Colonial Coffee Shoppe Provides Community Feel off Busy Road

Driving down Route 9 on any given morning it is easy to miss some of the many businesses that line the busy road. 

In the Aldrich Plaza, the is a place that even some long term residents might not know is there that feels more like a traditional main street eatery than a restaurant just off of one of the most travelled roads in the state.

And if you ask owner Pete Savvis, he will tell you that is exactly what he was looking for when he bought the shop seven years ago.  With the Colonial being open for more than four decades, Savvis said even though the ownership has changed, many of the customers have remained because of the comfort level they have with the place. "It's like Cheers where everyone knows your name," he said. "It's a warm atmosphere. You've got your steadies and you've got other people coming in."

But it is not just the feel of the restaurant that keeps people coming back for all these years. Savvis said it is also the food. Specialty items like sausage biscuits and gravy on the weekends and the daily home made soups are also staples of the menu. "You can tell the difference between canned soup and homemade," he said. 

Only serving breakfast and lunch, the food they do serve can be more specialized and gives customers high quality options. For many, they may not get past the breakfast items on the menu. Savvis said his favorite items are the omlettes. "I love my omlettes," he said. "I'd probably have a pepper, onion and tomato omlette with cheese in it. But you can load the omlette up any way you want. If you don't see it on my menu, I'll make it for you."

The lunch menu also has plenty to choose from including a wide variety of salads, club sandwiches and cheese steaks for those looking for something beyond the regular breakfast items.

The Colonial Coffee Shoppe also sells more than just food. As an agent for New Jersey Transit and the Academy Bus Service, customers can get a meal or a snack and then board a bus for Manhattan or Atlantic City. With his days typically starting around 4 a.m., Savvis said that gives him plenty of time to open the store at 5 a.m. on weekdays. 

Savvis, a New York native has owned restaurants in the northern part of the state over the years, but has made a concerted effort to become a part of the Howell community. That includes being an active member of the chamber of commerce and contributing to local organizations including the local first aid squads and Pop Warner as well as the police and fire departments. 

Giving back, he said, is something that is very important to him. "Any charity that comes in I try to support them the best I can," he said. 

Even while running his business, Savvis said family is very important to him and it is not unusual to see some members of his family working behind the counter. That includes his wife Debbie as well as his daughters Danielle and Raquel as well as his son Gus.

They may not be his biological family but Savvis said the people he works with also become part of his inner circle. Many of the waitresses have worked there for more than a decade with the rest having at least a few years of experience.

Making everyone feel comfortable when they walk through the door is something Savvis said is very important to him and he believes helps make his business a success. "We make them feel like they're part of the family. We keep them coming back," he said. "They're going to love the food and they're going to love the people. 

After all this time, in an industry where restaurants seem to close faster than they open, at least one Howell establishment has proven to be an enduring as cars fly by outside their windows.