It’s that time of year. We’ve looked through our inboxes, our photos, gone through notes we stashed in various apps over the winter, and took a few walks around town to compile this list of business changes in Cape May since last June. Here we go.

(Photos are mine except where noted.)

Let’s start along the beachfront.

Splash Burger (formerly the Snack Shack) opened on the promenade last summer at 100 Beach Avenue at Broadway. “We have a 40-foot deck with 27 seats looking at the dolphins all day!” owners Frank and Maria told us via email. “[And serve] one of the best smash burgers you will ever taste. Come down and try them.” Restaurants on the beach side of the promenade are rare in Cape May, so Splash Burger will be a great stop for beachgoers who don’t want to rinse off the sand.

This one just missed last year’s roundup! At 305 Beach Avenue—three spots down from George’s Place, before you reach the Akroteria—is Heat Wave Studio, offering infrared heated yoga, pilates, barre, and HIIT. Check out the before & after reel on their Instagram to see the inside of the studio. (They keep the curtains drawn.) Drop-in and class packs are available, as well as unlimited passes. If fresh air is more your style, the website mentions beach sessions in-season.

The Akroteria is now home to Maui Shave Ice, a Hawaiian-inspired dessert. You might have seen their tent last summer at events in Lower Township. Owner Taylor Ondrejca launched the business last year and opened the Cape May location just two weeks ago in mid-May. Ice is shaved to order from large blocks, which creates a finer consistency than a snow cone. Chloe prepared us a pina colada shaved ice (thank you!!) made with pineapple juice and cane-sugar syrup. The flavor lasted to the last bite. 

Also in Akroteria: Hidden Gem Poke Bowls has moved out of its spot (but they’re not gone! more on them below). In its place is Taco Shack, opened by the folks at Smash Shack, which is just across the seating area. They’ll be offering tacos, burritos, salsa, guac, and walking tacos—a childhood favorite. (Imagine a snack-size bag of chips, slightly crushed, topped with taco ingredients and eaten right out of the bag. Personally I like Fritos; you’ll pick from their display.)

A few steps away at 314 Beach Avenue, the YB is now the pop-up concept Lost Boy at YB. Their website encourages following on social media so you’ll know where they are in the future, making us think Lost Boy might operate at other Kara Restaurant Group locations in the future. If you plan to eat there, they are cash only. 

Next door at 316 Beach Avenue (formerly Shamone by Kara Restaurant Group) is Wild Roots Provisions, owned by locals Jamie Merlino and Candace Caprio—a new market offering grab-and-go specialty items. “We have not only been dreaming of this day but we have been actively working towards this goal of owning our own store for the better half of ten years,” the shop said on its Instagram. Congratulations on opening! 

At the corner of Beach and Jackson, the shop that was previously known as The Bungalow is now Beach House, a clothing and accessories store. It was closed when we stopped by, but check out this video of them hand-painting the designs on the front window!

Imagine we’re crossing Jackson Street, continuing along Beach Avenue toward the Beach Theatre complex. Glance down Gurney Street and you’ll see Italiano Pizzeria in the spot that, a few years ago, was home to Louie’s. We first spotted its sign last July, but their Google reviews date back two years and archive.org shows that their website (which is currently offline) was operational in February 2023. This is one we missed in prior roundups. As of this writing, we aren’t sure if they’ll be open this season.

Walk a bit further and we’ve reached the Beach Theatre. (Which is no longer a theater, by the way. That part was demolished in 2011. We haven’t heard any updates about possible development in a few years.) In the center, where the doors to the theater used to be, is now Kilhaney’s Pickles. It was a shock to walk into the bright green retail space that was once the lobby — but as the shopkeeper pointed out, some of the architectural details are still visible. In addition to Kilhaney’s Jersey-made gourmet pickles, you’ll also find pickle socks, pickle mugs (“I’m kind of a big dill”), pickle art (“Dill with it”), pickle-flavored snacks, and not-pickle-flavored cotton candy. Cape May is their fourth location. 

