A dispute over hot dogs caused a commotion on Van Houten Avenue in Clifton, New Jersey. The conflict involved the owners of Jumbo’s Italian Ices and The Original Jumbos, both of which sell hot dogs. The altercation occurred between a 74-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman from Woodland Park who own Jumbo’s Italian Ices, and the 63-year-old owner of The Original Jumbo’s, who is a former Clifton resident now living in Seaside Park.
No arrests were made, and no charges were filed following the incident. The parties involved were referred to the courts for possible complaint signing. The dispute has been ongoing for two years ever since Dave Martina opened The Original Jumbo’s across the street from Jumbo’s Italian Ices. Recently, tensions escalated when Martina asked the Italian ice owners to remove their Sabrett hot dog sign, claiming exclusivity rights to the name.
On the night of the incident, Martina was videotaping the exterior of Jumbo Italian Ices as evidence for a legal case to have the owners remove the name “Jumbo” from their store. The owners of Jumbo Italian Ices confronted Martina, leading to a physical fight. Both Martina and the Italian ice owners were treated for minor injuries at the scene.
According to Lt. Robert Anderson, a spokesperson for the Clifton Police Department, the fight stemmed from an ongoing business dispute that started as a verbal argument and escalated into a physical altercation. The police responded to the scene but did not make any arrests, instead referring the matter to the courts for further action.