Teaneck–After 11 years serving up a veritable cornucopia of comfort foods, including fried chicken, hamburgers, sushi, deli sandwiches, Chinese and Tex-Mex at 669 Cedar Lane in Teaneck, the Kosher Experience has closed its retail store and is changing its focus. With a very strong school lunch program and a robust catering business, the eatery’s staff is excited to have the opportunity to grow in new and exciting directions. To that end, they have built a state-of-the-art catering kitchen in Clifton, said owner Kenneth Rosen.

With its move out of Bergen County, the Kosher Experience will have both meat and dairy facilities certified now under the national Star-K hechsher. The company will continue to focus on preparing school lunches, supporting after-school lunch programs, yeshiva break programs that provide on-site catering at Medieval Times and Great Wolf Lodge. The Kosher Experience will also continue to provide catering for events large and small, to support Superbowl watch parties and the like. At the new facility, a party room is available that can host up to 140 people, for parties, sheva brachot, bar mitzvahs, and other family events. Clifton is a more central location for its catering business, Rosen said.

Rosen explained that focusing on the company’s core strengths was part of the decision to close the Cedar Lane restaurant. While the catering business continued to grow in recent years, the Kosher Experience’s retail side experienced a downturn. “Our lease was ending, and retail is not as strong as it was many years ago,” Rosen said. Luckily, he added, the company will be keeping most of its staff in its new location.

Rosen wanted to express his sincere appreciation to the Bergen County community for its support and patronage over the past 11 years. “The community has been great to us and we are very thankful. We really want to thank the community for the support all these years,” he said.

The Kosher Experience is moving to 306 Main Avenue in Clifton. The store will remain reachable at 201-692-7722 for catering needs. Avi Levenbrown, the Kosher Experience’s longtime manager, will be staying on and can be reached at 201-787-9333. For more information, visit http://www.kosherexperience.net/.

By Elizabeth Kratz