Livingston Commemorates Grand Opening of Boardwalk Zeppoles with Celebratory Ribbon Cutting

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Homemade zeppoles, the Italian doughnut known across New Jersey as a favorite attraction at boardwalks and carnivals, are now readily available to Livingston residents at 37-45 East Northfield Road, where Boardwalk Zeppoles owner Maria Pacillo celebrated the grand opening of her first storefront earlier this week.

Although Pacillo’s zeppoles might already be familiar to those who have seen them offered fresh at MetLife Stadium concession stands or sold frozen at delis and pizzerias throughout the state, Boardwalk Zeppoles in Livingston is a new endeavor for Pacillo that will allow her business to thrive with a home base.

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“I found this place by accident, but now that I’m here, I really love it,” said Pacillo. “I pull in and it feels like home. The town has been very gracious, and I think it's an awesome place to come. It's family oriented, the town is safe, and people really make you feel welcome. I think that if you're going to be in Livingston, this is the place to be. You have to come to Boardwalk Zeppoles because that's why we're here — because Mr. Zeppy makes everybody happy.”

Pacillo was raising her three daughters and running a successful catering business until the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center, after which she committed herself to supporting the rebuilding efforts by serving two meals a day to hundreds of workers at Ground Zero and continued to do so for eight years. As she thought about her own family during those long days, Pacillo reminisced on simpler times — specifically the relaxing childhood summers spent in Seaside Heights, where the “irresistible smell and taste of freshly baked zeppoles became closely associated with good times spent with friends and family,” she said.

After many years perfecting longtime family recipes, Pacillo decided to focus on her childhood favorite, and Boardwalk Zeppoles was born.

Members of the Livingston Township Council and Livingston Business Improvement District commemorated the grand opening of Boardwalk Zeppoles on Tuesday afternoon with a ribbon cutting ceremony, where Pacillo was surrounded by family and friends as Mayor Al Anthony officially welcomed her to the community.

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Throughout the evening, guests were treated to samples of both sweet and savory creations and entered a raffle to win frozen bags of Boardwalk Zeppoles to take home, where they could enjoy Pacillo’s recipe again in minutes with either an oven or an air fryer. A few lucky guests also left with Boardwalk Zeppoles attire featuring Pacillo's beloved mascot, Mr. Zeppy.

Boardwalk Zeppoles, now located in the same building as Livingston Bagel and Norman the Florman at 37-45 East Northfield Road, will be open during regular business hours beginning on Thursday, Oct. 24. To find out when Boardwalk Zeppoles will be open until then, call 908-672-9121. To learn more about Pacillo's zeppoles, visit boardwalkzeppoles.com or follow the Boardwalk Zeppoles Facebook page .

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