MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County officials gathered at The Grand Café in Morristown on July 1, 2026, to celebrate the restaurant’s forty-fifth anniversary, presenting owner Allison Lloyd Porter with proclamations and awards honoring the Morristown institution.
The event, held indoors as outdoor temperatures reached ninety-five degrees, drew about fifty attendees, according to Morris County Commission Director Stephen Shaw, who praised the café’s legacy. Assistant County Administrator Brian Murray noted that some guests in attendance had been patrons since the restaurant’s earliest days, when men were required to wear jackets to dine there.
Desmond and Alice Lloyd, immigrants who built what became known as an American dream story, opened The Grand Café on July 1, 1981, bringing high-end French-American cuisine and old-world hospitality to Morristown’s dining scene. Desmond Lloyd drew inspiration from his years in the English Merchant Navy, where he worked as a waiter in the upscale dining rooms of luxury cruise liners before eventually working his way up at Rod’s Steakhouse in Morristown.
Both founders have since passed away, and their daughter, Allison Lloyd Porter, now runs the restaurant. Porter grew emotional while thanking the community, saying the past forty-five years were built not only by her parents but by the countless staff members who have served customers over the decades. She added that the café will continue to evolve as it looks toward its next forty-five years.
Officials in attendance included Morris County Commission Deputy Director John Krickus, along with fellow commissioners Deborah Smith, Christine Myers and Thomas Mastrangelo, as well as former freeholder John Murphy. Morris County Sheriff James Gannon and state Assemblywoman Aura Dunn also attended, along with Chiara Garcia, chief of staff for state Senator Anthony Bucco, and former Morris County Republican chair John Sette. Morristown Fire Chief Robert Flanagan was also present.
The Grand Café, located at 42 Washington Street, is marking the milestone with a month of special events, dining promotions and live entertainment throughout July. Offerings include a forty-five-dollar prix fixe lunch menu featuring signature dishes from the restaurant’s history, select wines offered at forty-five percent off, and live piano music every Saturday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the main dining room. A jazz quartet is scheduled to perform on Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and harpist and vocalist Lexie Lowell is set to perform later in the month.
