Edison Desi News — September 21, 2026
Edison's South Asian community is navigating both setback and celebration this September. The newly opened Indian restaurant that took over the beloved Menlo Park Diner site on Route 1 has been forced to close after a fire just weeks after launch, while the township is gearing up for its biggest annual Diwali Festival yet — projecting over ten thousand residents at Papaianni Park for a celebrated night of lights, culture, food, and live music.
House of Bombay Closes After Fire at Former Menlo Park Diner Site
House of Bombay, the Indian restaurant that stepped into the storied space once occupied by the Menlo Park Diner on Route 1 in Edison, has temporarily closed following an unexpected fire. The Menlo Park Diner had operated around the clock for nearly three decades before shuttering, and House of Bombay opened in that same well-known location just weeks ago, offering the Desi community a new destination for Indian cuisine on one of New Jersey's busiest commercial corridors. In a post on social media, the restaurant announced it was closed until further notice after what it described as an unexpected fire incident. Management confirmed that no guests or staff were present when the fire broke out, meaning no injuries were reported. The restaurant did not provide a timeline for reopening but described the closure as temporary. The news came as a disappointment to local diners who had welcomed House of Bombay as a fresh and exciting addition to Edison's already rich Indian restaurant scene. The community is watching closely and hoping for a swift recovery and return to service. [1]
🎉 Edison's Largest Diwali Festival Returns to Papaianni Park on November 7
Edison is preparing for its signature cultural event of the autumn season as the annual Diwali Festival returns to Papaianni Park on Saturday, November 7, from 5 to 9 p.m., with a rain date of November 14. The Township of Edison and the Edison Recreation Department are billing this as the community's largest cultural celebration, anticipating more than ten thousand attendees. The evening will feature food vendors, food trucks, live music, and family programming — a vibrant showcase of the township's South Asian heritage. Applications from food vendors, food truck operators, and non-food vendors are open through Monday, October 26, with spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis. Edison's Diwali Festival has grown year over year into one of New Jersey's most celebrated South Asian community events, drawing families from across Middlesex County and beyond. This year's edition is expected to build on that momentum, reflecting the outsized role that Edison's Indian-American population plays in shaping the cultural identity of the township and the broader region. [4]
Vendor Booths and Non-Profit Spaces Available for Edison Diwali Festival
The Township of Edison is actively recruiting vendors and exhibitors for its November 7 Diwali Festival at Papaianni Park, and the window to apply is open now through October 26. Available booth configurations include parking lot spaces with a wooden hut structure at one thousand dollars for food and non-food vendors, standard ten-by-sixteen parking lot spaces at eight hundred fifty dollars, and ten-by-ten grass spaces for both for-profit organizations at six hundred dollars and non-profit groups at two hundred fifty dollars. Organizers have specified that no water hookups or electricity will be provided on-site, so all vendors must arrive fully self-sufficient with their own tables, chairs, canopies, generators, and tent weights. Permits must be obtained through both the Edison Health Department and the Edison Fire Department before applications are approved, and fees must be paid in full prior to approval. The festival has become a touchstone event for Edison's South Asian community, drawing hundreds of volunteer vendors and thousands of attendees each year. Non-profit organizations are especially encouraged to apply, given the reduced-rate grass spaces set aside to support civic and cultural groups. [3]