A cheesesteak restaurant from owners with roots in Philadelphia and South Jersey is coming to Belmar real estate investors who opened their first Cheessteaks earlier this year in Merchantville are adding a second in the former Sonny's Grille space in Belmar Plaza hope to open Cheessteaks (intentionally misspelled to catch your eye) on Tuesday and our bread is baked fresh every single day." customers can choose Cooper Sharp American cheese or Delgado and Haines are prepared to handle the crush of customers associated with summer at the Shore In a little more than a month at their Camden County restaurant Diners familiar with Philadelphia's cheesesteak shops will recognize their "fast pace The menu has "The OG" cheesesteak with Whiz and caramelized onions; a cheesesteak with Cooper Sharp; a Buffalo chicken cheesesteak; a honey chipotle chicken cheesesteak; and a chicken cheesesteak with onions and a deep-fried Sabrett hot dog topped with ribeye The restaurant also will serve panzarotti from Tarantini a Cherry Hill-based company that makes the fried dough pockets filled with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce Cheessteaks has wings with more than half a dozen sauce options and strawberry hot honey made with strawberry purée drizzled with the purée and housemade ranch (with) the tiniest bit of kick," Delgado said Go: 821 Belmar Plaza, Belmar; cheessteaks.com, instagram.com/cheessteaks Home/Firefighting An early morning fire damaged multiple homes over the weekend in Belmar Don Colarusso of All Hands Fire Equipment & Training shared some images from the fireground Firefighters from multiple departments responded to the fire in the Jersey Shore community on Sunday, April 13, 2025. NJ.com reported that the fire destroyed several homes just blocks from the beach on 13th Avenue and two firefighters were also hurt and treated at the scene Belmar Fire Chief Sean Pringle told reporters that a gas meter on the side of one of the houses exploded during the fire Three homes were reportedly declared total losses while another sustained damage on the exterior BELMAR — A two-alarm fire that broke out in Belmar early Sunday morning left three people injured More than 50 firefighters from more than a dozen nearby departments battled the blaze for nearly four hours. It reportedly started as a porch fire just after 6 a.m. at 308 13th Avenue and quickly spread to other houses, according to the Belmar Volunteer Hook and Ladder Fire Company Belmar Fire Chief Sean Pringle told NJ.com that things could have been a lot worse if it weren’t for the quick thinking of a good Samaritan He said a woman walking her dog called the fire in then banged on the window and door to alert the resident inside The man was able to run outside the house through a back door because intense flames blocked the front door He suffered minor burns and was treated on the scene by EMS Two firefighters suffered minor neck injuries and were also treated at the scene The chief also said a gas meter on the side of one of the houses exploded was needed to help put out the massive blaze The cause remains under investigation by the Monmouth County Fire Marshal and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom A two-alarm fire destroyed three homes and damaged a fourth on 13th Avenue in Belmar early Sunday morning.\nRead More More than 50 firefighters from more than a dozen nearby departments battled the blaze for nearly four hours. It reportedly started as a porch fire just after 6 a.m. at 308 13th Avenue and quickly spread to other houses, according to the Belmar Volunteer Hook and Ladder Fire Company Belmar Fire Chief Sean Pringle told NJ.com that things could have been a lot worse if it weren’t for the quick thinking of a good Samaritan Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom Belmar has a new piano and it's a special one The David and Stelma Sancious piano dedication at the borough's Pyanoe Plaza took place for which the famous Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band was named the people who used to own it left a piano,” said Edward Sancious Stelma taught a young David how to play and he picked it up quickly Springsteen and the members of the E Street Band would rehearse at the home a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame played keyboards on Springsteen's first two albums the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle.” He's also played with Eric Clapton He left the E Street Band to form the band Tone with Ernest Carter and the late Gerald Carboy her sense of giving was not limited,” said David “It wasn't about her home or people who were like her or anything like that It was universal and she believed in it and it instilled in me that one of the best things you can do as a human being is to share anything positive and anything good that you have because that sharing branches out and it survives for years is a digital instrument inside a weatherproof concrete shell made in Israel by Cadenza There are only a handful around the world and players are allowed to play it The Belmar Arts Council donated the piano to celebrate the borough's 150th anniversary David with Carter on drums and Tommy LaBella on sax played a handful of Sancious instrumental songs for the several hundred who were in the plaza for the dedication which had the sounds of thunder in the background was suspended for about a half hour due to rain “It's about time,” said Belmar native AD Cook about the honor “This is the biggest honor of my lifetime,” said David at the close of the set Subscribe to app.com for the latest on the New Jersey music scene covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey E Street in Belmar would have a much lower profile