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Boardwalk Alcohol Gets First Nod in Wildwood

By Joe Hart

Jumbo's Boardwalk Grille & Eatery

WILDWOOD — Boardwalk beer? Tequila tramcar? Wooden Way martini? Could those become popular oceanfront drinks here?

At its March 10 meeting, Wildwood Commission introduced an ordinance to allow liquor sales on the city’s world-famous Boardwalk.

Commissioners unanimously approved the measure changing the city’s Land Development Ordinance on first reading with only one small hiccup. Commissioner Al Brannen had a problem with the original language of the ordinance regarding hours of operation.

“Sale of alcoholic beverages shall only be permitted between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12:00 midnight,” was the particular language he questioned. The change would affect the city’s Boardwalk Amusement and Pier zoning districts.

“I don’t think anybody needs a beer on the boardwalk at 8 o’clock in the morning,” Brannen said.

Mayor Gary DeMarzo and Commissioner Edward Harshaw agreed with Brannen noting that they wanted the time to be consistent with hours in neighboring North Wildwood. Wildwood Crest is a dry town, thus no alcoholic beverages can be sold.

“This particular ordinance is going to allow us to compete with North Wildwood,” DeMarzo said.

That city currently allows alcohol sales on its Boardwalk piers, with the Ocean Oasis Waterpark and Beach Club and operating a liquor license at the Morey’s Surfside Amusement Pier at 25th Avenue. In addition, new this coming season on the same pier will be Joe's Fish Co., serving beer, wine and the restaurant’s signature drink, the Margarita.

The governing body changed the hours of operation to 10 a.m. to midnight after learning that matched North Wildwood.

“I feel a little better with that. I was just bothered with that 8 o’clock in the morning,” Brannen said. “My philosophy is that anybody that’s on the boardwalk that needs a beer at 8 o’clock in the morning, they’re trouble,” he added.

“It’s no problem at all,” said Clark Doran, an executive with the Morey’s Piers organization, regarding the commissioners’ time change in the ordinance.

Doran told the Herald that the company had a liquor license available to transfer to Jumbo’s Boardwalk Grille and Eatery at Schellenger Avenue and Mariner’s Landing Pier if the city were to approve this measure.

He noted that while the ordinance was modeled after the one in North Wildwood, it was actually more restrictive.

While Ocean Oasis in North Wildwood has several “bar” areas, Wildwood’s measure would only allow table service.

“Service at a bar, waiting area or counter shall not be permitted,” the ordinance stated.

Doran also noted that there was a difference in the signage requirements.

“No exterior signs encouraging or promoting the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages shall be permitted on the premises,” the Wildwood measure stated.

Other limiting conditions in the ordinance include:

• Restaurants must be full-service and have a minimum of 100 seats.
• The number of Boardwalk liquor licenses was limited to three.
• Entertainment and the music shall be subdued background music, played low enough so as not to be audible on the Boardwalk.
• Restaurants will be required to submit a management plan to the city, which demonstrates that alcoholic beverages shall be served in a controlled, dignified and upscale manner.

“This plan shall emphasize the culture of family fun, and shall mandate strict supervision by management to assure zero tolerance of inappropriate behavior resulting from the consumption of alcoholic beverages and no carrying of alcoholic beverages outside the licensed premises,” the ordinance stated.

“Just so everybody knows, I’m not against this,” Brannen said. “I think it brings us up to where we should be. I mean we live in the dark ages.”

He said that some of his friends have said they were shocked at the idea.

“How come when you go to Florida, you go to the beach and the boardwalk have a glass of wine or a glass of beer and a sandwich?” he answered his friends.

According to City Clerk Chris Wood, the city’s Zoning/Planning Board will have to approve the ordinance before it is considered on second reading by the commissioners again. Wood said the land use board would not meet again until April 12.

Print | Email Updated 1 year 47 weeks ago

Comments (22)

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Mon, 03/29/2010 - 7:47am - Posted by: JayMonster

This is much ado about nothing. This is not about "Boardwalk Alcohol" as the title suggests, it is about restaurants on the Boardwalk being able to compete with off Boardwalk locations.

If "Mom or Dad" would like a beer or a glass of wine with dinner, they presently have to take *the family* (and wallets) off the boardwalk to some place to eat. This will allow them to stay longer (and spend more) on the Boardwalk. The rules of now allowing a bar (let alone "to go" beverages) will keep it from the "trash" ever wanting to use this as their go to place for alcohol.

I find it entertaining that people are worried about alcoholic beverages being served in a restaurant in a town that has a "drive thu" liquor store only a block from the beach.

If Wildwood wants to save the "family vacation" they need to work harder on making it a place the family can afford to go to and be reasonably close to the beach. As the small hotels disappear and give way to condos, the tax ratables may be going up, but the tourist dollars are gonna suffer. In the end, that is going to be more important than the holier than thou attitude over whether somebody wants to have a drink with their dinner.

Mon, 03/29/2010 - 7:43am - Posted by: Gooch_Splitter

Mrs. Hegarty,
You stated:
"Unlike you I don;t need to hide behind a screen name. "
That is why I disclosed my name. Why would you care? Your economical thoughts on the boardwalk and Wildwood are childish. That place is already a dump and is not going to shut down because of a little alcohol...... Idiot

Sun, 03/28/2010 - 6:46am - Posted by: mlcomber

Nobody need a beer @ 8 am. But a Mimosa might be nice. Or Bailey's & coffee. Or perhaps a Bloody Mary. Lighten up - these people are on vacation. Cheers!

Sat, 03/27/2010 - 4:53pm - Posted by: seahag1013

Someone commented when you go to Florida you can get a cocktail or beer on or near the beach. You also can do so in Bermuda.

