Go-Pal Grocery Coming to Edison; House of Bombay Shuttered by Fire; Diwali Festival Nears
Edison's South Asian community steps into autumn with a mix of fresh promise and setback. A major Indian grocery chain is preparing to anchor a long-vacant shopping center, a newly opened Indian restaurant on Route 1 faces an uncertain recovery after a fire, and the township's beloved annual Diwali celebration is returning to Papaianni Park in November with vendor applications already open.
🏢 Go-Pal Supermarkets to Fill Edison's Vacant Stop & Shop Space
Edison's South Asian business community received a significant boost with news that Go-Pal Supermarkets will open at the Inman Grove Shopping Center, filling the large vacant space left behind when Stop & Shop closed in October 2024. That closure was part of a broader wave of Stop & Shop shutdowns across New Jersey, with ten locations in the state closing that year due to underperformance. Levin Management, which manages the Inman Grove Shopping Center at the corner of Grove and Inman avenues, officially confirmed Go-Pal as the new anchor tenant, describing the store as an Indian grocer. The storefront has already posted Coming Soon and Now Hiring signs in its windows, and hiring is actively underway; interested applicants can submit resumes to jobs@go-pal.us. According to the Go-Pal website, the store will offer locally sourced fresh produce, an in-house bakery, a full-service meat and seafood counter, and curbside pickup. Operating hours are expected to run daily from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. No formal opening date has been announced. The Inman Grove Shopping Center was sold to Levin Management in June 2025 for approximately $24 million and hosts tenants including Taco Bell, Wells Fargo, Dunkin', Planet Wings, and Kumon, making it a well-traveled neighborhood hub. [1]
House of Bombay Closes After Fire at Former Menlo Park Diner Site
House of Bombay, the Indian restaurant that recently took over the beloved Menlo Park Diner's longtime Route 1 location in Edison, has temporarily shut its doors after an unexpected fire struck the establishment. The Menlo Park Diner had been a Route 1 staple for roughly three decades, operating around the clock until its closure, and House of Bombay opened in the same space just weeks before the incident occurred. In a statement posted to the restaurant's social media accounts, House of Bombay announced it would remain closed until further notice following what it described as an unexpected fire incident. The statement stressed that the fire occurred while the restaurant was closed to the public, and confirmed that no guests or staff were present at the time. The business emphasized that the safety of its guests and team remains its highest priority. No information has been shared about the extent of the damage or a timeline for reopening. The closure adds uncertainty to a significant moment for the venue, which had just begun establishing itself as a new South Asian dining destination along one of Edison's most prominent commercial corridors. The community has expressed hope that House of Bombay will recover and reopen, though the restaurant has yet to offer further details about its restoration plans. [3]
Edison's Annual Diwali Festival Returns to Papaianni Park on November 7
Edison's popular annual Diwali festival is returning to Papaianni Park this fall, with the township scheduling the 2026 celebration for Saturday, November 7, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event has grown into one of Edison's most recognized and well-attended community gatherings, drawing hundreds of residents and neighbors each year to enjoy live music, food trucks, and a wide range of vendors. Vendor applications for the 2026 festival remain open and are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, with a final deadline of Monday, October 26. Space options include a 10-by-16-foot parking lot space with a wooden hut for $1,000, accommodating food and non-food sellers with 25 spots available; a standard 10-by-16-foot parking lot space at $850 with 10 spots; a 10-by-10-foot grass space for for-profit organizations at $600 with 5 spots; and a 10-by-10-foot grass space for nonprofits at $250 with 5 spots. No electricity or water hookups will be available at the park; vendors must supply their own tables, chairs, canopies, generators, and tent weights. All vendors must submit permit applications through both the Edison Health Department and Edison Fire Department, and applications will not be finalized until all fees are paid in full. [6]
Sources: [1] Patch · [3] Patch · [6] tapinto.net