A recent altercation on Van Houten Avenue in Clifton, New Jersey has caused quite the commotion. At the center of this dispute is a longstanding business conflict between the owners of Jumbo’s Italian Ices and The Original Jumbos, both of which sell hot dogs. The incident occurred when a 74-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman from Woodland Park who own Jumbo’s Italian Ices confronted the 63-year-old owner of The Original Jumbos, who is a former Clifton resident now living in Seaside Park.
The dispute has been ongoing for two years ever since Dave Martina opened The Original Jumbos 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. This led to a physical fight between Martina and the Italian ice owners, resulting in minor injuries for both parties.
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