Two shops down, the cafe Stockton Place now has outdoor seating! It wasn’t ready when we took pictures last year. Super cute. 

Across the street, new public restrooms are open next to Convention Hall! They share a building with the new Cape May Beach Tag office. We can finally say goodbye to the mobile yellow bathroom that’s been supplementing Convention Hall for years. Bonus: Outside the bathrooms is an Elkay water fountain + bottle refiller, which counts how many plastic bottles have been saved by refilling. It read 1,508 the day we photographed it.

Next to Convention Hall, we spotted Sunrise Cape May Authentic Resort Wear. From their Facebook page, we think they’ve been in place for the past two seasons, so this is one we missed in past roundups.

Since we’re up on the promenade, now’s a great time to mention that it’s sporting a gray protective coating for durability, and they’re shoring up the sea wall—part of an ongoing preservation project. Cape May was awarded $6.7 million in state funding toward boardwalk preservation in 2024.

Comfort stations (aka public restrooms) along the promenade are looking more stylish this year, with planters and accessible walkways.

Jumping back across the street, let’s head down to Peter Shields Inn at 1301 Beach Avenue. PSI’s long-time chef Carl Messick left in 2022 to open his own restaurant, Grana BYOB in West Cape May. This year, he’s back with PSI in the role of general manager and business partner. (Grana fans, don’t fear. It isn’t going anywhere.) PSI has also acquired a liquor license and now offers craft cocktails and wine.

On the Washington Street Mall

Imagine yourself standing in front of the Cape May bell, camera at the ready, only to have your photo ruined by a garish green trashcan in the background. Good news! The city has replaced the blue and green bins with more subtle black versions. While the ones for mixed recycling sport a blue top, they should stand out less in photos.

We didn’t spot too many changes on the mall this year. Let’s start on the 500 block where our office is located. Across from us, long-time neighbor Kaleidoscope, owned by CapeMay.com’s former editor, Susan Tischler, has closed—although she still has Just For Laughs next door. Kaleidoscope’s location is now home to Karma, which carries crystals, jewelry, and some home decor. Get a henna tattoo or permanent jewelry on site. (That’s the kind you don’t take off, ever. No clasps.) Karma isn’t new to the shore; they also have locations in Wildwood and Ocean City. 

Down Liberty Way, El Paso Grocery is now Angies Grocery. This little Mexican grocery store is located at the very end of the alley and carries pantry staples, fresh produce, baked goods, seasonal items, cold drinks, frozen treats, and single-serving desserts. 

We found two changes on the 400 block. In Center City Mall (the two-story building with an elevator), Judy’s Jewels is out. In its place is World Lovers Clothing, which sells tees and accessories, pledging to donate a portion of sales to ocean conservation. They also sell blind dates with books. Choose a book based on a brief description of the characters or location—it’s wrapped to hide the cover! Included is a tea bag and sticker. 

Further down the block at 407 Washington, Henry’s Landmark Jewelry Store is now Henry & Harry’s. It was sold to LSL Brands, which owns the Fudge Kitchen and Cotton Co. As of this writing, the store is still being set up. A new Facebook page invokes Harry’s slogan “Cape May’s Landmark Jeweler.” ETA: We walked past again after posting & the store is open, but the exterior sign has not been updated yet.

On the 300 block, Little Cash and Clive is now Happy Baby Collective.

In other places around town

Last year, several people let us know that they were not happy about Blue Pig Tavern’s outdoor seating area being so exposed. We’re sorry to tell you that the bushes are still pretty short. 

