5 of New Jersey’s Oldest Businesses Are Still Open Today

Have you ever walked into a place in New Jersey and thought, “Wow, this place has been here forever?”

Well, some really have!

New Jersey has businesses and restaurants that have been serving people for generations. We're talking about places that were around before cars filled our roads, before shopping malls and before many of the towns we know today looked anything like they do now.

And the best part? They're still open.

Here are five New Jersey businesses and restaurants with some seriously impressive histories. You may know a few of them, thanks to thelocalgirl.com, but I bet at least one will make you say, “I had no idea!”

#1 - Day’s Ice Cream in Ocean Grove

But did you know you're enjoying a Jersey Shore tradition that goes all the way back to 1876?

Day’s opened in August of that year and is considered Ocean Grove’s oldest continuously operating business.

Honestly, I think that's pretty special.

How many places can say they've been part of summer memories for nearly a century and a half?

#2 - Moore’s Tavern in Freehold

Here's another one that makes you stop and think.

Moore’s Tavern in Freehold dates back to 1787. That's right—1787, Wow!

#3 - Johnson & Johnson Started in New Brunswick

Most of us recognize the Johnson & Johnson name, but it's easy to forget just how long this company has been part of New Jersey.

And here's the part I love: it started with just 14 employees.

Today, Johnson & Johnson is a global healthcare company, but its New Jersey roots run deep.

#4 - Demarest Farms in Hillsdale

There's something comforting about a farm that's been part of a community for generations. Demarest Farms in Hillsdale was established in 1886 and is still operating today.

#5 - The Cranbury Inn in Cranbury

And then there's the Cranbury Inn.

Its history reaches back to the 1750s, when taverns in the area served travelers passing through central New Jersey. Imagine that for a second.

The Cranbury Inn is considered one of New Jersey's oldest restaurants, and it's a wonderful example of how some of these old places have managed to survive while the world around them changed.

New Jersey Is Full of Surprises

I love stories like these because they make you look at familiar places a little differently.

We drive past old buildings all the time. We eat at restaurants without thinking about who may have sat there generations before us. We visit farms and ice cream shops without realizing just how much history is standing right in front of us.

These five places have something in common, they didn't just survive New Jersey history. They became part of it.

Keep Reading: These Free Beaches in New Jersey are Perfect for the End of Summer

So the next time you're looking for somewhere to eat, grab an ice cream or spend an afternoon, maybe choose a place with a little history behind it.

You might be sitting in a place where New Jersey families have been making memories for more than 100 years.

And that's pretty cool.