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Green Business Recognition Program
About the Program
The purpose of the Long Branch Green Business Recognition Program is to raise awareness, educate and motivate companies to pursue sustainability as a competitive business strategy and a shared community responsibility.
The Long Branch Green Business Recognition Program (GBR) seeks to highlight and promote businesses and nonprofits that are committed to environmental stewardship and use sustainable practices in their daily operations.
Benefits
Promotional Support
- Your business profile will be featured on the Long Branch Green Business web page & promoted on the city’s social media
- Your business will receive a certificate and a window medallion acknowledging your Long Branch Green Business certification along with a digital GBR logo image for your online use.
- Your business will receive a free table at Long Branch Day, where you will be recognized as a Long Branch Green Business
EDUCATION & NETWORKING SUPPORT
- Assistance with setting up professional energy and waste audits, as well as business‐specific recycling and waste reduction coaching.
- Networking events with fellow Long Branch Green Businesses
- Assistance with applying for the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry (NJSBR)
Green Business Recognition Program Documents
Participating Businesses
Business Name: Beach Grille
Business Address: 49 Atlantic Ave
Business Website: https://beachgrillelb.com/
Business Phone: 732-229-5555
About: Beach Grille not only serves up delicious breakfasts and lunches daily (don’t miss the crumb cake!), but they make sure to follow sustainable business practices, earning them recognition from the City of Long Branch as a certified Long Branch Green Business. From sourcing ingredients locally to installing high-efficiency appliances to using environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, owner Fran Schults takes care to minimize her business’ environmental footprint. Growing up Fran’s family recycled before it was fashionable, and those lessons have stayed with her. In addition to regular recycling, Fran recycles her cooking oil and donates excess food from events to several local churches. She uses leftover grounds from a local coffee company in the restaurant’s flower box and the skins from the roasting of the coffee beans (known as chaff) which would otherwise go to waste in her garden as compost. Fran uses recycled products whenever possible (utensils, plates, to-go containers) and has even secured bicycles for staff to encourage biking to work. For their work with local farmers, Beach Grille was recently featured in the county’s Grown in Monmouth Restaurant Week program. They also participated in the Green Team’s food scrap composting pilot program and Fran is hopeful that we can find a way to bring it back.
Business Name: Doggie Sweets
Business Address: 15 Morris Ave, Unit 119
Business Website: www.doggiesweets.com
Business Phone: 732-200-8055
About: Initially launched in 2020 as an online treat store, Doggie Sweets opened their pet café in May 2022, and expanded to their current Pier Village location in June 2023. With the new construction, owner Patricia Dill took the opportunity to build out the interior following sustainable design principles, including energy star lighting, programmable thermostats, energy efficient appliances and low flow toilets. Doggie Sweets recently met the rigorous standards for inclusion on the NJ State Sustainable Business Registry and Patricia’s efforts have now also earned Doggie Sweets recognition from the City of Long Branch as a certified Long Branch Green Business. At Doggie Sweets, store displays are made from recycled treat tags which are collected in a recycle bin at the store after purchase. Products are selected that minimize packaging, and some bowls and mats are made of recycled plastic. Checkout bags are also recyclable, and any pet food nearing expiration is donated. A small family business, the owner and some of her staff carpool to work, and the location is set up to encourage customers to walk or bike to the store. Doggie Sweets Waggin’ (food truck) participates in 50+ festivals throughout the year, and the store runs its own fun events like puppy pictures with Santa, egg hunts on the beach, and more. Delight your dog (or cat) with a healthy treat from Doggie Sweets!
Business Name: Griffy's Organics
Business Address: 144 Brighton Ave
Business Website: https://griffysorganics.com/
Business Phone: 732-200-8055
About: Health and wellness is what Griffy’s Organics is all about, so it’s no surprise that co-owners Avry and Chris Griffin make it a point to follow environmentally friendly business practices. For their efforts, Griffy’s has been recognized by the City of Long Branch as a certified Long Branch Green Business. Over 80% of the fresh fruits and vegetables used in Griffy’s delicious smoothies, juice cleanses and elixirs come from local organic farmers. Honey is also sourced locally. All Griffy’s products are organic, and they press their own sugar cane to preserve the nutrients! Griffy’s even acts as a local supplier itself, providing fresh organic juices to such eateries as Cardinal Provisions and Watermark in Asbury Park, Skillet in Freehold, and our own Rooney’s where they are used as a base for cocktails.
