SOUTH SEASIDE PARK, N.J. — Chef Mike Jurusz, longtime operator of the Atlantic Bar & Grill, announced this week that the popular waterfront restaurant will shut its doors at the end of the summer, following the sale of the property to a developer planning to build custom homes.
“Our property was sold to a developer who is going to knock it down and make 12 custom homes,” Jurusz said in a video message shared with patrons. “This is going to be our last summer here.”
The new owner of the property is Arya Properties, owned by Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi.
Jurusz said the lease for the Atlantic Bar & Grill, which includes the adjacent motel, officially runs through December 31. However, the restaurant will continue operating through the summer, with the new owners agreeing to allow the business to vacate early if a new location is secured before then.
The chef called the announcement “heartbreaking” and reflected on more than two decades of memories made at the venue, from weddings and fundraisers to wine tastings and birthdays.
“It’s very hard out there to find a new property,” he added, noting that he’s been searching for a suitable location for the last few years. “We need something with a liquor license, something that is turnkey and something that is in a good financial area.”
Final summer season underway
Jurusz said a new summer menu is coming soon and the Tiki bar will be open seven days a week with daily entertainment.
“Every day now moving forward is our last day that will ever exist here,” he said, urging customers to visit and make final memories before the doors close for good.
The Atlantic Bar & Grill has been a staple in South Seaside Park for 24 years. Jurusz recalled the early days of the restaurant, saying he built the business “out of nothing” and sacrificed time with his family in pursuit of success. “I dedicated my life to it. I didn’t see my son. I didn’t see my family. I was just here,” he said.
Despite the upcoming closure, Jurusz expressed gratitude for the support of the community and said he remains determined to reopen elsewhere. “We have been looking at 30 or 40 properties… It’s been hard,” he said. “But we want to continue this program.”
In an emotional moment, he paraphrased lyrics from Bon Jovi’s Wanted Dead or Alive: “I’ve seen 10 million people and I cooked for them all.”
