Photo by: Michael Ein
As recently as a few months ago, the unofficial gateway to the borough’s business district – the intersection of Routes 9 and 539 – was plagued with deteriorating buildings, vacant lots and traffic jams.
But the intersection finally seems to have turned a corner, with two new businesses and a county-funded road project. Officials are optimistic that the historic downtown’s long-awaited renaissance has arrived.
“This is all part of the economic rejuvenation of the borough,” newly elected Mayor George “Buck” Evans said. “That intersection is the entrance to our town. … It is the first impression people get when they come here. And by maintaining it, people will be able to see how vibrant our downtown truly is.”
The resurrection of the downtown began several years ago with the renovation of Main Street buildings such as the Lizzie Rose and Tuckerton Square, as well as the completion of an extensive streetscape project and a family restaurant replacing a former go-go bar.
But progress was slow and spotty.
The western side of the intersection consisted of a vacant lot and a deteriorating, often empty, gas station. The eastern side featured two thriving businesses – Ocean East Buffet and a Wawa. However, borough officials have criticized the buffet restaurant’s architecture as a “colossal failure” in terms of maintaining the borough’s historic identity, and the view of the Wawa was long overshadowed by the chipped signage of vacant former clothing store behind it.
The gas station has since been renovated and expanded to include a new Dunkin’ Donuts, which opened for business in the fall. The vacant building behind the Wawa has a new tenant, The Grind Boots & Apparel, which spruced up the building and opened for business last month. And the county plans to use a portion of the vacant lot to widen the Route 539 lanes of the intersection and construct a right turning lane to ease traffic congestion. Borough officials said the balance of the lot could be converted into a small park area with benches and vegetation.
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