Seaside park bakery has new owners, keeping shore sweet spot alive

Seaside Park Bakery Has New Owners, Keeping Shore Sweet Spot Alive

The family behind Lavallette's popular Colonial Bakery has officially taken over the longtime Seaside Park bakery, bringing one of the Jersey Shore's favorite destinations for fresh pastries and baked goods to a new generation.

Seaside Park, NJ – A new chapter has begun for one of the Jersey Shore’s most recognizable bakeries as the longtime Seaside Park bakery officially welcomed its new owners during a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating Colonial Park Bakery.

Mayor John Peterson, Councilman Joe Connor, and Councilwoman Gina Condos joined Kerry, Pat, and Alli O’Neill and members of their family to mark the bakery’s official opening. The O’Neill family has operated the original Colonial Bakery in neighboring Lavallette since 1998 and is now carrying that tradition into Seaside Park.

Seaside park bakery has new owners, keeping shore sweet spot alive
Photo by seaside park

A new era for a longtime local favorite

For decades, the bakery at its Seaside Park location has been a stop for generations of beachgoers grabbing donuts before sunrise, fresh crumb cake after a morning on the sand, or pastries to bring home after a day at the Shore. With the transition, the longtime owners have passed the torch to a family already known throughout the barrier island for quality baked goods and customer service.

“The bakery is run by Kerry, Pat, and Alli O’Neill, whose family has operated the original Colonial Bakery in Lavallette since 1998,” the Borough of Seaside Park said in announcing the opening. “The Borough of Seaside Park is delighted to have them here to serve our residents and visitors. We wish you much success for years to come. Welcome.”

A sweet destination on the barrier island

Colonial Bakery has built a loyal following over nearly three decades for its fresh donuts, pastries, cookies, pies, breads, and cakes, drawing customers from across Ocean County each summer. The expansion into Seaside Park gives visitors another opportunity to enjoy the bakery’s signature offerings without leaving the barrier island.

The opening also preserves a tradition that has long been part of the Seaside Park community, ensuring the neighborhood bakery remains a gathering place for both year-round residents and the thousands of visitors who spend their summers along the Jersey Shore.

Local officials welcomed the O’Neill family during the ceremony, expressing confidence that the bakery will continue serving as one of the premier stops for sweet treats on the barrier island for years to come.

Photos: Borough of Seaside Park

Shore News Network Staff Report

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.

Facebook