Tony Boy's Sandwich House, the New Jersey chain built on hand-breaded, pan-fried chicken and eggplant cutlets, opened its newest location in Cranford in late September at 102-C North Union Ave. Owner Anthony Marra Jr. says the shop is already off to a stronger start than he expected, and he's now looking ahead to two more openings planned for this winter in Wayne and Denville.
Marra told NJ.com that the Cranford location exceeded expectations, calling it a better-than-anticipated start as he looks to get to know the community there. Tony Boy's has reportedly reached out to local school PTAs and sports teams about future collaborations, and Marra said a grand-opening celebration is planned for the Cranford shop. The chain currently operates in Livingston, Madison, Montclair, Montville and Cranford, according to Tony Boy's own locations page, though a separate press page from the company describes four currently operating shops in Livingston, Madison, Montclair and the Pine Brook section of Montville — an inconsistency in the company's own public materials.
Founded in Livingston, Built on Cutlets
Marra founded Tony Boy's in 2017 as a small sandwich shop in Livingston, according to the company's press materials. The chain built its name on cutlets that are hand-breaded and pan-fried rather than deep-fried, and those chicken cutlet sandwiches remain the most popular item at every location, per the same account. The menu has since expanded well beyond cutlets to include cheesesteaks, cold sandwiches and fresh salads.
Among the signature items are the Drunk Chicken, made with vodka sauce and melted fresh mozzarella, and the Cougar, loaded with bacon, melted cheddar and ranch — the two most-ordered sandwiches, according to Marra. There's also the Stallone, topped with pepperoni, fresh mozzarella and extra-virgin olive oil, the Nutty Pig, which pairs a chicken or eggplant cutlet with warm peanut butter sauce, bacon and jelly, and the Tony Baloney, built from fried bologna, melted American cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo. Marra has said the shop takes particular pride in its salads, which come in 10 varieties with chicken, solid white tuna or ribeye steak as options. Several sandwiches on the menu are named after local school mascots, varying location to location.
Wayne Location Takes Shape at 239 Berdan Ave.
The Wayne shop, planned for 239 Berdan Ave., would mark the chain's sixth location and was expected to open in fall 2026, according to Patch. Marra said franchisee Bill Levy brought the Wayne opportunity to his attention, and he grew intrigued after researching the town himself. The company reportedly spent a few months choosing a site closer to local residents rather than a major highway, landing near a few schools in the area.
Marra said he hopes to build the same kind of community trust in Wayne that Tony Boy's has cultivated elsewhere. Denville, meanwhile, is set to get a shop at 2 Broadway, with franchisee Carmine Ruta — who lives in Denville — working for two years to secure the location. Marra said he had long wanted to open in Denville and was willing to wait for the right spot, describing the Broadway address as centrally situated and worth the delay. He added that having a franchisee who actually lives in town is especially valuable.
A Broader Expansion Push
The Wayne and Denville openings are part of a larger buildout that has unfolded through a franchise arrangement with MBB Management, according to NJBIZ. That arrangement helped the chain add locations in Madison, Montville and Montclair beyond the original Livingston shop, with Cranford following as another planned outpost. Marra has said his long-term goal is to grow to 10 stores across New Jersey with what he calls solid business owners running them.
Tony Boy's own press materials describe Cranford, Denville and Wayne as three additional coming-soon locations, which would bring the chain to seven shops if all three open as planned. For now, Cranford is open and drawing a better-than-expected response, while Wayne and Denville remain the next two stops on Marra's winter timeline.
