Tommy’s Tavern + Tap Cherry Hill is coming to Route 70, taking over the restaurant location which previously was a Houlihan’s.
The Houlihan’s location closed at the end of January this year, to the surprise of many.
The new Cherry Hill location for Tommy’s Tavern will be at a prime spot on Route 70 sitting in front of the very popular Garden State park shopping center which includes Wegmans and Home Depot. A Raising Canes Chicken restaurant is under construction at the shopping center, which while a fast-food eatery, is expected to be wildly popular.
The Tommy’s Tavern website indicates the new Cherry Hill location is coming, but does not disclose the location. I was able to confirm that the former Houlihan’s restaurant is the spot from other sources.
Tommy’s Tavern seemingly moved fast to secure the location after the Houlihan’s closing news.
They seem to have an eye for locating within popular premium shopping centers, as they also have a location coming to Mount Laurel Which (opening in June of 2023). Both new restaurant locations sit within the Wegmans anchored shopping centers.
Tommy’s Tavern + Tap: Family Owned
If you aren’t familiar with Tommy’s Tavern + Tap, they are a New Jersey based family owned chain of restaurants which now has eight locations open (6 in New Jersey, one in Staten Island, and one of the Christiana Mall in Delaware). They also have three more planned for New Jersey including Mount Laurel which opens in June 2023, Cherry Hill which we are announcing now, and Edgewater (North Jersey).
The Taverns are a restaurant and pub featuring table seating and bar area. So there’s a similar theme to a restaurant style that we’re all familiar with but, Tommy’s Tavern positions their restaurants at the higher end of that category offering more premium versions of classic pub food, other delicious entrees, and drinks.
A New Jersey Monthly review of the Bridgewater NJ location in 2021 described it as a “Sports bar and restaurant with modern, upscale vibe”
They go on to call out highlights of the menu which features BOTH brick oven pizza and sushi!
As an example, the menu at the Princeton location features small plates, wings, burgers and sandwiches, and more.
But they also offer large plate entrees including Chicken Parmigiana, Cherry Coke BBQ Ribsm 14oz Center Cut NY Strip and more!
Pizza is a signature item for Tommy’s Tavern, and they use a coal fired oven to create delicious specialty pizzas made with the highest quality ingredients such as San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, imported prosciutto di parma, kalamata olives, as a few examples.
And in a twist that I don’t see at any other restaurant in the category, they offer a full sushi menu!
Signature rolls offer a dozen varieties including the Volcano Roll (crab stick, cucumber, avocado, topped with spicy tuna, crunchy onions, spicy mayo, eel sauce & sliced pickled jalapeño), Tommy’s Roll (yellowtail, avocado, cucumber, topped with jalapeño, salmon, pepper, tuna & cilantro).
The family owned eateries seem to be experts at identifying prime restaurant buildings, in prime locations… and turning them into the signature Tom’s Tavern experience. There is consistent menu, quality and experience across the Tommy’s locations, but the restaurant environments have some variation from location to location.
Tommy’s even offers Sashimi and Poke!
For the upcoming Cherry Hill location, the Houlihan’s property was actually nicely developed and a large space (although admittedly it had been a few years since I had visited, and my brain’s getting). So at this time, I’m not really sure what the plans are for the Cherry Hill location, and how they will look to convert it into the Tommy’s Tavern + Tap experience.
I know at the upcoming Mount Laurel location, while they are changing up the interiors… the big change is the addition of an outdoor full season patio area which required approval from the planning board.
So far there has been nothing for the Cherry Hill location presented to the board so I don’t have any information of what the plans are for the route 70 location, or when they expect to open.
The Tommy Behind Tommy’s Tavern + Tap
Tommy’s Tavern + Tap was founded in 2015 by New Jersey lawyer and CPA Tommy Bonfiglio.
He and the family opened one location in the beach town of Sea Bright. The upscale sports bar experience was a hit with customers.
By early 2020 he had three locations, and very quickly during the pandemic they added 5 more locations plus additional Taco + Tequila themed restaurants.
While Tommy is the original creator for the restaurants, it is a full family operation with his wife and daughters heavily involved.
Sadly in July of 2022 Tommy Bonfiglio passed away at 62.
Obviously devastating to the family… they are continuing to operate the restaurants as a family enterprise, and continue expansion.
I look forward to sharing more on the upcoming Cherry Hill location as more information becomes available, and I plan on being one of the first at the Mount Laurel location when it opens.
Links and Locations
Tommy’s Tavern + Tap
Market Place at Garden State Park
2050 Rte 70
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002