Economy Forcing Beloved Jersey Shore Eatery To Close For The Winter.
When it comes to Summertime dining in Ocean County, both locals and tourists agree that there aren’t many places better than Rockafella’s By The Sea on the Ortley Beach-Seaside Heights…
SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ – MAY 16: A girl lies down in a decorative boat on the Seaside Heights boardwalk as the state begins to reopen beaches and boardwalks amid the novel coronavirus pandemic on May 16, 2020 in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he is willing and ready to bring back social distancing rules if he begins to see a spike in cases in the sates. “If we have to pull the brakes we will do that.” (Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Images)
Yana PaskovaWhen it comes to Summertime dining in Ocean County, both locals and tourists agree that there aren't many places better than Rockafella's By The Sea on the Ortley Beach-Seaside Heights border.
In the height of the Summer season it's not uncommon to drive by the Route 35 South restaurant and see folks, wine in hand, waiting on the sidewalk for sometimes over an hour to enjoy the rustic Italian style seafood and pasta dishes Rockafella's has been dishing up since 1997. In recent years that popularity has blossomed the once seasonal restaurant into a year round operation. "Rock's" as it's known to the locals, would be open 7 days a week from about mid June through Labor Day , then scale back until the Fall, when the restaurant would only serve on Fridays and Saturdays through the Fall, Winter, and Spring. Now it seems that will not be the case.
It's about the cost of doing business.
A post today on the Restaurant's Facebook page told the sobering story. The owners, the Palermo Family, wrote:
"The rising cost in prices and labor, unfortunately, leaves us no choice but to close for the Winter months. Thank you to all of our awesome customers that have been supporting us during this time. We will keep you updated with our future plans. Thank you all."
Currently there are over 200 "likes" and nearly 50 comments on the page regarding the closing in just under 6 hours. All of them saying the same thing, that they will miss the local feel of the restaurant in the off season, without the tourists. While people are disappointed, many wrote that the will gladly sacrifice their Winter dinners for the greater good of the restaurant moving forward.
There is no word yet on the 2023 opening date for the restaurant, who's address is 1855 Route 35 South, Seaside Heights.
