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The Brunswick Bird

Blades Up, Chicken Coming ๐Ÿ” + Mystery Solved FEB 17TH V@


Happy Tuesday! Welcome to the February 17, 2026 Edition

The Brunswick Bird

Hey East Brunswick ๐Ÿ‘‹

Blades up. Chicken coming. Mystery solved. Your 5-minute Tuesday scoop starts now. โ˜•


Take heart! Spring is on the way. Official countdown below.

Count down to 2026-03-21T02:45:00.000Zโ€‹

THE WEEK AHEAD: Weather for EB


WHERE DAT BIRD AT?

We've been roaming around the neighborhood. Have a clue where we landed this week? (Answer way below)


๐Ÿ” Raising Cane's Approved โ€‹

The scoop: 3,500 sq. ft restaurant coming to the old Red Lobster spot (Route 18 & Cindy Way)

What's coming: Dual drive-thru lanes โ€ข Chicken fingers, fries & Texas toast โ€ข First Middlesex County location

Fun fact: Owner Todd Graves was a Guest Shark on Shark Tank Season 16โ€”the first restaurateur ever on the show. Also, for anyone wondering why there are so many chicken restaurants in town. Mr. Graves is apparently a billionaire.

๐Ÿ˜ข Closing: Banana Republic

One of the original tenants at The Shoppes at North Brunswick is saying goodbye this month. RIP to those business-casual blazers.

On January 15, JLL Capital Markets announced it oversaw the leasehold sale of The Shoppes at North Brunswick.

The center:

  • 147,000 sq. ft.
  • 40+ shops
  • Built in 2007
  • 15 acres
  • Located on Route 1 North at Route 130

๐Ÿฆท Now Open: Graceful Smiles Dentistryโ€‹

577 Cranbury Road, Suite C1 | ๐Ÿ“ž 732-432-0123

๐Ÿ  Local Real Estate News

๐Ÿช Summerhill 7-Eleven โ€” SOLD for $1.3M

When the 7-Eleven at 286 Summerhill Road closed after 50+ years, it was a shock to the system. Fun fact: Robert Melillo spent 24 hours there breaking the Asteroids world record ๐ŸŽฎ What's next: The 9,000 sq. ft. site sold off-market. Jonathan Benowitz brokered the deal.


๐Ÿ“† TONIGHT: TUESDAY, FEB 17

โ€‹Music Bingo. Happy Hour from 4-9 pm. Gustos. 1050 RT 18 North.

๐Ÿ“† WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19

โ€‹๐Ÿ’• Sweetheart Sing-A-Long ๐Ÿ“ Community Arts Center | ๐Ÿ•” 5โ€“7 PM Valentineโ€™s crafts, snacks, $1 pizza, live performance by Mr Ray. Free (registration required).โ€‹

๐Ÿ“† SATURDAY, FEB 21โ€‹
EB Birding Day - ๐Ÿฆ† EB Community Park (Dallenbach Lake) | 8:00 AM
Guided birding adventure. Free to join.

๐ŸŽธ Neon Nostalgic: 80โ€™s Music Television ๐Ÿ“ State Theatre NJ | 8 PM | Tickets from $34 MTV VJs Mark Goodman & Alan Hunter host. The Cure, Prince, Duran Duran, Bon Jovi, U2 โ€” full nostalgia mode.

๐Ÿ› Big Flea, Big Weekend ๐Ÿ“ NJ Convention & Expo Center, Edison | 5 PM start Indoor flea market. Shop, snack, stroll.

๐Ÿ“† SUNDAY, FEB 22

๐Ÿ›  Repair Cafรฉ ๐Ÿ“ East Brunswick Public Library | 1โ€“4 PM Free help fixing household items.

๐Ÿ“† TUESDAY, FEB 24

๐ŸŽค๐ŸŒ… SUNSETBLV MIC NIGHT is back at Habibi Motor Cafรฉ (405 NJ-18, East Brunswick) Come sing, speak, perform, or cheer on local talent in a night built around community and creativity.

๐Ÿ“† MARCH 7โ€“8

๐Ÿซ The Chocolate Expo ๐Ÿ“ NJ Convention & Expo Center, Edison. 80+ vendors, tastings, celeb guests, kid-friendly fun.

