NOVELTEAS BEGINS A NEW CHAPTER
The future of NovelTeas will be written by the Rotonda family, including siblings Vic Jr. and Nicole. (Click to enlarge)
By TOM CHESEK
The news traveled fast Facebook fast. As NovelTeas founder Kim Widener posted last Friday: “NovelTeas has a new owner and will be re-opening tomorrow.”
Sure enough, come Saturday afternoon, the book salon/ tea room/ gift boutique established by Rumson resident Widener in 2009 on the “Left Bank” of Red Bank, and closed in recent weeks was abuzz with activity, with new proprietors welcoming customers in search of a last-minute MomsDay notion or sundry.
Taking over the shop at 78 Bridge Avenue are two generations of the Rotonda family of Toms River; dad Vic, mom Teri, son Vic Junior, and daughter Nicole a lecture agent by trade, and a media pro that Widener praised as “extremely energetic and creative” and “very connected.”