Business Name: Healthy Eats Café
Business Address: 593 Broadway
Business Website: healthyeatscafe.com
About: Opened in 2025, Healthy Eats Café prides itself on offering the community organic, healthy and affordable breakfast and lunch options, including vibrant salads, homemade quiches, hearty breakfast sandwiches, refreshing boba tea and so much more-all crafted with wellness in mind. But Healthy Eats Café is also more than just a place to grab a bite. It is also designed to be welcoming and safe for after-hours gatherings that uplift and support young people. The café aims to serve as a hub for healing, sharing and finding guidance, hosting events that help build a healthier, more connected community.
Owner Deanna Robinson is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and feels operating sustainably is part of that mindset. She uses recycled goods, non-plastic utensils, compostable plates and other biodegradable materials whenever possible. Deanna sources mushrooms locally and plans to use the farmer’s market for fresh produce in season. Deanna’s new appliances are energy star certified, and many of the décor items are creatively upcycled, including the outdoor patio enclosure constructed from the awning that used to hang out front.
Healthy Eats Café is open Tuesday-Sunday from 7:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Business Name: The Herd Juicery
Business Address: 80 Brighton Avenue
Business Website: https://the-herd-juicery.square.site/
About: With a focus on health and wellness it should not be a surprise that The Herd Juicery also tries to minimize their business’s impact on our environment. For their efforts, The Herd Juicery was recently recognized by the City of Long Branch as a certified Long Branch Green Business.At The Herd, all products are made in house and many of the fresh organic fruits and vegetables used in their delicious juices, smoothies, salads, soups, sandwiches and bowls come right from the local farmer’s market. Owner Jonathan Ferris also uses packaging that is compostable, including bamboo and paper cups and bowls. Paper straws are used for drinks. He also uses all natural cleaning products. LED and high efficiency lighting has been installed. Jonathan’s appliances are energy star certified, his water fixtures are low flow, and he takes the simple, but important, steps of using a programmable thermostat, setting the temperature higher at night, checking faucets for leaks regularly and turning off all equipment except refrigerators at the end of the business day.
The Herd Juicery is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm (weekends to 4 pm). Open since 2015, and under current management since 2016, The Herd Juicery has built a loyal following in Long Branch’s West End. Beyond their delicious fresh pressed juices, they offer an extensive menu. You can order cold pressed lemonades, smoothies, coffees, lattes, and bowls along with organic snacks, soups, sandwiches, salads and toasts. You can also order off directly their website. Lifestyle coaching focused on health and wellness is also offered. With so many delicious choices, this is one herd that you will definitely want to follow.
Business Name: Mar Belo
Business Address: 611 Broadway
Business Website: https://www.marbelorestaurant.com/
About: A perennial favorite for over 10 years now, loved by locals and critics alike, Portuguese restaurant Mar Belo recently added to their numerous dining awards with a different kind of award – the Long Branch Certified Green Business medallion. Presented by the City of Long Branch, this award recognizes Mar Belo’s efforts to operate their restaurant with sustainability in mind.
One of owner Paulo Barateiro’s key sustainability accomplishments has been his efforts to minimize food waste. This starts with a carefully crafted menu, where ingredients can be used in multiple dishes, and a cook-to-order approach which avoids leftovers in the kitchen. Paulo also sources vegetables from smaller suppliers that deliver more fresh-picked produce that lasts longer. For larger events, when there are leftovers, guests are often invited to take some home and anything else is offered to employees. Perhaps this is one reason many members of his loyal staff have been with the restaurant for years.
Beyond cutting food waste, Paulo also focuses on sustainability in both the everyday little things, like making sure all computers and electronic equipment that don’t need to be left on are turned off at night, to investing in appliances with energy efficient versions that will yield savings in the long run. Recent major upgrades have included a new walk in cooler and a new air conditioning system. In addition, the lighting is all LED. Paulo’s wife, who makes sure that the restaurant is always pristine, insists that the cleaning supplies they use are environmentally friendly. “She’s very picky”, Paulo added.
Opened in 2013 and expanded in 2016, Mar Belo’s spacious dining rooms provide an intimate dining experience, as well as plenty of space for larger parties. Known for their top notch service, along with their authentic Portuguese dishes made with the freshest and finest ingredients, Mar Belo is open daily Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner, and is also available to host special events. Enjoy the wonderful hospitality and delicious cuisine of the Portuguese coast right here in Long Branch at Mar Belo Restaurant.