if it weren't for David Sancious Now, an outdoor piano at Belmar’s Pyanoe Plaza will be dedicated to Sancious' living legacy — and the legacy of his mom the late educator Stelma Sancious — at 2 p.m The dedication will include a performance by Sancious on piano Both Sancious and Carter are former members of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band which was so named because of the Sancious' residency at 1105 E Street “This piano will be a joyful and functional monument to all the Sancious family has done for Belmar and the greater music-loving world,” said Belmar Mayor Gerald Buccafusco in a statement “We are honored that David will perform for all of us at the dedication ceremony The piano will be a lasting symbol of the borough’s support for the arts and its appreciation of local history.” The Pyanoe Plaza piano is a digital instrument inside a weatherproof concrete shell made in Israel by Cadenza There are only a handful of them around the world The piano was donated to Belmar from the Belmar Arts Council to celebrate the borough's 150th anniversary “We are proud to dedicate this piano to David Sancious — an artist whose music transcends genres and generations alike," said Wendy Green of the Belmar Arts Center in a statement Thanks to the generosity of the Belmar community and beyond May this piano inspire the next generation of musicians.” is the music legend who played keyboards on Springsteen's first two albums He left the E Street Band to form the band Tone with Carter and the late Gerald Carboy Sancious has an East Coast tour coming up with drummer Will Calhoun was an advocate of early education and inclusion of the arts in the leaning process “Where children have been exposed to cultural experiences it gives them an advantage over other children,” said Stelma to the Asbury Park Press in 1965 Music fans come from around the world come to get their picture taken at the corner of E Street and 10th Avenue where an 8-foot plywood replica of Springsteen’s iconic Fender Esquire guitar “My recollection is we were on the bus one night trying to come up with a band name,” said Springsteen in 2017 “(E Street Band) seemed pretty easy — it just had a nice ring to it … E Street Visit belmararts.org/piano-4-pyanoe-plaza for more information on the event and piano TRENTON – A financial adviser who lived in Belmar admitted to scamming 47 clients out of more than $6.9 million since the 1980s Vincent Dispoto Jr., 67, whose current address was not available, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi to wire fraud Dispoto is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug 26 and faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross amount of the financial gain or loss from the offense Dispoto owned and operated Giddeon Financial Services Dispoto raised money through these and other entities by falsely claiming to victims that he would invest their money in low-risk investment products with guaranteed rates of return including municipal bonds and certificates of deposits More local news from U.S. Attorney: Toms River man went to Norway for sex with 14-year-old girl Dispoto also told some victims that he was using their investments to fund loans and mortgages for medical professionals which would generate long-term returns through interest payments Dispoto mailed victims false and fraudulent financial statements that purported to show significant increases in the value of their investments Dispoto was not investing the money of his victim as he promised he used it to make “Ponzi-like payments” to other victims which he falsely claimed to be “returns” on investments He also misappropriated victim money to finance gambling and other personal expenses New Jersey news: NJ Turnpike rejects bid protest, moves ahead with new $1.7B E-ZPass deal investigators discovered that Dispoto had lost more than $6,990,000 in funds that belonged to clients over more than 35 years under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G Attorney Jennifer Kozar of the office’s Economic Crimes Unit in Newark prosecuted the case on behalf of the federal government Defense attorneys Areeb Salim and John Yauch assistant federal public defenders based in Newark Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com BELMAR — First responders remained at the scene Sunday of a fire that destroyed two homes on 13th Avenue and damaged at least two others Belmar firefighters and members of the Monmouth County Fire Marshals Office were at the scene Sunday morning where firefighters continued to wet down hotspots from the morning blaze Belmar Fire Chief Sean Pringle said the fire started on the porch of the home at 306 13th Avenue the house at 306 was fully involved," he said The blaze "extended into the first floor and second floor of 308." Neighboring homes also suffered exterior damage and two firefighters suffered non-life threatening injuries The cause of the fire remains under investigation Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment She has worked for the Press for more than 17 years April was a busy month for the Shore's culinary scene from a world-famous burger chain to a spot serving barbecue by the beach A Long Beach Island borough voted against a new all-day restaurant and a landmark in Asbury Park has new owners Here is the food and dining news we reported on last month Ocean County will get its first Shake Shack Wednesday, May 7, when the restaurant opens at 614 Route 70 in Brick Commons Middletown and the Judy Blume Service Area on the Garden State Parkway in Wall Originally founded as a hot dog cart in New York City Shake Shack is known for its Angus beef burgers the chain will donate $1 from every sandwich sale to Fulfill