The Rite-Aid store in Lavallette, N.J., June 2025. (Credit: LoopNet)
Lavallette officials worried that the tall, boxy Rite-Aid building on Grand Central Avenue would become something of a white elephant after the pharmacy chain announced it was going out of business, but its prime location quickly garnered a sale to local business owners who this week received approval to expand their beloved restaurant to the location.
The writing may have been on the wall when the owners of Lenny’s Pizza & Italian Grill purchased this building this summer, but there was no confirmation that it would be used for a modern restaurant and takeout mecca until a planning board filing was published in the last two weeks. The board meeting was held Wednesday night, resulting in an approval for the plan that would allow the use of the building to be converted to a restaurant with an open kitchen, large dining room, dedicated takeout area and outdoor seating.
“It passed easily,” said board member and Borough Councilwoman Joanne Filippone. “It’s going to improve the look on that building a lot, and we were very happy to see it.”
Lenny’s is owned by Phil and Benny D’Aloisio, whose location on Grand Central (Route 35 North) and Guyer avenues is packed with a steady stream of customers year-round. In the summer, lines form out the front door and cars often circle the block, jockeying for a space so they can enjoy the pizza and Italian dishes that have earned the restaurant rave reviews from diners. There was no doubt that an expansion made sense, its representatives said.
Lenny’s Pizza, Lavallette, N.J. (File Photo)
The board was tasked with approving a use variance to allow the 8,200 square foot building – situated on a 10,000 square foot lot at the corner of Grand Central and Reese avenues – to operate as a restaurant instead of a retail store. The interior of the restaurant, pitched by an architect to board members, consisted of a kitchen, seating areas, coolers, outdoor dining areas, new restrooms and storage areas. Its layout will consist of a modern theme, including a kitchen centered in the middle of the establishment, surrounded by a dining room to one side and a designated take-out area on the other. Decorative awnings will hang outside new, large windows that look out onto the street and reach almost to ground-level.
“They did a really nice job taking into account what kind of area it’s in, and how they wanted to maintain it,” said Filippone, who added the new location will accommodate 167 people, in and out.
The entrance will remain in the same location, and the outdoor seating areas will be agreed-upon at a future date in coordination with borough officials and the police department, which will weigh in on public safety. An initial proposal showed outdoor dining in the front of the building and down the Reese Avenue side street. Outdoor seating at restaurants in Lavallette comes with a permit that must be renewed and approved annually.
The owners said at the meeting that they hope to have the new location ready for the 2026 summer season. As for the current location of Lenny’s – the question came up informally despite not being an official part of the planning board case – the owners said they would ideally hope to maintain both restaurants, but the current location is leased and will be subject to future negotiations.
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