Dewey's Dogs Eatery to Open Soon

Dewey's Dogs is one step closer to opening its storefront business at the Village Green Plaza on Route 9 after receiving county approval.

After battling with the township for months after the Planning Board approved the construction of an  where Dewey’s currently sits, the food truck will be relocating to a storefront business.

Dewey’s Dogs, which has been stationed in a vacant lot at Route 9 and Lakeside Drive for 12 years, will be moving into a store at the plaza and is anticipating opening this summer, operator Anthony Geiger said.

"I'm going to hangout here as long as I can," he said of his truck's location. As long as he's able, Geiger may run both the store and truck.

But even though Geiger has found a new home, locals who frequent his truck often are still disappointed in the situation.

"He was railroaded. He's being forced into a store," said Don DeWitt, who has gone to Dewey's every since Geiger's been in business. DeWitt added that Geiger's father, who began Dewey's, is a veteran and vets were the original owners of hot dog stands. "He should stay."

Geiger has been searching for a new lot since January 2011, when he was finally offered a spot on the property of the Forked River House Plaza, but the 

Since Dewey’s begun operation in Lacey Township, zoning laws have changed. Business stands are no longer a permitted use in town because they compete with local businesses that pay taxes and bills, Committeeman Gary Quinn previously said.

Quinn also cited that a year and a half ago, Route 9 in Bayville was lined with mobile food trucks, which caused complications with businesses, landlords the Board of Health and the police department.

Geiger had considered taking the issue to a lawyer but said it wasn’t worth the cost. Instead, he entered into an a few months ago.

DeWitt is concerned that opening a store could even hurt Dewey's business. "The truck's convenient. People stop at the busy intersection and are in and out," he said.

Lillian and Sameul Britton of Bayville are also longtime customers of Dewey's and said the situation is "terrible."

"I like to go up to his wagon," Lillian Britton said. "He does well here. It's the perfect spot."

Samuel Britton actually used to own and operate a food truck in Bayville. As Quinn said, the street was lined with the trucks and became overbearing, he said.

"It was too much but now there's nothing," he said. "There has to be a balance."

The new store will be takeout as well as dine in, Geiger said. Dewey’s will be expanding their menu. It will include everything from Dewey’s signature dogs to homemade burgers, cheesesteaks, meatballs and specials.

Geiger said he's even considering making the outside of the store look like a truck.