Food Bank A pair of childhood friends from South Jersey are bringing their Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks to Belmar They hope to open the week prior to Memorial Day Delgado and Haines' concept mirrors the fast-paced style of Philly cheesesteak spots: Customers order ribeye or chicken cheesesteaks with Cooper Sharp American cheese or Cheese Whiz The meu also will have cheese fries; a deep-fried cheesesteak-topped Sabrett hot dog; wings with more than half a dozen sauce options; and panzarotti from Tarantini Buffalo Wild Wings coming to HazletBuffalo Wild Wings is replacing the former TGI Fridays at Hazlet Town Center on Route 35 The new restaurant will be approximately 7,400 square feet with 250 seats Franchisee The Munson Restaurant Group is working to acquire a liquor license and submitting plans to the Hazlet land use board The full-service restaurant has a targeted opening of early 2026 Jersey Freeze, a Monmouth County landmark restaurant and ice cream shop, is expanding. Owners Matt Cangialosi and Katie DiNonno are partnering with restaurateur Matthew Borowski on a Jersey Freeze ice cream store in Colts Neck It replaces a former ice cream shop at The Orchards at Colts Neck on Routes 34 and 537 marks the beginning of an expansion plan to add more ice cream locations and attract franchisees Viana of Lita in Aberdeen, Judy & Harry's in Asbury Park and Heirloom Kitchen in Old Bridge lost to fellow "Top Chef" alum Sara Bradley in the April 6 episode "The Randomizer Strikes Back." It was his first time competing on the show Rescigno, a New Jersey native who now owns a restaurant in Idaho, lost to Chef Antonia Lofaso in the April 20 finale "A New Champion Is Crowned." It was her third time competing on the show The decision followed two meetings that were heavily attended by neighbors of the property who opposed the size of the proposed Harvey Cedars House and the traffic it would bring to the area Board members recommended they consider eliminating an outdoor component of the project that abuts a neighboring property and reconsider traffic configurations Outback Steakhouse opened a new location on Route 35 in Ocean Township in April featuring a new design for the chain with updated interiors and a focus on takeout and delivery The restaurant took over the space previously occupied by Nino's Coal Fired Pizza Its interior features local artwork celebrating Ocean Township and a kangaroo basking in the sights and sounds of nearby Asbury Park Surf City Dog House coming to LBILong Beach Island's dining scene will feature a new kind of hot dog this summer will serve a hot dog that starts with a whole unsplit bun placed atop a heated metal spike "The piercing machine creates a hole and warms and toasts the bun," said Stacey Ghigliotty who plans to open the restaurant with her husband The result is a self-contained hot dog that stays warm The opening menu will offer two specialty hot dogs — the Top Dog garlic sauce and honey mustard — and a build-your-own option and Magliaro told the Asbury Park Press he could not comment until the sale was finalized Magliaro and Rackiewicz opened Moonstruck in 1995 in an Ocean Grove storefront across the street from a breakfast and lunch restaurant that they owned they relocated to the former Deck House building on Wesley Lake in Asbury Park The TASTE Awards, honoring culinary excellence at the Shore have returned after a post-pandemic hiatus — and diners are invited to help decide the winners Dozens of restaurants are nominated in categories including Best New Restaurant, Best Steakhouse and Best Brunch. The awards are organized by ShoreFoodie.com, a local dining guide from the team behind Jersey Shore Restaurant Week Diners are invited to vote for award finalists at shorturl.at/hVYUK then industry professionals will select the winners Arooga's Grille House & Sports Bar, which opened on Route 9 in Howell in 2020, has closed. The Pennsylvania-based restaurant chain replaced the former Ruby Tuesday location in the Lanes Mill Crossing shopping center Wonder, a food hall serving dishes from a collection of top restaurants, is up and running in Middletown. and dishes from multiple restaurants are prepared simultaneously in one kitchen Diners can take their food to go or eat at nearly a dozen seats Restaurant options include Streetbird by Marcus Samuelsson The former Sickles Market in Little Silver will reopen under new ownership as The Market at Sickles Farm plan to maintain the market's tradition of offering high-quality produce and prepared foods The garden center is expected to open in May with the full market and cafe following in July his business which holds the land of the Little Silver store and his Rumson home his two daughters and a former employee are being hired to run the store all with other locations in Monmouth County have recently opened or soon will inside the Grand Arcade at Convention Hall on the Asbury Park boardwalk: Defiance Police Officer's AssociationP.O. Box 643, Defiance OH 43512Email: dpoalocal166@gmail.comWeb: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Defiance-Police-Officers-Association/163126913707266/ This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page TEXAS – JUNE 14: Dave Portnoy looks on prior to Game Four of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics at American Airlines Center on June 14 Everyone knows we have some great, if not the best pizza around and this time around Dave Portnoy stopped by Pizzeria 'Lucci in Belmar and got their review Dave is all over not just here in Jersey but throughout the country doing these pizza ratings and this score was very good if you ask me Pizzeria 'Lucci is located at 809 Belmar Plaza Dave has been