Wildwood is not Florida or the Bermuda or the Bahamas. The clientel in Wildwood is OHHHHHHH!!! so different. Personally, I love a cocktail, just not with a bunch of rowdies. Too Bad They Tore Down The THUNDERBIRD at 24th St. and put up those much needed condo's. Thats the real problem with the Island's revenue. Faulty thinking goverment officials

Fri, 03/26/2010 - 7:57am - Posted by: k8heg

The point is it brings the trash to the boardwalk, which means less and less families will come to wildwood, which means less revenue for the city. Yes it is your choice, and it's my choice to think it is a bad idea. You didn't need to give your name, no one asked because no one cares.
Enjoy the vodka with your muffin!

Fri, 03/26/2010 - 7:26am - Posted by: Gooch_Splitter

You don't go on the boardwalk? Then whats it to you when and where they allow patrons to be served? But you do get your fix beneath... I do not need to hide behind a screen name... Tom Mueller, come say it to my face. It being full of wanna-be's and trash is my point to you that who cares about the liquor laws up there, they will not be doing beer bongs and body shots on the Merry Go Round. What is says about me is I want to get drunk at 8am on the boardwalk.... thats my choice.

Thu, 03/25/2010 - 6:05pm - Posted by: k8heg

that's right gooch-splitter that's my name, OOOOOOOOOOOO you outed me. You should have just asked I would have given you my name. Unlike you I don;t need to hide behind a screen name. Anything I would say on here I would say to your face. Do you hear yourself? You want to hang on the boardwalk and drink, but it's all wanna be's and white trash. Says alot about you doesn't it. I don't go on or under the boardwalk much that's not where I get my fix.

Thu, 03/25/2010 - 12:22pm - Posted by: Andrew4

Really plastic tree? I hope I am missing sarcasim, because I am in my mid twenties and a summer resident of NW for about 24 years and i have never heard anyone say they are planning on boozing at the water park. Either you have been living under a rock or happened to be there once when there was a "party" there.

Thu, 03/25/2010 - 10:06am - Posted by: Vag_Lover

Ocean Oasis, huh? Sounds like the kind of place a vag lover like myself could really enjoy.

Thu, 03/25/2010 - 4:31pm - Posted by: Plastictree18

Thu, 03/25/2010 - 7:18am - Posted by: Gooch_Splitter

Kate Hegarty a.k.a. k8heg,

You are correct, people can drink whenever they want and wherever it is legal to do so. The boardwalk is not some sacred holy land. If you did not notice it is normally half full of wanna-be thugs and white trash. If you ever stopped ducking underneath of it to get your fix you might have noticed.

Wed, 03/24/2010 - 5:43pm - Posted by: k8heg

Anyone can drink whenever they want, I don't think it needs to be on the boardwalk. One place leads to 2, then 10. Gooch-splitter, I wouldn't worry about you spending any money there. You sound more like the kind of guy who has a brown paper bag and is tweeking on a corner. But I'm not judging you.

Wed, 03/24/2010 - 4:45pm - Posted by: Condoman

I hope everyone reads the article very carefully. As I read it up to three restaurants can be issued licences AND you must remain at your table to be served. Some of the comments seem to infer that you can wander around the boardwalk and get as drunk as you please. Their arrest and fines will help lower our taxes, until they understand the real meaning of the new ordinance.

Wed, 03/24/2010 - 1:54pm - Posted by: drmzrl

I work the grave shift and when i'm done work at 8:00am, I want a beer. Why can't I? It's my "5 o'clock".

I sleep all day just to work all night. My life schedule is backward from most normal people. I think it would be great to spend my few hours before bed sitting on the boardwalk and watching the morning rush.

Oh well.

Wed, 03/24/2010 - 10:25am - Posted by: TommyR

Not a good idea. Wildwood takes yet another step closer to the toilet. They need to make Wildwood more family oriented.

Wed, 03/24/2010 - 7:19am - Posted by: Gooch_Splitter

k8heg,

This is America, if I want to sit on the boardwalk and look at the ocean at 8am and get stumpling drunk, thats up to me. Judge me if you want but you will probably be the one I curse at, staggering towards the pisser.

Wed, 03/24/2010 - 7:15am - Posted by: Vag_Lover

ATTENTION HERALD STAFF: You'd better take down "Nugget's" comment too if you're going to start playing "Censorship Police". I'm sure someone, somewhere could be offended by the marijuana comment so in the name of decency, you need to take it down.

Wed, 03/24/2010 - 5:37am - Posted by: k8heg

8 am? The only people who need a drink at 8am are alcoholics and idiots. Another problem waiting to happen. The boardwalk is supposed to be for family's. If someone wants to get a drink all they have to do is walk down a ramp. Don't lay off the police, you're going to need them and it should make for a great reality show if you alow that also.

Tue, 03/23/2010 - 9:53pm - Posted by: nugget

What the Wildwood boardwalk really needs is a marijuanna and coffee shop.

Tue, 03/23/2010 - 6:43pm - Posted by: VillasOutsider

I only hope that Joe Cook and his wife are still there when I go this summer.At least you knew it was a true local,and a good clean family that you can trust.And the food you were going to get was real.And you wasnt going to sick by the end of the day.They were always cleaning,and putting out perfect food.

Tue, 03/23/2010 - 11:40am - Posted by: margaritaville67

This is long overdue. Wildwood boasts about the boardwalk and beaches, yet they do everything to non-accentuate it. Going up and down the East Coast, you can drink on boardwalks or the beach while dining. With so much beach and boardwalk, places should be lined up selling alcohol. Personally, I would love to eat lobster and have a beer. Now they need to have places on the sand as well.

Tue, 03/23/2010 - 11:20am - Posted by: Gooch_Splitter