Carteret, NJ: Indian restaurant heads to Route 1 as Sikh temple expansion seeks approval
Two significant developments are underway near Carteret that reflect the South Asian community's expanding presence in central New Jersey. An established Indian restaurant group is taking over a former TGI Fridays on Route 1 in Iselin, while a Sikh religious organization has applied to build a larger three-story temple on the Carteret-Woodbridge border.
Indian Restaurant and Sports Bar to Open at The Plaza at Woodbridge in Iselin
The Mango People Collective, formerly known as the Fine Indian Dining Group, is set to open a full-service Indian restaurant and sports-themed bar at The Plaza at Woodbridge on Route 1 in Iselin, just minutes from Carteret. Urban Edge Properties, the owner of the popular shopping center at 675 Route 1, announced that The Mango People Collective will occupy the 9,462-square-foot standalone building that TGI Fridays vacated when it closed in 2024. Though the new restaurant's name has not yet been finalized, the venue plans to offer both traditional and modern Indian cuisine, catering to the diverse tastes of the area's South Asian community and beyond. A sports-themed pub will operate alongside the main restaurant, creating a combined dining and entertainment experience for guests along the Route 1 corridor. The Mango People Collective currently owns and manages nine family-owned Indian dining establishments across the region, bringing established culinary expertise and operational experience to this new location. Placing a full-service Indian restaurant at one of Route 1's busiest retail centers underscores the growing commercial significance of South Asian cuisine in Middlesex County. The shopping center is easily accessible to residents of Carteret, Woodbridge, and Iselin, communities that together have among the highest concentrations of South Asians in New Jersey. The replacement of a mainstream American chain with an Indian restaurant and pub signals a broader demographic and commercial shift taking hold along this stretch of Route 1, where demand for South Asian dining has been growing steadily. [3]
Singh Sabha Seeks Zoning Approval for Three-Story Sikh Temple on Carteret-Woodbridge Border
Singh Sabha Inc. has filed an application with the Carteret Zoning Board of Adjustment seeking permission to construct a new three-story Sikh temple at 941 Port Reading Ave. on the Carteret-Woodbridge border. The group is requesting preliminary and final site plan approval along with variances, because a religious structure of this scale is not permitted under the site's current zoning designations. The proposed building would replace the smaller, one-story temple already on the property, which Singh Sabha Inc. currently uses for worship and communal activities, reflecting the community's growing needs. A virtual public hearing was scheduled for July 16 to allow community members and local officials to review and comment on the plans. The site at 941 Port Reading Ave. straddles the Port Reading Avenue 3 zone in Woodbridge and a residential zone in Carteret, bounded by Port Reading Avenue, Larch Street, Arthur Avenue, and South East Grant Avenue. According to documents posted on the borough's website, the proposed 4,293-square-foot ground floor would include a Gura Ka Langer Hall, a lobby, a 20-by-60-foot kitchen fitted with a walk-in cooler and flat-top stove, plus storage space, a dedicated shoe area, and restrooms. The generous kitchen dimensions reflect the centrality of langar, the free communal meal offered at Sikh temples to all visitors regardless of background, as a core function of the institution. A three-story facility would significantly increase capacity for the growing Sikh population of central New Jersey and provide a fitting home for religious observances, ceremonies, and community gatherings. [4]
Sources: [3] TAPinto · [4] Central New Jersey News