By Barbara A. Preston | Posted April 6, 2023
The Tiger’s Tale — a Montgomery Township institution for 38 years serving up burgers and beer at the Route 206 - 518 intersection — may be moving soon. Owner Cory Wingerter confirmed the rumor during a telephone conversation with The Montgomery News on March 24. “It’s strictly a land deal,” Wingerter said. “We are keeping the license and the business.” “The plan is to open another Tiger’s Tale,” he said. “Spaces are opening up in town.”
Tiger’s Tale owner Cory Wingerter in front of the Tiger’s Tale Bar & Grill.
Wingerter, who is a major influencer in the Montgomery business community, says he is considering a location next door, in The Village Walk at Montgomery. Another option, he said, is Montgomery Promenade, which has Planning Board approval to construct a mixed-use development with housing, retail, and a Whole Foods market next to Princeton Airport on Route 206. The promenade is expected to open in Summer 2024.
The Village Walk is also a new mixed-use community with retail, office, and housing. Tenants include: Starbucks, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Mooyah Burger, and more. It is owned by long time Montgomery resident Vincent J. Pugliese, the chairman and CEO of Pugliese Properties. Construction is underway at Village Walk on two retail buildings on Route 206, an anchor building, and a mixed-use apartment building with 52 units ranging in size from one to three bedrooms.
Wingerter says there is an informal application before Montgomery Township professional planners, a sub committee panel. The plan may include Wawa, which has been wanting to add a gas station and an updated convenience store to the corner for sometime. A scenario could have Wawa switching to the west side of Route 206, which is currently occupied by Tiger’s Tale and a dilapidated Texaco gas station.
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On a positive note, the owner of the Texaco has agreed to tear it down soon. The owner would like to build at Dunkin’ Donuts at that intersection, and perhaps a deal could be struck with some jostling of properties amongst the property owners at that corner.
Since 1986, The Tiger’s Tale has been a mainstay in the Montgomery community. The first tavern at this Route 206 location was called Black Bart’s, when Montgomery was a sparsely populated township with plenty of farming, hunting, and winding country roads. Around 1980, the Monier brothers purchased Black Bart’s and called it The Foolish Fox. Joe & Dave Monier built the 40 seat rectangular bar and added the grill behind the bar - the first in the area.
Adrian Stevens and Cory Wingerter purchased the Foolish Fox, changed the name to The Tiger’s Tale, and the rest is history, according to tigerstalenj.com. Perhaps The Tale will be starting a new chapter soon.
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