gives them discounts on drinks, the option to select off-menu items and other perks.
- GAMES: Inside the restaurant, there are games like Skee-ball, darts and an electronic beer pong table. Once the weather warms up, there will also be outdoor games will include shuffleboard, bean toss and other games. There's also a small game room for kids
- DISCOUNTS: The Greene Turtle's Police, Guns and Hoses feature gives all police officers and firefighters the ability to receive a 15-percent discount off their entire order
- RU PRIDE: The Greene Turtle gives a nod to Rutgers athletics by hanging the university's sports memorabilia all over its walls. Also, the restaurant will continue to host a variety of charity events to benefit the university's R Fund, which benefits Rutgers athletic programs. There will be a "Rutgers Field House" outdoor patio where Rutgers fans can watch sporting events.
- COMMUNITY PARTNER: Through its Funds for Friends program, local organizations may arrange an event at the restaurant, which will give charity organizations a percentage of the day's proceeds. Nearly $1 million has been donated by the various locations throughout the country to more than 500 charity groups. "Many locations are involved in sponsorship of sports youth and amateur sports programs, supporting leagues, teams and tournaments," added Greg Pitkoff, managing director of GRiP Communications and a spokesman for the Greene Turtle.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.