The basics:

• Buffalo Wild Wings plans Aug. 3 opening in Hazlet
• Taking over vacant TGI Fridays restaurant
• Tim Hortons recently opened Forked River drive-thru location
• Canadian chain now has 13 New Jersey shops

New dining options are coming to the Jersey Shore area.

Casual restaurant chain Buffalo Wild Wings is getting ready to unveil a new eatery in Hazlet, while Canadian quick-service brand Tim Hortons recently celebrated the launch of a drive-thru spot in Forked River.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Located at 3053 Route 35 in Hazlet, the 7,400-square-foot Buffalo Wild Wings is set to begin welcoming customers Aug. 3.

Buffalo Wild Wings was founded in 1982. The eatery is known for its menu of game-day favorites, such as bone-in and boneless wings tossed in signature sauces, burgers, chicken sandwiches and wraps. It also serves shareable appetizers, salads and desserts. With more than 1,400 restaurants, Buffalo Wild Wings is considered the largest sports bar chain in the U.S.

Hazlet will mark the Inspired Brands-owned banner’s 21st location in New Jersey. 

Hiring efforts are underway for the Monmouth County location. According to Buffalo Wild Wings franchisee Munson Restaurant Group, the location expects to employ 100 workers across front- and back-of-house operations, including cashiers, cooks, bar servers and greeters.

Following the grand opening, Buffalo Wild Wings will operate Sunday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to midnight and Thursday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.

BWW moves into Fridays

At Hazlet Town Center, Buffalo Wild Wings joins a tenant mix that includes Aldi, Planet Fitness, Bank of America, Wawa, Panera Bread, Bubbakoo’s Burritos and Burlington. It will move into a vacant TGI Fridays restaurant. The location closed in the wake of the brand’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2024.

Hazlet Town Center:

Munson Restaurant Group Marketing Manager Joe Tripodi shared, “Hazlet sits in the middle of communities where people already gather around sports, family outings and shared experiences, and that connection is what makes bringing this restaurant here so meaningful.”

“The atmosphere inside a sports bar can change completely depending on what’s happening on the screens, who walks through the doors and who ends up sitting at the same table. We look forward to creating a place where we can make those moments a treasured part of their routine,” Tripodi said.

Munson Restaurant Group already has an established relationship with Inspire Brands.

The New Brunswick-headquartered group’s portfolio includes 17 Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants and six Buffalo Wild Wings Go sites in the region. The firm also has eight Inspire Brands-owned Sonic locations across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Tim Hortons

Following Tim Hortons’ recent opening at 245 N. Main St. in Forked River, the chain now has 13 locations statewide.

In Ocean County, the brand took over a 2,000-square-foot former White Castle drive-thru restaurant.

Paramus-based commercial real estate services brokerage The Goldstein Group secured the lease. The firm initially announced the deal last fall.

Founded in 1964, the Canadian chain’s menu includes coffee, specialty beverages, doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches, wraps, baked goods, bagels and lunch options.

The Restaurant Brands International-owned chain has more than 6,000 locations worldwide. As part of an effort to grow its current U.S. footprint of 700 sites, Tim Hortons is focused on expanding its presence in markets including New Jersey, New York, Texas and Florida.

Tim Hortons in Forked River:

“The new store, marks another milestone in the brand’s continued expansion across the United States. We are proud to have played a key role in helping Tim Hortons establish its presence in Lacey-Forked River,” The Goldstein Group said in a statement. “This opening is a testament to the strong demand for Tim Hortons in New Jersey and further solidifies the brand’s position as a leader in the quick-service restaurant sector.”

Other businesses in the area include The Home Depot, Wendy’s, TJ Maxx, Burger King, Mattress Firm, Chipotle Mexican Grill, TD Bank, Dunkin’, Mavis Discount Tires, Taco Bell, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Wells Fargo.

In Forked River, Tim Hortons is open daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. for dine-in and drive-thru.