DEAR BLABBY: I drove by AJ Burgers today and see brown paper covering the windows. Their Facebook account is deactivated. Their web site is just more brown paper with the words “? five one eight”. I am so distressed. Please tell me that my favorite hamburger joint is not closing.
Dear So Distressed.
People all over New Rochelle have been stopping me on the street with the same question. What is going on with AJ’s Burgers?
I have already lectured that young man on giving your poor old Blabby a case of the nerves with his little gag.
Alan “AJ” Cohen is alive and well and preparing a grand re-opening on May 18th with a new menu and a renovation of the most popular hamburger restaurant in New Rochelle. Alan needed to close for 2 weeks while the renovation work was being done so he decided to have a little fun with it, putting up the mysterious “? five one eight” signs on the windows and the web site.
Alan says the biggest change will be a new menu. The Wedge Inn specials are out, more speciality burgers are in. Pizza will no longer be on the menu but will be available when a special sign is lit in the front window. He has a few more changes up his sleeve but you will just have to wait and see. He did share one secret with your dear old Blabby — if you know to ask you might still be able to get the chicken parm off-menu but that’s out little secret.
If you can’t wait until the 18th, AJ’s Burgers will be on the menu at the annual Westchester Magazine Wine & Food Weekend starting May 17th and running through until the 20th.
To get answers to your questions about New Rochelle, write Dear Blabby at dearbalbby@talkofthesound.com or Talk of the Sound, Downtown Bureau, 234 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10801.
We will be back
I remeber speaking to you Martin. You are correct I was hesitant. I did not want to let the cat out of the bag so early. Hope to see you 5/18!
They Say It Will Re-Open
A good burger place – nothing fancy. I called the number on the door and some guy said that it would open on May 18th. He seemed a bit hesitant and asked who I was – kinda like a collection creditor calling. Let’s hope they do re-open. It was a good family place to go.