Business Name: Rook Coffee
Business Address: Two 3rd Avenue
Business Website: www.rookcoffee.com
About: You might know Rook Coffee by their instantly recognizable logo or the delicious selection of premium coffees served at their 11 locations across Monmouth County and in nearby Point Pleasant. But did you know Rook is also a local leader in sustainability? For their efforts, Rook has been recognized by the City of Long Branch as a certified Long Branch Green Business. At Rook’s Third Avenue offices and roastery, sustainability is considered at every step. For deliveries to their retail stores, Rook uses cleverly designed reusable folding boxes. Pallets get recycled to an oyster farm and the large burlap sacks that coffee beans come in are donated and reused in local parks and gardens, as is the chaff (coffee bean skins) left over from roasting the beans. The liners inside the burlap bags are returned to the manufacturer for recycling and the packaging for the roasted coffee sold at their retail locations is made from a sustainably sourced sugar-based product. For mail order shipments, Rook uses paper-based packing tape and recycled cotton package liners. All lighting is LED with self-timer switches, and they use ‘green’ cleaning supplies. Rook also uses local providers where possible for merchandise, supplies and even dairy products. And their premium coffees support growers who invest in sustainable farming practices. Founded in 2010 by local Shore Regional grads Holly Migliaccio and Shawn Kingsley, the business has continued to grow steadily. Marc Hindman, Rook’s Director of Brand Strategy, is continuing to explore ways to reduce their environmental footprint, such as options for recycling the coffee grounds the roastery creates.
Business Name: The Whitechapel Projects
Business Address: 15 Second Ave
Business Website: whitechapelprojects.com
About: Marilyn Schlossbach, chef and owner of The Whitechapel Projects, may be as well known for her passionate support of social and environmental initiatives as for her focus on delicious creative cuisine that showcases fresh, local ingredients. The WCP building itself was created using materials recycled from its former life as a warehouse through a process called ‘adaptive reuse’, a design spearheaded by her partner and original project visionary, Preston Casertano. In the process, old bricks, timbers, tin ceilings, pipes and doors were used to create the restaurant’s courtyard, bar, furniture, taps and other features. The lighting is all LED and appliances are Energy Star compliant. WCP grows their own herbs, mushrooms and blueberries, and sources products from a wide array of local vendors, helping to minimize their carbon footprint. The first restaurateur in New Jersey to eliminate plastic straws, Marilyn is again taking the environmental lead by composting her produce scraps and latex gloves with Un-Waste, a company that offers both residential and commercial composting services. Further underscoring her commitment to environmental issues and community outreach, a portion of profits is donated to the non-profit she founded, Food for Thought by the Sea, which works with area Boys and Girls Clubs, teaching local youth about food preparation, sustainability and life skills.
Whitechapel Projects’ farm-to-table menu offers a diverse selection that includes gluten-free and vegan options. WCP is open Thursday through Sunday but is also a premier private event destination so check their calendar before heading out. Sidepiece at WCP offers pizza, salads and beverages for takeout Wednesday through Sunday, even if the main space is closed for an event.
Business Name: Wild Honeysuckle General Store
Business Address: 50 Atlantic Ave
Business Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Wild-Honeysuckle-General-Store-100085286462587/
About: Sustainability is at the core of Wild Honeysuckle General Store, a charming eclectic shop in North Long Branch serving delicious teas, coffee, ice cream, and natural snacks along with a wide selection of eco-friendly products and art and craft items made by local artisans. In recognition of their commitment to green business practices, the City of Long Branch is delighted to recognize Wild Honeysuckle as a certified Long Branch Green Business. Opened in 2022, Wild Honeysuckle focuses on creating community and promoting health and wellness, with a variety of herbal teas, and healthy and gluten-free snack options. Eco-friendly soaps and personal products, like shampoo bars and toothpaste tablets, and healthy cleaning products like laundry and dish soap in bar form, along with kitchen towels made from recycled plastic bottles, are available. The store also sells jewelry from upcycled materials, garden bells from recycled metals, paints that use earth-friendly mineral pigments, and local art made from repurposed and found objects. Clothing, including kimonos and robes made from vintage recycled fabrics, and rain ponchos out of recycled bottles, are also offered. The store’s inventory is evolving based on customer feedback.