By Jerry Searfoss, Green Brook Township Committeeman – Business Community Liaison
I grew up spending my summer vacation in a great, relatively unknown location at the Jersey Shore. One day a big city newspaper wrote a glowing review of that same location. As a result, the secret was out and the crowds arrived! I want to let you know about another best kept secret; Somerset County’s Green Brook Township.
Green Brook Township is located on the eastern end of Somerset County, and it is an oasis of calm in an otherwise chaotic world. With a population of roughly 7200 people and about 2300 homes, Green Brook offers almost everything you want in a hometown. Tree lined streets, great schools (Blue Ribbon), open space, historic locales, proximity to major cities, stable taxes (no Municipal increase for the last 5 years!) and other amenities add up to a “Mayberry-esque” feeling only 32 miles from New York City.
Running directly through the middle of Green Brook is US Route 22. Many people only experience Green Brook when travelling along Rt. 22 from one destination to another on their daily commutes. Many local businesses are “on 22” and I challenge those travelling to stop in and utilize these great local merchants. There is a craft brewery, coffee spots, restaurants, pet shops, bagel stores and even an upscale bowling alley! There are a host of new businesses opening in the near future, including New Jersey’s largest fabric store, a “pet hotel,” and more! There are also local merchants worth visiting just off the highway along the main North/South route of Washington Ave.
Consisting of approximately 4 ½ square miles, Green Brook begins in the Watchung mountains and flattens out as it enters the Raritan Valley. Topography ranges from awesome vistas at Washington Rock Park (elevation 500 feet) to flat plains heading east.
Green Brook is always looking for new and exciting ways to partner with local property owners and merchants, to reenergize and revitalize our commercial corridor. If you have any ideas or know of businesses interested in coming to the area, please reach out to me at gsearfoss@greenbrooktp.org.
