Dewey's Dogs Fights to Remain in Business

A line formed outside of Dewey’s Dogs on the corner of Route 9 and Lakeside Drive on Tuesday afternoon.

As one gentleman approached the mobile food truck, he didn’t even have to put in his order. The operator, Anthony Geiger, knew what he wanted.

“He has been here a long time,” said Vick Crowell, a resident and patron of Dewey’s. “He’s almost historic here.”

On Monday, his truck to the Forked River House Plaza.

The food truck has been stationed in a vacant lot for 12 years but in January, the Planning Board , where Dewey’s currently sits.

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, Mayor Gary Quinn 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.

“I see the town’s point but I think they ought to let Dewey’s stay,” Crowell said. “Others are grandfathered in. He should be too.”

Other stands that are currently in business in Lacey were grandfathered in prior to the township's adoption of the ordinance, Quinn said at the Planning Board meeting. While Dewey’s also existed beforehand, he had always been located on the corner of Lakeside Drive. It was the site, not the business that was grandfathered in.

Geiger is taking the issue to a lawyer, he said.

“It sucks,” Geiger said. “I don’t like their excuses.”

Geiger said he does in fact pay property taxes for living in town, taxes on the food he sells and insurance for the mobile food truck. Although, Dewey's was seized by the state Department of Taxation, Chief of Field Investigations Tom MacDonald said. The judgment filed against Dewey's was satisfied in October.

“I’m definitely moving forward with something,” he said.

Geiger would prefer not to open a store, he said.

“It’s a lot of overhead,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of bills to pay.”

Dewey’s cannot remain at the current site once the office building is built. Township zoning laws no longer permit mobile food trucks on commercial sites.

For Dewey’s to remain at the current site, the owner of the property would have to amend the site plan, Sue Connor of the zoning office said. But since the site plan has changed, it is no longer grandfathered in.

“It’s like my hands are tied,” he said. “I’m going to explore every option.”

Geiger is also turning to Veterans Assistance. His father, who owns Dewey’s Dogs, is a disabled veteran. According to Geiger, he could park the truck wherever he wants under the Veterans Exemption.

“The township has zoning codes for vending and soliciting to make businesses sites better,” Township Administrator Veronica Laureigh said.

Veterans Exemption simply excuses Geiger’s father from having to pay a $150 fee each year for the vending license. Geiger still has to apply, undergo a background check and follow other requirements in order to obtain the license.

“That’s just so you don’t have to pay a fee,” she said. “You still have to comply with the law.”

John Daherty from the Veterans Affairs Office of Ocean County said that it is up to the town. Although Daherty doesn't know all the particulars of the situation, he offered to help Geiger.

"It's about me being a vet, helping a vet. If I can help him, I will," he said. "I feel that the township should make a reasonable accommodation for the man."

Locals from across the county stopped at Dewey’s on Tuesday. Some who said the township is “killing a small and successful business.”

“It’s great food. I love coming here,” Gerry Geary of Barnegat said. “He seems to have a following. I would hate to see him go.”

Ken Hamilton of Toms River said he likes a “small mom and pop atmosphere.”

“More and more are getting forced out,” he said.