giving a lot of amazing scores to a lot of pizza places down here at the shore and had some pizza your taste buds just know it's not the same Portnoy was on record saying this about Pizzeria 'Lucci's pizza the preparation and work they're putting into the dough," I can't believe we've never been here before." Dave did give Pizzeria 'Lucci's pizza an 8.3 out of 10 and living in Belmar I think it's time to get my ass off the bar stool and get over to this place to get in on that pizza and as Dave says look at that undercarriage The only thing I don't understand is why Dave Portnoy is always talking about the rules When I see him come out of the pizza place I don't get it but I say thank you to Dave for loving the pizza around here I know the pizza places here put a lot of time and love into their pies So in conclusion here at 95.9 The Rat we SALUTE YOU PIZZERIA 'LUCCI AND KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK Thank you for taking the time out to check this story out and as always, many thanks for rocking out with me and of course 95.9 The Rat. You can get more stories just by clicking right HERE Download the app to LISTEN LIVE wherever you are and connect with us like never before 2025 at 11:45 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The incident is currently under investigation by the Belmar Fire Bureau and the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office and at least two others were damaged by a porch fire that broke out on 13th Avenue over the weekend Monmouth County Fire Marshal Fred Migliaccio confirmed The fire started Sunday morning on the porch of a home at 306 13th Avenue Two firefighters suffered injuries not believed to be life-threatening Members of Belmar’s Volunteer Hook & Ladder Fire Company were among those who responded to the scene and operated for around four hours before being released The incident is currently under investigation by the Belmar Fire Bureau and the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office no further details can be released at this time Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. BELMAR - A man died Thursday night after falling over the railing from the walkway under the Route 35 bridge police received a report of a person in the water near the bridge officers began searching the area under the bridge on the north side of the Belmar Marina The male victim was found submerged on the opposite side of the walkway railing underneath the bridge the victim was unresponsive and did not respond to any instructions from officers on scene Additional personnel from surrounding agencies and paramedics from Jersey Shore University Medical Center The victim was successfully lifted from the water and over the railing and the victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center lifesaving measures continued for around 80 minutes The incident remains under investigation by the Belmar Police Department and the victim's identity is being withheld at this time BELMAR — A Saturday night fire damaged several structures around 14th Avenue and injured three people Belmar Police posted on Facebook Sunday morning Saturday at a home on the 500 block of 14th Avenue of Belmar said she could see the flames from her friend's home two blocks away "We just saw a lot of smoke and embers flying around," she said Belmar Fire Department Chief Sean Pringle was at the scene Sunday morning as residents gathered what they could from the one apartment in a multifamily house damaged by the blaze The fire started in shed behind one of the homes then spread quickly to the surrounding buildings One resident was injured after he went back into a burning home to rescue his pets and became disoriented One suffered a shoulder injury and another suffered an eye injury First responders from several nearby towns also responded to the scene Saturday night The Monmouth County Fire Marshal's Office and Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office are investigating Friends of one of the displaced families have launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe.com Check back for updates on this developing story Pizzeria 'Lucci opened in Belmar last March, and owner Mike Gallucci can celebrate the anniversary with a good score from pizza reviewer Dave Portnoy He gave Pizzeria 'Lucci's pizza an 8.3 out of 10 the preparation and work they're putting into the dough," he said "I can't believe we've never been here before." Which New Jersey pizzerias did Portnoy visit?Portnoy has reviewed pizza at more than 30 Shore pizzerias and restaurants LAKEWOOD, Colo. — The developer of a controversial apartment complex near Belmar Park is suing the City of Lakewood following the passage of a citizen-led ordinance Neighbors have been fighting to protect the park and its green space for more than a year They claim the project would reach the sidewalk near the park and bring around 900 more people to the area impacting the wildlife that calls the open space home Cathy Kentner has been speaking out to keep the open space as is "Because of the natural sanctuary that already exists and the overbuilding that is proposed here that would destroy that habitat," she said a developer who did not want to dedicate some of the existing green space on their property to the City of Lakewood for parkland was required to pay a fee in lieu of the dedication Those fees were then used for improvements to other parks and open spaces in Lakewood Kentner's organization, Save Open Space Lakewood, pushed through an ordinance that removed the option for developers to pay the fee-in-lieu. The Lakewood City Council approved that change in November Kairoi Properties, LLC., the developer behind the 412-unit luxury