Thomas J. Bonfiglio, who constructed a sequence of eating places in North Jersey and elsewhere even because the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered related companies, died Friday. He was 62 years previous.
He and his household have opened two eating places in Clifton prior to now two years — Tio Taco + Tequila Bar final summer time and Tommy’s Tavern + Faucet in December 2020 — and their restaurant stock greater than tripled throughout the pandemic.
Bonfiglio, who has practiced legislation and been an authorized public accountant for many years, instructed NorthJersey.com final 12 months that the bodily measurement of his eating places allowed them to climate the pandemic; they had been massive sufficient to seat a whole bunch of individuals and allowed them to take care of social distancing as soon as indoor eating was allowed. He had three eating places in the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020 and had 10 in the course of final 12 months after shifting his companies to a number of eating places that had closed.
“I noticed it as a chance,” Bonfiglio stated in an interview final 12 months.
“The restaurant trade is the hardest enterprise I’ve ever been in,” he added.
He stated the eating places are a household enterprise, the umbrella firm is known as Triple T Hospitality, together with his spouse and two daughters closely concerned, together with different relations.
Along with the Clifton places, the household operates Tommy’s Tavern + Faucet eating places in Sea Vivid, Freehold Township, Staten Island, Princeton, Parsippany and Bridgewater, and Tio Taco + Tequila Bar eating places in Marlboro and Edison.
Funeral preparations are dealt with by Holmdel Funeral Residence. The house’s proprietor, Invoice Boglioli, stated the providers had not but ended. Bonfiglio, of Rumson, died Friday night time at Riverview Medical Middle, in keeping with the dying discover. The reason for dying was not disclosed.
Bonfiglio stored his legislation observe till final 12 months, in keeping with a biography on his legislation agency’s web site. He stated that he had been a lawyer and CPA for 30 years earlier than retiring. He obtained a bachelor’s diploma in enterprise administration from Tempo College in 1982 and graduated from Brooklyn Legislation College in 1987.
He grew up in Brooklyn, the place he met his spouse, Yvette, they usually moved to New Jersey in 1992 after having their first baby, settling in Monmouth County, Bonfiglio stated in an interview a number of years in the past.
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Bonfiglio stated he liked his authorized profession however was excited a couple of new profession within the restaurant enterprise.
He and his spouse, who had two daughters, Andrea and Christina, turned companions years in the past on the Dockside, a restaurant in Sea Vivid. He stated that he introduced pizza to the Jersey Shore in 2009. He known as pizza “probably the most excellent meals ever invented.” However he stated that he wished selection, which led him to open a Tommy’s tavern in Sea Vivid.
“I used to be a lawyer for 30 years,” he stated. “I had a protracted profession and I liked it. However I am actually having fun with this half.”
Bonfiglio continued to work as a lawyer for years, however stated he loved being within the restaurant enterprise together with his household. He stated in final 12 months’s interview that his daughters work within the enterprise: Andrea as advertising director and Christina as model director.
“On the finish of the day, all of it comes right down to household,” he stated. “We earn money, however it’s not motivated by cash. It is an extension of our home.”