๐Ÿ“† SUNDAY, MARCH 15

๐ŸŒผ 41st Annual Daisy Breakfast ๐Ÿ“ Hilton East Brunswick | 8 AMโ€“12 PM $20 adults | $5 kids under 10

Don't miss The Oscars! The 98th Academy Awards will air live on ABC at 7:00 p.m. and can be streamed on Hulu. Download a printable ballot here.

๐Ÿ“† TUESDAY, MARCH 18

๐Ÿฆˆ Shark Tank Auditions (Philadelphia) Got a business idea? This is your moment.

๐Ÿ“† FRIDAY, MARCH 21

๐Ÿ”ง NJ Makers Day โ€” Volunteers Needed EB Public Library seeking demo leaders. Share a project. Inspire creativity.

๐Ÿ“† SATURDAY, MARCH 22

video previewโ€‹

๐ŸงŠ East Brunswick Ice Arena Grand Opening โ€ข FavM Pizza running concessions.

โ›ธ Hockey exhibitions

โ›ธ Figure skating performances

โ›ธ Public skate sessions

๐Ÿ“† FRIDAY, MARCH 28

๐Ÿฆ’ Six Flags Great Adventure Opens Safari season starts. 350 acres, 1,200+ animals.

๐Ÿ“† FRIDAY, MAY 1

๐ŸŽŸ The Price Is Right โ€” Live! ๐Ÿ“ State Theatre NJ

ONGOING THROUGH JULY 31

๐Ÿ–ผ Andy Warhol: On Repeat Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers Nearly 70 works exploring repetition and pop culture.

๐ŸŽฎ Just Opened

โ€‹Round 1 Bowling & Arcade โ€” Menlo Park Mall Bowling. Karaoke. Japanese snacks. Full bar. Arcade games. Date night = handled.


โ€‹Martyโ€™s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary offers a Senior Pet Assistance Program helping seniors afford vet care and essentials โ€” keeping pets and people together.


๐Ÿ’ฐ Real Estate Snapshot : East Brunswick

โ€‹Most Expensive Homes sold in EB last weekโ€‹

$800K โ€“ 17 Gloucester Court (2,308 sq ft, built 1967) = $347/sq ft

$725K โ€“ 24 Gage Road (2,164 sq ft, built 1956) = $335/sq ft

$693K โ€“ 4 Amanda Court (2,329 sq ft, built 1973) = $298/sq ft

$650K โ€“ 41 Pennsbury Way condo (1,966 sq ft, 1996) = $331/sq ft


๐Ÿ  That House Across From Ferris Farms?

The answer: Sold. Family moved in. Not squatters. Mystery = solved.

What people were talking about this week:

Note: If you're not already a member, you'll have to join these groups to see the messaging...*Our thanks to Amy at ..... For the Good of East Brunswick and Jenn at East Brunswick Helping Each Other And Emilia @ East Brunswick Moms and Dads, for letting us be part of your amazing communities.

โ€‹Watch Amy Denholtz, owner of Jazzercise East Brunswick, interview on the All About Real Estate with Ken & Jane podcast. Hear about her Jazzercise journey and what makes her Jazzercise dance fitness classes and community so special


๐Ÿฆ Whereโ€™s the Bird?

We were atโ€ฆ (stay tuned ๐Ÿ‘€)

The newly renovated and expanded Garden State Bar in Milltown on 246A Ryders Lane.


  • โ€‹Experienced Stylist Wanted. Drama Salon, East Brunswickโ€™s premiere hair salon, is growing and weโ€™re building out our team.

NEXT WEEK IN THE BIRDโ€ฆ

Thank you for reading, for cheering us on, and for supporting the local businesses that make East Brunswick feel like home.

If you visit any of the spots we mentioned, tell them a little bird sent you ๐Ÿฆ

Stay warm, flock.

Marla Camins Publisher, The Brunswick Bird

See you next Tuesday at 6 AM.


Are you a business owner who'd like to partner? Reach out!โ€‹

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The Brunswick Bird
3 Lexington Avenue, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
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See you next Tuesday at 6 AM.

The Brunswick Bird

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