Who We Are
From our roots in Bridgewater to our expansion into Flemington in 2018, we have stayed true to the same simple promise. Great food. Fair prices. Friendly service. The story continues in 2025 with our Whippany location opening soon, bringing The Rock to even more friends and families.
The Rock Timeline
1863
The Chimney Rock Hotel opens in the Chimney Rock area of Bridgewater (Bound Brook), New Jersey, marking the origin of what would become Chimney Rock Inn. It served as a local tavern and social center in the 19th century, giving rise to Central Jersey’s “Rock” tradition.
1954
After nearly 91 years of continuous operation, the original Chimney Rock Hotel building is torn down. A new restaurant Chimney Rock Inn is constructed on an adjacent lot on Thompson Avenue in Bridgewater, modernizing the establishment while preserving its historic roots.
1955
Chimney Rock Inn debuts its now-legendary thin-crust pizza, which quickly becomes a local favorite. The “Chimney Rock Pizza” recipe introduced this year is the same beloved thin-crust recipe still served today.
1995
Entrepreneur Alan Frank purchases the Chimney Rock Inn. Under his ownership, the restaurant is revitalized and the brand begins a period of growth, while proudly emphasizing its long history.
2005
Chimney Rock Inn expands beyond its original site, opening a second location in Gillette, NJ. This marked the first expansion of “The Rock,” bringing its family-friendly dining and famous pizza to a new community.
Oct 28, 2013
The Chimney Rock Inn celebrates 150 years of serving New Jersey patrons. In honor of its sesquicentennial, both locations rolled back the price of a large cheese pizza to $1.99 for the day. The one day “throwback” pricing.
Sept 2018
Chimney Rock Inn opens its third location in Flemington, NJ, extending the brand into Hunterdon County. The Flemington restaurant brought “Central Jersey’s favorite family restaurant” to a new area, while continuing the 155-year tradition of the original Bridgewater location
2021
Chimney Rock Inn’s Bridgewater location is voted “Best Restaurant” in the Bridgewater Lifestyle magazine Readers’ Choice Awards. This recognition – along with numerous “Best Pizza” accolades in local polls – underscored the enduring popularity of Chimney Rock Inn’s food and family-friendly atmosphere.
2025
The Chimney Rock Inn family is set to grow again with a new location in Whippany slated to open. Plans for this fourth location have been in development since 2020, and its opening in 2025 will extend Chimney Rock Inn’s legendary hospitality and thin-crust pizza tradition to the Whippany community.