Memorial Day Weekend has officially arrived here at the shore, and while the weather isn’t great, South Jersey is celebrating the holiday weekend with some freebies on the Atlantic City Expressway that comes in the form of free tolls and crab fries. Keep reading for all of the details.
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Free Toll Friday
Chickie’s + Pete’s — a sports bar chain with most of its stores located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania — will be paying for everyone’s tolls today, 5/23, on the AC Expressway. From 4PM-5PM, all drivers that travel through the Eastbound Egg Harbor Toll Plaza (Exit 17) will have their cash or E-ZPass tolls paid for by the sports bar.
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Crab Fries
In addition to the free tolls, Chickie’s + Pete’s is also hosting a family fun day now through 3PM at the Farley Service Plaza on the Atlantic City Expressway (Milepost 21.3). At the event, locals can expect to indulge in free orders of the spot’s famous Crabfries®. There’s also an outdoor car show and a “100 Days of Summer” celebration happening with local crafters and vendors, a petting zoo, fire truck displays, and more. Head to this IG post for more information.
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Asbury Park Restaurant Moonstruck Sold to Real Estate Company
One of Asbury Park's most beloved restaurants just made a major change. Moonstruck has been a staple of the AP community for over 25 years, with the original restaurant dating back to the late 1990s. In mid-April, the Moonstruck team took to Facebook to announce that they would be selling the restaurant at 517 Lake Avenue, as owners Howard Raczkiewicz and Luke Magliaro are retiring. It has since been revealed that the spot has been sold to new owners — a real estate investment company that owns several businesses in the area, including Beacon 70 in Brick. Read on for more about the sale and Moonstruck's history in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
The Sale
Moonstruck's team announced the news of the owners' retirement on Monday, April 14th, 2025 — noting that this was not farewell, and they were looking for a new owner to buy the space. See the full post below:
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What's Next?
Just a few days after the announcement, it looked like Moonstruck already had new owners in the works. Moonstruck co-owner Luke Magliaro told Patch Asbury Park on April 17th that the restaurant had been sold. Per the Asbury Park Press, we know that Moonstruck has been sold to a real estate investment company. The company also owns Beacon 70 Restaurant and the Marina at Beacon 70 in Brick.
Moonstruck said via a Facebook post in April that they are "touched by the outpouring of love and support we have received," and the restaurant would be in their hands for the next few weeks.
"Wow! We are so touched by the outpouring of love and support we have received since posting the news that we are selling Moonstruck. The restaurant is still in our hands for a couple more weeks. And then we will remain with the new owners to help with the transition. They have every intention to keep things the way they are. Same name, same menu, same kitchen staff, same service staff. Hopefully any changes will only be for the better!" the post reads.
Background on Moonstruck
Moonstruck has a long history at the Jersey Shore. Per the website, it all began in 1988 with The Raspberry Café — a breakfast and lunch spot known for its fresh food, juice bar, and homemade muffins. The original Moonstruck restaurant opened in Ocean Grove in 1996 as a small BYOB storefront and made the move to Lake Avenue in downtown Asbury Park in May 2002.
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Housed in a three-story Victorian-style building with views of Wesley Lake, the Victorian homes of Ocean Grove, and The Great Auditorium — an Ocean Grove landmark — Moonstruck is a local favorite for al fresco dining, cocktails, and good food. The spot serves up American-Mediterranean cuisine, including dishes like eggplant fries, garlic-roasted shrimp, fettuccine salmon, and pan-roasted chicken, among other items.
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