Edison: Indian Supermarket Opens, Diwali Festival Returns, and House of Bombay Faces Setback
Edison's South Asian community has a packed week of news: a major Indian grocery chain announces its arrival at a long-vacant Inman Grove storefront, the newly opened House of Bombay restaurant is forced to close temporarily following an unexpected fire, and the township's celebrated Diwali Festival opens vendor applications for its November return to Papaianni Park.
🏢 Go-Pal Indian Grocer to Anchor Former Stop & Shop in Edison
A new Indian supermarket is set to transform a key Edison retail space, with Go-Pal Supermarkets confirmed as the incoming anchor tenant at the Inman Grove Shopping Center on the corner of Grove and Inman avenues. The storefront has sat vacant since Stop & Shop closed nearly two years ago — one of ten New Jersey locations the chain shuttered in 2024 due to underperformance. Levin Management, which manages the 113,000-square-foot centre, describes Go-Pal as an Indian grocer, and hiring is already underway, with 'Coming Soon' and 'Now Hiring' signs displayed prominently in the windows. The store promises a retail offer tailored to Edison's substantial South Asian community: locally sourced fresh produce, an in-house bakery, a full-service meat and seafood counter, curbside pick-up, and daily hours from 7 AM to 10 PM. Job seekers can send resumes to jobs@go-pal.us. The opening represents a significant moment for Edison's Indian American community, which has long been a defining demographic force in the township. The arrival of a large-format Indian grocery anchor reflects both the commercial weight of the South Asian consumer base in central New Jersey and a broader trend of Indian-owned retail stepping in where mainstream chains have retreated. In June 2025, the shopping center was acquired by Levin Management for approximately $24 million. No opening date has been announced, but with active hiring now underway, the launch appears imminent and the community is watching with considerable anticipation. [1]
House of Bombay Closes Weeks After Opening Following Unexpected Fire
House of Bombay, the Indian restaurant that replaced the iconic Menlo Park Diner on Route 1 in Edison, has been forced to temporarily close following an unexpected fire, just weeks after opening its doors to the public. The closure is a significant setback for owners Nishiket and Shizani Parikh, an Indian husband-and-wife team who took over the long-standing diner space, carried out a complete interior renovation, and launched what they hoped would be a flagship destination for elevated Indian cuisine on Route 1. Nishiket Parikh, who owns several restaurants in India, had expressed his vision of honouring the Menlo Park Diner's legendary hospitality while bringing Indian flavours to a new generation of Edison diners. The fire occurred while the restaurant was closed, with no guests or staff present. In a social media post, House of Bombay announced it was closed 'until further notice' following 'an unexpected fire incident,' and that all reservations from September 5 onward have been cancelled at no charge to customers. Anyone already charged can request a refund. The closure marks another dramatic chapter for the Route 1 space: the Menlo Park Diner itself closed after a kitchen fire in October 2023 and was listed for sale at $4 million. House of Bombay is located at 1475 Route 1 South and had quickly become a topic of conversation in Edison's Indian community for its ambitious concept and bold reuse of a beloved local landmark. The community awaits further updates on when the restaurant will reopen. [3]
Edison Diwali Festival Returns to Papaianni Park on November 7
Edison's beloved annual Diwali festival is returning to Papaianni Park on Saturday, November 7, from 5 PM to 9 PM, with a rain date set for November 14. The Township of Edison and the Edison Recreation Department are calling it Edison's largest cultural celebration, an event that has grown to draw more than 10,000 attendees for an evening of lights, music, food, and family entertainment. This year, vendor applications are now open and being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through Monday, October 26. Vendor fees are structured across several tiers: $1,000 for a 10-by-16-foot parking lot space with a wooden hut, $850 for an equivalent outdoor lot space without the hut, $600 for a 10-by-10-foot grass space for for-profit organisations, and $250 for the same footprint for non-profit groups. Vendors are reminded that no electricity or water hookups will be available on site, and that all permit applications must be cleared through the Edison Health Department and Fire Department before approval. The Diwali festival has evolved into one of the most recognisable expressions of Edison's identity as the heart of South Asian America in New Jersey, reflecting decades of community building by Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Sri Lankan families who have made the township home. The event draws visitors from across the tri-state area who come to celebrate the Festival of Lights together, making it far more than a local gathering — it is a regional statement of South Asian cultural pride and belonging. [7]