Ultra-Modern Car Wash To Replace Former Friendly’s in Toms River

A developer submitted plans with Toms River's planning board to demolish a shuttered Friendly's restaurant and construct an automated car wash at 981 Route 37. The application will be heard April 15, at 6 p.m. at the township municipal complex on Washington Street.

According to Shorebeat.com, the proposed facility will span 4,841 square feet. It includes an enclosed automatic wash bay with an office area. Several self-service vacuum parking spaces will be added, including one handicapped-accessible space, along with new lighting and signage.

The car wash is allowed in the current zone. No use variance is needed. However, the developer requires bulk variance relief for several items: minimum front yard setback to principal structure, minimum front yard setback to accessory structure, minimum front yard setback to parking and vehicular circulation, maximum number of building mounted signs, location of building mounted signs, location of onsite directional signage, maximum height of onsite directional signage, minimum setback to ground signage, and minimum onsite landscaping.

The 1.34-acre parcel sits diagonally across the highway from the township's Walmart store. Real estate records show the restaurant was built in 1992.

The location closed without notice in 2022. This created a stir on social media. The western part of the township has witnessed several changes to its commercial corridor in recent years.

Planning board members will review the application next week. The meeting is open to the public and will allow residents to comment on the proposal.

If approved, demolition of the existing structure would begin before construction starts on the wash facility. The timeline for completion has not been released.