Federici's bar has new look
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

CLARE MARIE CELANO Pat and Frank Federici have given the lounge area of Federici's restaurant on East Main Street, Freehold Borough, an updated look and feel. The restaurant has been a fixture in town for more than 85 years.

FREEHOLD - Federici's Family Italian Restaurant, a familiar landmark and slice of history that has lined the streetscape of East Main Street for more than 85 years, has given its bar a face-lift.

The establishment that can boast of having one of the oldest liquor licenses in Freehold Borough has redone its bar area, and the result is a relaxing place to enjoy food, conversation and a beverage or two.

If conversation is occasionally not on your menu, however, there are also two new large plasma screen television sets to entertain customers.

"We wanted to create a beautiful, calming atmosphere where people can come and relax with a light snack and the perfect drink," said Frank "Spat" Federici.

He said the idea behind the bar's renovation is to attract a late-night quiet crowd, "nothing rowdy."

"It's a place to come and relax, have a drink after a movie or after you've put the kids to bed," he added.

Federici and his wife, Pat, own the restaurant that has been in the Federici family since 1921.

With the creation of the revamped bar/lounge area comes a new "under $4 menu." Salads, pasta, appetizers and the Federici family's signature thin-crust pizza are all on tap.

Originally called "tomato pie" when it was created in 1946 by Spat, his late brother, Dante, and their parents, Ester and Frank, Federici's pizza has been named the "best pizza" in central New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly magazine many times.

On Sept. 17 Mayor Michael Wilson had the honor of cutting the ribbon to kick off the official dedication of the new bar.

Federici's son, Michael, who manages the restaurant, gave guests a brief history of the business. After noting that his father was born in an upstairs bedroom in the restaurant, Michael said the restaurant, in addition to being steeped in the Federici family history, is also a part of Freehold's history.

Originally known as the Wolcott hotel and later as Frank's Bar, the business was issued a liquor license in 1932. The former billiard parlor was turned into a full bar where a beer cost 5 cents and a shot of liquor cost 10 cents.

The bar, which became known as Federici's restaurant in 1950, is now welcoming its fourth generation of family members into the business.

Michael Federici, his brothers David and John, and their sister, Lisa Cook, run the restaurant in downtown Freehold.

Michael and his wife Nicole's two sons, Brendon Rashley, 18, and Kyle Rashley, 16, are now working in the restaurant, learning the ropes.

Frank and Pat Federici's oldest daughter, Margie Hansen, her husband, Pat, and Steven Cook, who is Lisa's husband, operate Federici's South on Route 9 in Howell. That location opened in 1983.

Their oldest son, Frankie, and his wife, Mary Lynn, operate Frankie Fed's on Route 33 in Freehold Township. That location opened in 1998.

The Federicis' youngest daughter, Patricia Webb, works as a hairstylist.