The beloved Tilton Inn in Egg Harbor Township has been acquired by the Dooney’s Pub family, and will become the third location for the popular Irish themed pub and restaurant.
After 63 years of operating on Tilton Road, The Tilton Inn closed in April of this year… saddening thousands of loyal customers both locally and those who would stop in regularly on their way to Atlantic City and other Jersey Shore points.
Note: This is breaking news and I am updating this article this morning, adding details on Tilton Inn History. I will update again when Dooney’s publishes their Press Release
The new owner Dooney’s Pub has two very successful locations in Delran and Voorhees NJ. While I have not visited Delran, I’ve enjoyed the impressive Voorhees location several times and wrote about them back in 2018 when they opened.
I very recently pieced together that Dooney’s and acquired the Tilton Inn, and this morning while drinking my coffee I did a quick “Google” to see that Dooney’s has already updated their website to announce the new location, as well as an unlinked location page.
But literally not one media outlet has covered this news. This must be very “fresh”
So early this morning I headed down to Egg Harbor Township to find several cars in the former Tilton Inn parking lot, and the locks on the front door being changed by a locksmith.
I call this “Mark Powers” because seeing the doors being changed leads me to believe that the property settlement probably just happened this week… yesterday?
So seeing other cars there I hung out for a little bit in the parking lot taking photos and several minutes later I see 2 middle-aged gentlemen on the patio area… “Hello are you Jim?”, I asked.
Yes I am.
And just like that I found myself chatting with Dooney’s Pub owner Jim Dooney. I introduce myself to Jim.
Jim confirmed of course that he has acquired the Tilton Inn and a Press Release is written and will be released very soon. He didn’t have many answers for me, stating details would be in the press release
But you know the “press game” and he who gets the story out first… so I will be updating this article once I receive the press release.
Again it’s not like this is a complete secret. If you go to the Dooney’s Pub website right now they are actively promoting the new location. There is a pop-up as you enter the website and a top header announcement.
The Egg Harbor location page simply includes the address and some basic text saying coming in 2025.
Dooney’s Pub
If you’re unfamiliar with Dooney’s Pub, they opened their first location in Delran, New Jersey in 2011.
In 2018, the opened their Voorhees Restaurant and Tavern on Route 73, across from the Virtua Hospital.
I mentioned that I had written about the Voorhees location when they first opened, and I had noticed for several years they used one of my 42Freeway article photos as their Facebook profile image! I was honored!
I have not made it to the Delran location, but I’ve been to Voorhees several times I can tell you Dooney’s runs a high-quality Tavern.
The Voorhees location is very impressive as an all new build out, featuring multiple large rooms with three different bars and a large multi-season patio area.
It’s basically 4 segments to the restaurant, and each one of them is large enough to stand on their own as an individual Tavern!
They have a unique concept at Dooney’s where there is a somewhat private event space that is sponsored by a well known bar brand. In Delran, the bonus room is the Jameson Room. In Voorhees, it’s the Guinness Taproom.
Dooney’s features high quality delicious tavern food, a large selection of ice cold beers, and amazing cocktails.
Tilton Inn – Egg Harbor
The Tilton Inn Egg Harbor opened in August of 1963. The family had spent many years in the Atlantic County restaurant/bar industry.
Albert Ulrich Sr had owned the Garden Bar in Atlantic City for several decades, going back to the 1930s! I found a Press of Atlantic City article from 1949 which described the full remodel that had taken place in the Atlantic City Hotspot.
In the early 1960s, Albert decided to sell the Garden Bar and then help his son Al Jr in opening a restaurant and bar outside of Atlantic City… and they chose Egg Harbor Township.
Opened in 1963, the Tilton Inn Tavern and Grill was operated by Albert Jr and Mildred for 22 years, before passing the business on to their children Michele, Michael and Mark.
For decades the Tilton Inn was a second home to thousands of locals and travelers on their way to the Jersey shore.
On April 27th, 2024 the Tilton Inn closed.
Links and Location
Dooney’s Pub Egg Harbor – Opening in 2025
6823 Tilton Road
Egg Harbor Township, NJ