Crossing the street to Carpenter’s Square Mall, we have three things to report: La Dona has expanded their outdoor seating to the entire deck! Good Deeds Market has added in-store events like candle dipping and an herbal remedy bar. And Cape May Macarons is out. Owner Katie announced last September on Facebook that after two years in business, she was taking a break. As of this writing, the Instagram page is unavailable, and a note on Facebook mentions that the account is not actively being monitored. While Katie isn’t accepting new custom orders and will not exhibit at events this year, she left things open ended, calling her macaron journey “to be continued.” When we visited the mall, the shop’s space was still empty.

On February 16th, Big Wave Burritos announced on Facebook that after fifteen years in business, the restaurant was passing to Tyler Hoffman at Hidden Gem Poke Bowls. Big Wave will continue operating at 605 Lafayette Street and offer items from both menus. Hidden Gem was previously in the Akroteria. We mentioned them in last year’s roundup.

On Mansion Street adjacent to Collier’s, the old Iccara location is now Il Riccio, an upscale restaurant with a focus on coastal Italian cuisine. Get a peek at the new interior on their Instagram. 

On Ocean Street, the old library is now the Cape May Community Center. The library moved to the restored historic Franklin Street School last year.

At 717 Franklin Street, the historic Allen AME Church, which had fallen into disrepair and suffered fire damage in 2018, has been saved. Just a few years ago, Preservation New Jersey listed the building as one of the most-endangered historic places in the state. The restored church will serve as home to East Lynne Theater and bear the name Clemans Theater for the Arts at the Allen AME Church in honor of the late Dave Clemans, a local businessman and patron of the arts. The church is owned by the City of Cape May, with East Lynne serving as caretakers. They’re continuing to raise funds to build an annex. The historic structure dates to 1888 and is a significant piece of local Black history. 

The accessible beach walkways are in place from Convention Hall to the Cove! Our photographer noted last week that they’ve been extended from Convention Hall to the Ocean Club.

Finally, the roundabout at the end of the Cove has a new look! We dug through our archives since a before & after shows this best.

West Cape May, Cape May Point & Sunset Beach

At 600 Broadway, the Antique Doorknob is out. In March, they announced on Facebook that they were retiring after forty years in business. “It was A Great Run Thanks Everyone” they posted. Best of luck to owner Bill Causey in his retirement! As of this writing, the location is vacant. 

Update: Cape May Beach Buggy has opened a second location at 110 Park Boulevard. Also at this location is Orange Moose Outdoor Living, which offers no-maintenance poly outdoor furniture that can be customized to your home’s colors!

The Black Duck on Sunset at 1 Sunset Boulevard is no more. Last year, we reported that the building was being refreshed and available for lease, but since then, it has undergone a dramatic transformation. It’s our understanding that there are no plans for a restaurant at this time. 

Update: The Rise Retreat, a wellness spa, plans to open at 1 Sunset Boulevard this fall.

Across the street, the Exit Zero Filling Station at 110 Sunset Boulevard is for sale. The restaurant has been in that location since 2018. They’re reverting to BYOB as of July 1st, according to a video from owner Jack Wright that was posted to Facebook, and have slashed prices on all remaining alcohol in order to use it up. As of this writing, we don’t know where its liquor license is going.

Down the street at 479 W. Perry (the street name changes at Broadway), Key West Tacos is now Cape West Tacos. Owner Joey Beitel documented his rebrand on Facebook over the winter (including a plastic flamingo in the flower box named Flava Flamingo), where he continues to share pictures of his gourmet tacos, along with occasional specials like ice cream sandwiches and breakfast burritos. We love his collaborations with other Jersey brands like Hank Sauce and Dockside Dave’s Seafood Market. More of this, Cape May!

Head in the other direction out to Sunset Beach where Zest Restaurant Group’s Fish House has officially opened. They were under construction during last year’s roundup. 

We received a few emails over the winter about the Red Store/General Store in Cape May Point. Unfortunately, we have not heard any movement about that location, but we did learn something else about the Bread & Butter Restaurant Group, which is in Over the Bridge (next section).

