Soon You’ll See This Billboard In New Jersey. They’re About To Re-Name Their Garden State Parkway Rest Stops After Home Town Celebs!
You’re encouraged to stop by and besides reaching for a cool drink, maybe pick up some life inspiration shared by these Jersey icons as to how to reach for your own stars.
Steve Edwards is President of The New Jersey Hall of Fame which is overseeing the project. He joins me for a fun conversation to share the back story, talk about the home town celebs getting the honor and share all the cool things each rest stop will soon feature. Also how and when they’re going to roll out this re-name change game.
Millions travel the Garden State Parkway including me, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who won’t miss pulling into a rest stop called ‘Cheesequake’ which is truly a brain stinging taste bud confusing name. Calling it the ‘Jon Bon Jovi’ service area will leave no doubt.
All nine celebs being honored with their own service areas in NJ are members of the New Jersey Hall of Fame! Here’s a list of the rest stops and the names they’re about to be changed to.
- Montvale: James Gandolfini Service Area
- Brookdale North: Larry Doby Service Area
- Brookdale South: Connie Chung Service Area
- Vauxhall: Whitney Houston Service Area
- Cheesequake: Jon Bon Jovi Service Area
- Monmouth: Judy Blume Service Area
- Forked River: Celia Cruz Service Area
- Atlantic: Frank Sinatra Service Area
- Ocean View: Toni Morrison Service Area
I love upbeat fun stories and conversations like this. And I like the point of it.
“We encourage patrons in each service area to identify with one of our inductees and take to heart the advice our inductees provide on how to reach the pinnacle of their respective professions,” said Steve Edwards, President of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. ” The rest is up to you!”
BTW: The New Jersey Turnpike Authority Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on renaming the nine service areas in honor of notable New Jerseyans.
(Unanimous anything in 2021 is like wow impressive so big high five to them)
PS: There will be no change to the following names of the service areas on the NJ Turnpike. Grover Cleveland, Thomas Edison, Alexander Hamilton, Vince Lombardi, Molly Pitcher, Richard Stockton, Walt Whitman.
