BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
EDISON — The good food and family atmosphere draw people like Edison residents Joseph and Mary Geotz into Le Peep for breakfast and lunch five days a week.
“We’ve been coming here since it opened for 30 years,” said Mary Geotz, who said their oldest child is now 30-years-old.
Joseph Geotz said he usually gets a waffle combo and his wife has tried different items on the menu.
“The staff is so nice and the food is great,” he said.
Le Peep, located at 561 U.S. 1 in the Wick Shopping Plaza, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
Owner Igor Tunit said his restaurant is the only one in the tri-state area.
“We have employees with the right attitude, we have fresh food and monthly specials,” he said.
Tunit is the third owner of Le Peep, which is open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., seven days a week.
“We are only closed two days of the year — Christmas and Thanksgiving,” he said.
Tunit said he previously owned a gas station in Edison and had driven past the Le Peep location 3,000 times before.
“I saw the name, but did not know what it was then,” he said.
Then in 2008, Tunit, who then owned a restaurant/nightclub in Spotswood, decided to switch his night work hours into day time work hours, taking over the Le Peep location from long-time owner John Allyn.
The original owner was Artie Diamond, who opened the location on Route 1 in 1987.
Tunit said when he took over the restaurant, he gave the place a makeover, replacing all the furniture, carpeting, bathrooms fixtures and equipment. He decided to put photos of the various dishes they offer lining the outside windows of the restaurant to gain more exposure for people passing and wondering what Le Peep is.
“The name doesn’t mean anything,” he said.
The original menu started with 50 menu items for Le Breakfast, Le Brunch and Le Lunch. Today, the menu has 144 items, plus the monthly specials.
“Some items are specified for every [Le Peep]; however, we have discretion on adding items,” he said.
Tunit and Manager Michele Hack, who has been with Le Peep for 25 years, said breakfast items are popular including the eggs benedict, Shamrock benedict and skillet dishes.
“We have specialty pancakes with Oreos and Nutella,” she said.
Le Peep was founded in Aspen, Colorado 45 years ago and has expanded to multiple locations across the country.
With only one location in New Jersey, Tunit and Hack, said they believe their loyal staff and customers are the reason for their longevity.
Hack said their wait and kitchen staff have been at Le Peep for more than 20 years.
“We are all a family and don’t really have a big turnover,” she said.
As for customers, Hack said she sees second generations of families come in.
“I remember kids in high chairs and now they are bringing their own children in,” she said.
Tunit added that he was in Aruba for vacation and saw a customer at the airport.
“We see our customers everywhere,” he said.
For more information, call 732-819-7666 or visit www.lepeepnj.com.
