NJ-AROC Monthly Breakfast, Bordentown, NJ, May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Drives, Events Jimmy's American Grill, NJ-AROC

Beautiful Sunday morning weather on May 18, 2025, brought out fifteen Alfisti driving nine different Alfa Romeos to our monthly breakfast at Jimmy’s American Grill in Bordentown, NJ. Four classic Spiders, a Giulia coupe, and a Giulia sedan covered the pre-1994 segment, while a Giulia Quadrifoglio, a Stelvio, and a 4C represented the modern Alfas. I must hand it to the members of the NJ Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club (NJ-AROC): we own (and drive) a nice variety of Italian cars!

Jimmy’s doesn’t open until 9 a.m., so we hung out in the parking lot until about fifteen after the hour before entering. Once inside, we had plenty of choices from their brunch menu. The service was great, and as usual, we coerced our server into taking a few group shots of the table. After the bill was paid and we spilled back into the parking lot, conversations continued, as they tend to when car guys and gals are involved.

These monthly breakfasts are a great tradition that has been ongoing for well over a year, and personally, I would love to see greater participation from the club members. We purposely vary the diner location each month (we are presently rotating among four diners throughout the state) so no matter where a member might live, the opportunity to join us is there. It was also great to drive my ’67 GT 1300 Junior in nice weather. The car ran well, and I have at least three more events for this month alone, so I’m looking forward to more miles in that driver’s seat.

NJ AROC Breakfast Meet, March 8, 2025

March 9, 2025 RichardReina Events AROC NJ Chapter, Jimmy's American Grill

The New Jersey Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club held its March monthly breakfast at Jimmy’s American Grill on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Nine Alfisti joined together to enjoy the unique brunch menu at Jimmy’s. It was not quite spring-like enough for those with classic Alfas to show up with them, but we did have four modern Giulias, including two Quadrifoglios, in the parking lot. It’s always great to be able to chat about our favorite Italian marque, and with spring’s official arrival just two weeks away, we are looking forward to cruising in our marvelous Milanese machines very soon. A special thanks to Paul for getting several friends from the Giulia forum to join us at breakfast. We hope you guys consider joining AROC!

NJ Alfa Romeo Club Breakfast Meet, Dec. 14, 2024

December 14, 2024 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Drives, Events AROC NJ Chapter, Jimmy's American Grill

Thirteen degrees Fahrenheit! That was the temperature in my driveway at 8 a.m. this morning as my wife and I headed to our car, about to drive to Jimmy’s American Grill in Bordentown, NJ. The occasion? The monthly breakfast get-together for the New Jersey Alfa club. We arrived at the restaurant just before 9 a.m. to find most of the crowd mulling about in the parking lot (and why not? The temperature had risen to a tolerable 25 F). We shared our quick “good mornings” and briskly strolled to the entrance. They were ready for all twelve of us, as the waitress efficiently passed around their extensive breakfast menu.

Food, coffee, and service were all great, and the table talk bounced from our Alfas, to holiday plans, to travel stories, and back to (what else) our Italian macchine. A personal highlight for me was meeting Pedro, his wife, and daughter, who arrived in their Alfa Romeo 155, a model never sold in this country. Pedro informed me that he imported the car from Japan, and that all the instrumentation was labeled in Japanese. His sedan is FWD, with a transversely-mounted Twin Spark 2.0L four-cylinder engine. I thought it was sharp. Those of us with “classic” Alfas left our steeds at home, so the only other Alfas in the parking lot were the modern Giulias.

A little less distinctive from the rear, but note the spoiler, lower valence, and exhaust tips

A congratulations of sorts is due to the NJ-AROC. In late 2023, we decided to “try” to hold monthly breakfast gatherings, with the first one in cold mid-January. After that, we also decided to vary the eatery location, so that we might increase the likelihood of additional members joining us. We did just that, and month after month, throughout the year, NJ Chapter members showed up. With this December 14 event, we have successfully held a breakfast meet every month for the year. I hope that we continue this into 2025, and I feel certain that we will. Thanks to all who have made the effort!