Jilly's features country charm and cuisine in Newton

By Laurie Gordon

NEWTON — Jilly's Country Store & Eatery is now open for business. Evoking an old time general store from simpler days, the new business is a country delight that maintains the beauty of the historic home in which it is located. The eatery features rooms filled with antiques, old time candy, jams, honey, apple butter and delicious fudge. It also offers indoor and outdoor dining and serves lunch six days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Dasalla family, who hail from the Sussex Wantage area of the county, said they've found a gem. "This is a great setting," said one of the family members who was visiting from Texas. "The food is wonderful and the atmosphere is really neat."

For the past 12 years the gorgeous, historic building located on Route 94 just south of Newton Memorial Hospital operated as The Tea Hive. The Hive specialized in elegant luncheons and tea and ladies often wore hats for events there. Owner Julie Shotwell said she was delighted to run the unique and highly popular business. But after over a decade at the helm of the Hive, the queen bee wanted to retire. However, Shotwell wanted to see the building transition into something that was in keeping with its history.

Jill Hendershot is originally from Morris County. After living in Branchville for 20 years, she and her children moved to Stillwater five years ago. Hendershot sold antiques on and off for the past 20 years. She was the original owner of the Olde Church Marketplace in Branchville and has owned other small shops in the area throughout the years. Hendershot is also seasoned and well trained in the food industry.

A year and a half ago, Hendershot saw an ad in the paper. "Someone was looking for antique dealers to rent space at The Tea Hive," she said. She answered the ad and met Shotwell. "We hit it off instantly," said Hendershot. Hendershot rented out The Tea Hive's detached barn where she sold antiques for the past year.

"When Julie decided to retire, it got my wheels turning," said Hendershot. "While I enjoyed selling antiques in the barn, it was just seasonal. So I decided to combine a country eatery serving lunch and desserts in an old time atmosphere, where you can eat and shop." She and her daughter Jaime set out to transform the building and Jilly's was born.

"In our shoppes, you can browse our general store or two floors of antiques and gifts," Hendershot said. "My hope is to bring in local artisans, musicians and farmers so we can support our local food and talent. I'm in the planning stages of setting up an events calender and considering a Sunday morning brunch. I am also looking for antique dealers interested in space to sell their wares."

Lunch at Jilly's consists of a selection of freshly made sandwiches, salads, quiches and soups. The extensive dessert menu features assorted cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and cakes plus yogurt muffins, assorted pies, cheesecake, carrot cake, chocolate fudge cake, Lemoncello Mascarpone cake, apple turnovers, toasted almond cream cake and raspberry crumb cake. Jilly's also serves old time cream sodas, root beer floats, thick shakes and egg creams.

Hendershot wants Jilly's to serve as a great lunch spot and be a country destination for local families as well as those from other counties. "So far, business has been pretty good and I am thankful to my customers for eating and shopping here and for spreading the word," she said.

Jilly's Country Store & Eatery is located at 310 Route 94 South in Newton. The hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are closed on Mondays.

For more information call 973-579-7177 or e-mail Hendershot at auntteeks2000@yahoo.com.

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