Dentato's Clam Bar is searching for a new home on the Seaside Heights boardwalk
Dentato's Clam Bar, a long-standing boardwalk restaurant known for its sausage sandwiches and fresh seafood, will serve its last meal at 800 Boardwalk in Seaside Heights next month.
Owner David Moore was recently notified that Casino Pier, which owns the building and the boardwalk beneath the restaurant, would not be renewing Dentato's lease for 2024. The seasonal restaurant, located on the boardwalk at Sherman Avenue between Casino Pier's arcade and amusements pier, operates from Easter through Columbus Day.
Casino Pier is owned by the Storino family, which also owns the Breakwater Beach water park in Seaside Heights and Jenkinson's in Point Pleasant Beach. A representative from Casino Pier declined to comment on the decision.
Moore's family has run the restaurant, plus nearby Marie & Paige's Fresh Baked Pretzels, since the 1990s. The pretzel stand, which is also closing, and Dentato's operate under the same lease, which is renewed every three years.
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"My family's been up there for 28 years, I've been ... working there since 13. It's just a shame," said Moore, 33. "(And) it's not just us. We've had employees that have worked for us for 10 years. It would be impossible to do it without all of them."
Moore, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Krysta, said they were not given the option to negotiate a new lease.
"It’s not like they tried to raise our rent and we walked away," he said.
The Moores will vacate the building by the end of November and hope to find another location on the boardwalk in time to reopen next summer. They are not aware of future plans for the original Dentato's space.
"We’re actively looking for a new location. We’re trying to still stay alive on the boardwalk," Moore said. "We see the same people year in and year out. We know what weekends they’re coming, we see our regular customers all year long. We really enjoy serving them and being part of their vacation. We’re sad that they’re moving us."
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More changes coming to Seaside Heights
West of the boardwalk, there are several major projects in the works in the borough:
A 10-story mixed-use building, proposed to include residential units, commercial space, a restaurant and rooftop deck with a pool, was approved last month by the Seaside Heights Planning Board. It will be constructed on the Boulevard at the site of an unfinished steel structure that was torn down in 2021. Mayor Anthony Vaz has said he hopes the construction of the mixed-use building will kickstart redevelopment on the Boulevard.
A 36-townhouse project is planned for the site of the former Karma nightclub on the Boulevard, which closed in 2018. Plans also include retail space and an indoor pool for residents.
Initial plans for the site of the former Bamboo Bar on the Boulevard, which was demolished in 2021, include 48 residential units with ground-floor retail space.
A 170-room hotel is proposed at the site of the neighboring Surfside and Glendale motels on Ocean Terrace and Lincoln Avenue.
Jean Mikle contributed to this story.
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to [email protected] and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Seaside Heights: Dentato's Clam Bar searching for a new home
