Olivia Fisher 
There is nothing more local for The Local Girl to share than a guide to the oldest surviving businesses at the Jersey Shore. The Shore has seen industries and staples come and go, recently saying goodbye to long-standing businesses Wards Pastry and Gillian’s Wonderland Pier in Ocean City. Here at JSG, we did the work of scouring newspapers and deep-diving through the internet to uncover as many businesses as we could that have been serving the Shore for over 100 years. Read on for a guide to the 11 oldest businesses at the Jersey Shore.
A Ca Mia | 524 Washington Street Mall, Cape May
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A Ca Mia is located in a building dating back to 1872 in Cape May. William Essen opened a bakery and ice cream parlor here and sold it to his niece and her husband, Carl and Margaret Kokes, in 1914. The business remained in his family for over 60 years. Today, the spot opens every April and closes at the end of the Fall. Diners can enjoy a hearty Italian meal here on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Boyar’s Market | 1340 Asbury Avenue, Ocean City
Boyar’s Market is a prime example of a family-run business that has sustained itself for over a century in the Garden State. In 1924, Louis Boyar and his wife, Mary, moved to Ocean City and opened a produce stand in front of the apartment they were newly renting. The couple purchased 340 Asbury Avenue and later purchased the building next door, which formerly was the A&P food market.
In the late 1940’s, their daughters Lillian and Rena and their husbands, Bernard Blutinger and Irv Newborn, took over Boyar’s Market. By 1981, Lillian and Bernard’s son, Robert, and his wife Sharon joined forces with the other family members to run the spot. In 2005, Boyar’s Market was demolished for a brand new building for the business to be constructed, and today it includes a butcher shop, deli items, prepared food, and catering.
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Chalfonte Hotel | 301 Howard Street, Cape May
The Chalfonte Hotel, the oldest hotel in Cape May, was built in 1876 by Civil War Colonel Henry Sawyer. It was first a summer boarding house for visitors traveling by train to the Jersey Shore. He named it “Chalfonte,” which means “cool fountain” in French, although it was never confirmed why he chose that name. In 2008, the hotel did not have AC or Wi-Fi, but both have since been added.
Days Ice Cream | 48 Pitman Avenue, Ocean Grove
Day’s Ice Cream is the oldest continuously operating business in Ocean Grove. It first opened nearly 150 years ago in August 1876. The owners, brothers William F. and Pennington Day, also owned ice cream shops in Asbury Park, Morristown, and Newark. The ice cream spot has numerous flavors, waffles, and a spacious seating area.
Dock’s Oyster House | 2405 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City
Harry Dougherty opened Dock’s Oyster House in 1897 in Atlantic City. In 1945, the second generation of Dougherty’s enlarged the restaurant from 60 to 80 seats, and in 1960, the third generation purchased a liquor license. Today, it is owned by Harry’s great-grandson, Frank Dougherty.
Formica Freitag Bakery | 2310 Arctic Avenue #1, Atlantic City
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Formica Brothers Bakery started in 1919 in Atlantic City when Francesco Formica and his wife Rosa. In 1928, the bakery moved to its current location at 2310 Arctic Avenue. In late August 1964, the Beatles performed at Convention Hall in Atlantic City and enjoyed a sub from here. In 1987, Francesco’s grandson, Frank D. Formica, took over the family business. In 2019, it was sold to Pat McKenna, who continues to make the same handcrafted Italian bread using the Formica family recipes with Frank as General Manager.
Gormley Funeral Home | 2706 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City
The Gormley family moved to Atlantic City from Philadelphia in 1880, and James Gormley opened a hotel, the Melrose Cottage. In 1893, his son John L. Gormley opened this funeral home, which four generations later is still family-owned.
Knife + Fork Inn | 3600 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City
Knife + Fork was first opened in 1912 by Atlantic City Mayor William Riddle, Commodore Louis Kuehnle, and several others as an exclusive men’s drinking and dining club. During Prohibition, members defied the law and openly served liquor at the bar. The club survived without being raided for some time, perhaps due to the influence of Enoch “Nucky” Johnson, a political boss and club regular. When federal agents did finally crack down, they destroyed the entire bar.
After the raid, the membership declined, and in 1927 the building was sold to the Latz family. During the Great Depression, the family moved into the third and fourth floors of the restaurant, staying for several decades. In 1948, their sons Mack and Jim took over, and the spot became a favorite of local politicians, wealthy vacationers, and Hollywood celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, and Vic Damone. In 2005, Mack’s sons sold the business to Frank Dougherty, who renovated the spot. Yes, the same Frank who is also the owner of Dock’s Oyster House.
Shrivers Salt Water Taffy | 9th and Boardwalk, Ocean City
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Shriver’s Salt Water Taffy is the oldest business on the boardwalk in Ocean City. In 1898, William Shriver founded Shriver’s as a restaurant, ice cream, and candy store. In 1959, it was purchased by four brothers who owned the Dairy Maid Confectionery Company. Today, it is owned and operated, three generations later, by the same family.
Springer’s Homemade Ice Cream | 9420 3rd Avenue, Stone Harbor
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Springer’s was first opened in the early 1900s by Eugene Springer. Since 1975, it has been run by the Humphreys family. The ice cream is still handmade, and the menu has over 60 rotating flavors.
The Anchorage Tavern | 823 Bay Avenue, Somers Point
The Anchorage Tavern is the oldest, continuously operated business in Somers Point. It first opened in 1874 as the Trenton Hotel and by 1888 was the Anchorage Hotel. Hannah Somers, a descendant of the town’s founding family, was a proprietor for many years of the Anchorage. In 1938, the hotel was purchased by Lucille Cornaglia Thompson, who operated the bar until she sold it to her brother, Henry, in 1945. When Henry died in 1965, his son Andrew took over the business. The Anchorage became famous for serving seven beers for a dollar and the 7-for-1 T-shirts. The Morris family acquired Anchorage in 1993.
See More: 11 Old-School Bakeries in Hudson County You Need to Try
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