Traditions are honored at South River tavern

BY JOHN DUNPHY
Staff Writer

MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Michael DeSantis, pictured with son, Mike, has recently opened Thirty Three’s Tavern in South River. Also behind the bar is DeSantis’ brother, Matt, who is managing the establishment. SOUTH RIVER — Thirty Three’s wants to be your No. 1.

For many years, Sonny’s Place, on the corner of DeVoe Street and Old Bridge Turnpike, was a South River landmark, recognized for such things as Fish Fry Fridays and the “Edna Burger,” a three-quarter-pound signature menu item. Even Mayor Robert Szegeti has fondly recalled chowing on the burger prior to his senior prom in 1976.

In 1999, Edna Witkowski, whose family had owned Sonny’s Place for nearly 70 years, decided it was time to get out of the business.

In 2003, local entrepreneur Don Brown renovated and reopened the location as Salli’s Place, a sports bar and grill. When that closed, Brown took the liquor license and brought it to Hummer’s, a nightclub he opened on Main Street earlier this year.

Recently, with a liquor license they purchased in 1997, Michael and Gail DeSantis decided the old site of Sonny’s Place would be the best place to open their first business. They opened Thirty Three’s Tavern on April 16.

For Michael, the No. 33 is close to his heart.

When he was 12, Michael decided to start racing go-carts. When he and his father, also Michael, went to buy one, the person selling it asked what number they wanted on the cart.

Having no particularly favorite number, Michael suggested to his father they go with 33, after the 1933 Ford coupe his father had restored. The coupe, in fact, would help tow young Michael’s new racer home.

The number stuck. When they began racing stock cars, they both decided to use the No. 33.

“It’s a family number,” Michael said. “A tribute to him.”

In 2002, tragedy struck when the elder DeSantis died at the age of 53 during a race at Wall Stadium in Monmouth County.

Michael said he has always wanted to own a business like his father, who had owned an auto body shop in Brooklyn, but was holding out for the right place.

“It was really a no-brainer,” he said. “Edna and Sonny’s, that was South River. Now it’s back in the hands of South River again.”

Also a lifelong resident of the borough, Gail said she has known the Witkowskis for years. Gail’s brother, Glenn Barkalow, had tended bar at Sonny’s for 30 years.

“Now he’s back at Thirty Three’s on Saturdays,” she said.

Even Edna Witkowski, now 78, has come back to lend a hand. She’s been teaching the cooks how to make proper fried fish for Fish Fry Fridays, which Gail said they’ve brought back with great success.

“That was very popular in [Witkowski’s] day,” she said. “You couldn’t get near the place, it was so busy.”

Though Thirty Three’s features a burger similar to the classic “Edna Burger,” Michael said he wasn’t planning to hearken back to Sonny’s time like they have done with the fish fry.

“You can’t duplicate that,” he said of the popular burgers. “We’re just going to try to get it close to that. But you can’t match it.”

Unlike Sonny’s Place, which served food only for lunch, Thirty Three’s has a fully operational kitchen with anything from chicken and cheese quesadillas to Philly-style cheesesteaks from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Sunday, when it opens at noon.

Besides some general improvements, and renovations to the bathrooms and ventilation system, much of Thirty Three’s has remained as it was after Brown had renovated the building for Salli’s Place a couple of years ago.

There have been some changes made to set it apart from its predecessor, however, and to give it more of a hometown vibe. While the front of the tavern is dark blue, the DeSantis family decided to paint the back room maroon and gray, in support of their favorite high school’s sports program.

“For South River,” Gail said. “Yeah, we’re diehards.”

Though the business has been open for barely a month, both Michael and Gail said the community’s response has been great.

“It’s a good location,” Gail said. “It’s been a nice mix of people. We’re really fortunate we’ve had so many friends and people coming in to support us.”

Michael also wanted to thank friends and family who helped renovate the bar and get it off the ground.

For him, Thirty Three’s is a fitting tribute to his father as well as a return to a hometown environment that he hopes will make people want to keep coming back.

“Only South River people know how South River people want to be treated,” he said. “We just want a place where people can come, hang out, have a good time and be part of the Thirty Three’s family.”