Over the bridge

Mad Viking Dock Bar & Grill has opened at Snug Harbor Marina, 926 Ocean Drive. The restaurant, which is sisters with Two Mile Landing, “takes inspiration from the adventurous spirit of Norse Vikings, as well as the vibrant feel of the Caribbean” says their website. According to Instagram, they should be open any day now! This dog-friendly spot will be accessible by car and boat. 

As we mentioned last year, the Harbor View at 954 Ocean Drive is now Port, another brand under Zest’s umbrella. The restaurant underwent a total refresh over the winter and is now open for their second season. 

In North Cape May, the Bagel Shop is has opened in the Acme plaza! They offer New York style bagels plus bagel sandwiches. Stop in to see the mural they had painted. We watched the progress over the winter on social media.

Big Lots at 3845 Bayshore Road in North Cape May has closed, but in its place is Ocean State Job Lot, a discount retail chain that offers “an ever-changing array of brand name, first-quality merchandise at closeout prices” according to the press release they sent us about their grand opening. They were founded in 1977 and have 170 stores. This is their ninth location in New Jersey.

Coffee Tyme has taken over Donut Connection at 3850 Bayshore Road, which is now Coffee Tyme at the Bay. “We will be selling donuts at all three of our shops!” they told us. From what we read on Facebook, it sounds like their donuts are supplied by Madison’s Bakery.

The store Still Pretty is coming to 3823 Bayshore Road in North Cape May. On Facebook, owner Krista LaBree describes it as “like a thrift store, but way cooler.” Local artists will be able to rent space in the store, which will also serve as an event space for occasions like birthdays and bridal showers. The grand opening will be July 4th, but Krista is hosting a paint night on June 8th.

Update: Live Well Chase Health Chiropractic has opened at 650 Townbank Road in North Cape May. They offer chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage.

In Villas at 1075 Bayshore Road, Jake’s Tavern is now part of the Tisha’s and 5 West family. The interior was remodeled earlier this year—new bar, new booths, new furniture, plus billiards and darts—and the restaurant is now the Local Tavern. Get a peek at the new look on Instagram. They’ll be open in a few weeks, according to a recent post.

In Rio Grande, Old Navy and Carter’s are now open. They’re right next door to Aldi in the Grande Center at 3201 Route 9 South.

Up in Cape May Court House, Bucket Brigade at 205 N. Main Street is now Obscura Brewing Company, which describes itself as “a 7-barrel brewery with 15 taps.” They’re taking an avant garde approach to craft beer and aim to innovate while still using traditional brewing methods. (Obscura, add your physical address to your website! We had to go to Instagram to find it.)

A sandwich shop near the court house, Cafe 101 & Carvery at 1 S. Main Street, closed last week without prior notice. Their Facebook page is down and nothing has been posted to Instagram. We don’t know what might be going into their spot. According to a friend of the owners, this July would have been their eleventh year in business.

When we checked Bread & Butter Restaurant Group’s social media for updates about the Red Store, we learned that Lucas and Deanna closed tacoshop in Cape May Court House and just opened La Porteña in Stone Harbor. According to their website, the new restaurant, with Chef Lucas Manteca at the helm, is “inspired by the rich culinary traditions of Argentina and the bounty of South Jersey.” They offer a four-course menu at $90 per person and accept reservations a month out.

Going into tacoshop’s location at 5 Court House South Dennis Road is Greens and Grains, a vegan chain in New Jersey! The website says they’re opening this spring.

And finally, Harbor Coffee Shop has opened on Route 47 in Goshen! This cafe and coffee shop just had their soft opening. It’s a bit of a distance from Cape May, but we think it might be a good stop for people on their way down who need a break. 

There you have it, the 2025 edition of Who’s New! As always, we can’t possibly know everything that happens in Cape May, and there are guaranteed to be changes we don’t know about yet. Email tips to whosnew@capemay.com. If we can verify them, we’ll add them to this list.

Until next June… 🎩

Thanks to Becky from The Beach Concierge for sending updates!