apartment building planned for the area near the open space, has filed a lawsuit against the city then they will be allowed to continue as if the people and their request to protect our environment and to have reasonable development — as if we never existed," Kentner said Kairo Properties claims the amount of land that would need to be dedicated under the ordinance is larger than the property itself The company is asking a judge to stop the city from enforcing this new rule "It's possible to develop and not take away these natural spaces that everyone needs for their physical and mental well-being," Kentner said "We are just begging our elected officials to sit down and come up with something that respects everybody that actually brings everybody to the table." Denver7 contacted the City of Lakewood for a statement but was told officials were unavailable due to the holiday Denver7 also reached out to Kairoi Properties but did not hear back as of the publication of this article Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what's right lending a helping hand and following through on promises When a group of friends with engineering chops debuted the Christmas Light Show on a residential street in Wall in December 2005 the Walt Disney World-quality display of lasers pyrotechnics and synchronized holiday music quickly became a local sensation as imitators have popped up across the landscape its organizers are hoping crowds continue to flock to the performances 21 at Pyanoe Plaza on Main Street in Belmar but some other houses are doing some substantially nice jobs with flashy lighting,” said lead producer Dan Brateris a Wall resident and New Jersey Institute of Technology professor “The kits that help you do these things are much more readily available (to the general public) but I still think we have a very unique show with the sound system and the lasers lights and the flamethrowers it’s still like going to a rock show versus looking at Christmas Lights.” more than 12,000 people have attended the show over multiple nights This is the third year it will take place at the Connelly-Campion-Wright building at Pyanoe Plaza which is located at Ninth Avenue and Main Street in Belmar More holiday fun: Holiday Lights Fest at Freehold Raceway Mall, and more things to do this weekend After undergoing some changes due to the pandemic and the relocation process from Wall the show has returned to its original scale — “thousands of lights all synchronized to a thundering concert-sized sound system,” Brateris said The free show raises money through donations for RallyCap Sports a local nonprofit that sponsors sports programs for special-needs children Suggested donations are $25 for a family of four and $15 for an individual adult Parking is located in the Belmar Mall parking lot and surrounding streets. Attendees are urged to arrive 30 minutes early, dress warm and carpool if possible. In the event of poor weather, the show may be rescheduled. Visit www.TheChristmasLightShow.com after 2 p.m on the day of the show for status information Jerry Carino is community columnist for the Asbury Park Press focusing on the Jersey Shore’s interesting people As part of a comprehensive 90-day study to collect valuable data and assess traffic patterns more effectively Belmar Avenue and Waverly Street will shift to one-way operation beginning Monday (Dec Ingress to the area will begin at the intersection of Price Street and Belmar Avenue while egress will occur where Waverly Street meets Price Street “We appreciate the patience and understanding of our residents as we implement these changes,” said Damien Davis Morgantown director of engineering and public works “This study will allow us to learn how to better address traffic patterns which will increase safety and convenience for everyone living in the community.” City officials advise residents to follow the new traffic guidelines as they are implemented and thank the community for its cooperation BELMAR — Two firefighters were injured and five people displaced by a fire that spread to multiple structures on Saturday night A fire in the rear of two houses on 14th Street was first reported around 7:30 p.m. and spread to the rear of a third, according to Belmar police. Photos show the rear of one of the homes with heavy damage and melted siding on others New Jersey 101.5 Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow said temperatures were around 29 degrees with a breeze at 12 mph at the nearest weather reporting station in Sea Girt making for a cold and icy environment to fight a fire One of the residents also sustained burn injuries The fire was brought under control within two hours The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office A disaster action team from Red Cross New Jersey assisted residents impacted by the fire with temporary lodging A GoFundMe campaign was created to assist the Mendoza family which lost their homes in the fire but now so much of their lives have been lost and it is so hard to rebuild," campaign creator Elizabeth Emmett wrote on the page Gallery Credit: Dan Zarrow Gallery Credit: Jeff Deminski A fire in the rear of two houses on 14th Street was first reported around 7:30 p.m. and spread to the rear of a third, according to Belmar police.\nRead More A fire in the rear of two houses on 14th Street was first reported around 7:30 p.m. and spread to the rear of a third, according to Belmar police. Photos show the rear of one of the homes with heavy damage and melted siding on others A disaster action team from Red Cross New Jersey assisted residents impacted by the fire with temporary lodging A GoFundMe campaign was created to assist the Mendoza family which lost their homes in the fire