Longtime Asbury Park Restaurant Closes After 17 Years

Running a restaurant is never easy. Running one at the Jersey Shore right now? That’s a whole different level of pressure. Between the rising food costs, staffing headaches, and the rollercoaster of seasonal business, local owners are basically performing miracles every single day.

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Why Is It Hard To Run A Restaurant At The Jersey Shore?

Let’s start with the obvious. Food prices are all over the place. One week, your seafood distributor quotes one price for scallops, the next week it jumps. Same with chicken, beef, cooking oil, and even paper goods. When your menu is built around fresh seafood and boardwalk favorites, that kind of unpredictability hurts.

Then there’s rent. Shore towns are prime real estate. Whether you’re in Asbury Park, Point Pleasant, Seaside, or Long Branch, you’re paying for location. Summer crowds help, but that leads to the next problem. Seasonality.

You might be slammed from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with two-hour waits and lines out the door. But come January? It can feel like you’re hosting a private dinner for three tables and your cousin.

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Staffing Challenges For New Jersey Restaurants

Finding reliable staff has become one of the biggest struggles for Jersey Shore restaurants. Summer help is often college kids home for break or seasonal workers. By September, they’re gone.

Owners are constantly hiring, training, and rehiring. Meanwhile, customers still expect fast service, perfect drinks, and that same friendly vibe they remember from last summer.

And let’s not forget online reviews. One bad night, one slow ticket time, one overcooked burger, and suddenly it’s posted for the world to see.

A Popular Asbury Park, NJ Restaurant Closes

Stella Marina on the boardwalk in Asbury Park has been a staple of the community since 2009. The upscale cuisine and picture-perfect views made it a popular destination for visitors and locals alike. There hasn't been an announcement as to why Stella Marina is closing its doors forever. You can still support the owners, though. They operate Sirenna Ristorante in Long Branch and Masseria Italian Steakhouse in Morristown. A big thank you to the staff of Stella Marina over the years for the great meals and memories.