CJ McLoone's Pub & Grille in Tinton Falls is shutting its doors for good on Dec. 31, closing out a 14-year run at 560 Shrewsbury Avenue after the restaurant chose not to renew its lease. The closure caps a run that began long before many of its regulars' first visit, and it comes as the McLoone's restaurant group points customers toward what it calls its next chapter.
According to Patch, the restaurant is closing its doors after 14 years in business, and officials confirmed the final day of service will be Thursday, Dec. 31. The decision not to renew the lease at the Tinton Falls address was the reason given for the shutdown, though the broader circumstances behind that call were not detailed.
McLoone's Restaurants said diners don't have to go far to get their fix. The company noted it will continue operating locations in Asbury Park, Long Branch, West Orange, Red Bank and Sea Bright, and it's encouraging CJ McLoone's regulars to visit those spots once the Tinton Falls location shuts down. Gift card holders won't be left out either — officials said all active gift cards are accepted at any of the group's remaining locations.
A New Chapter Taking Shape in Montgomery
While one location closes, McLoone's Restaurants is already looking ahead. The company described a planned restaurant in Montgomery, New Jersey, as its next adventure, with an opening targeted for next year. Few other details about the Montgomery project have been confirmed.
The Montgomery plans trace back to at least 2022, when ROI-NJ reported that a 292,700-square-foot retail center on Route 206 in Montgomery Township, known as Montgomery Promenade, was expected to include two McLoone's concepts — Iron Whale and the Robinson Ale House.
CJ McLoone's Pub and Grille is part of the McLoone's Restaurants family, a group founded by restaurateur Tim McLoone. His career in the business goes back decades: McLoone bought the Rum Runner in Sea Bright on New Year's Eve 1986, according to Monmouth Community, laying the groundwork for what would become a string of Jersey Shore dining spots. More recently, the company opened AP Rooftop in Asbury Park, next door to its Supper Club, in the summer of 2024.
Part of a Rougher Stretch for Tinton Falls Dining
CJ McLoone's isn't the only longtime Tinton Falls eatery to close its doors this year. Back in March, MJ's Restaurant, Bar & Grill permanently closed its Tinton Falls location at 1213 Sycamore Avenue after 16 years in business, as reported by NJ.com. That chain, like McLoone's, pointed customers elsewhere — MJ's continues to operate locations in Bayville, Brick, Long Branch, Matawan, Middletown, Neptune and Spotswood.
The two closures leave Tinton Falls with one fewer familiar name on its restaurant row heading into next year, even as the McLoone's brand expands elsewhere along the Shore and beyond. For now, loyal CJ McLoone's customers have through the end of December to grab one last meal at the Shrewsbury Avenue location before the lights go out.
