Gabriel’s Fountain To Rise From The Pandemic Better Than Before

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Running a business during the coronavirus pandemic is not an easy task due to the constant changes to regulations, restrictions, and health and safety guidelines. But lifelong Bridgewater resident and owner of Gabriel’s Fountain Alex Alb says he and his business will emerge better than ever.

Alb and his wife grew up in Bridgewater and he took over the family-friendly restaurant and creamery Gabriel's Fountain at 1948 Washington Valley Road in Martinsville 8 years ago. He is the second-generation owner of this family-owned and operated business.

When the pandemic first hit Alb was forced to cut staff and close indoor dining. He reopened indoor dining in the summer but ended up closing it again after Thanksgiving when COVID cases began to spike.

Alb focused mainly on take-out, curbside pickup and delivery.

"I saw that indoor dining was not a priority for our customer base. So I closed it off and kept the staff small," said Alb. "If we had less people inside then there was less of a chance for COVID to spread. It was also a way to tactic to cut expenses and hopefully make money too."

Alb took advantage of the indoor dining closure to begin renovating the three dining areas by stripping floors and painting. Alb is doing pretty much all of the work himself.

Once the COVID cases started dipping Alb said he saw a desire for customers to escape their homes.

"The number one phone call I was getting was from the elderly to see if I was reopening my indoor dining. They were just looking to escape their four walls for lunch," said Alb.

Alb, who has three kids in the Bridgewater-Raritan school system, said he also saw families wanting to return to indoor dining as a way to get away from virtual learning.

Gabriel's Fountain officially reopened the indoor dining on Feb. 8 but he knows things change by the week as far as COVID restrictions.

"Everything is a moving target. For the month of February, our sales are down 35 percent down than last year. Our cost of food products has increased, labor minimum wage has increased, the change in protocols during COVID-era has caused us to keep more staff on than sales would rationalize," said Alb.

Although it is a challenge, Alb says he "jumping and jiving" to keep the business afloat.

"We are doing respectable, in reference to the rest of the restaurant industry. We are still going to make it," said Alb.

As warmer temperatures begin to creep back, Alb is looking ahead to better times.

"Our projected peak season is April through August. So I still know good days are up ahead," said Alb.

Speaking of better times ahead, Gabriel's just released their homemade ice cream sammies.

For more information visit gabrielsfountain.com or call 732-469-5800 or facebook.com/gabrielsfountainrestaurant.

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