Sam's Pizza will be back, family says

From Press staff reports WILDWOOD - ' Sam's Pizza Palace, destroyed by a December fire at the Shore Plaza Motel, is coming back, family members say.

[THE POPE FAMILY]

PLEASE PASS ON TO THE OWNERES OF SAM'S PIZZA AND THE SHORE PLAZA
MOTEL, I HOPE THEY WILL REBUILD NOT ONLY SAM'S BUT THE HOTEL
ALSO. ITS A TRADITION IN OUR FAMILY MY PARENTS HAVE BEEN GOING
THERE SINCE IT WAS BUILT, MY FAMILY ,AND THEIR KIDS. THE SHORE WILL NOT BE THE SAME. I HOPE THEY REBUILD SOON AS POSSIBLE,
WITH ALL THE GREAT FEATURES (RESTURANT,POOL,AND THE GREAT
OCEAN FRONT BALCONY'S)WHAT A CONVIENCE TO JUST PARK YOUR CAR AND NOT HAVE THE NEED TO MOVE IT ANY FURTHER. I HOPE THEY WILL BE BACK FOR THE SUMMER OF 2007 OR HOPEFULLY 2006!!!

[Michael]

At least there is something is Wildwood people are willing to re-build and preserve. With every hotel destruction and condo build, a piece of Wildwood dies. This is something the politicians and developers will never understand. People do not come to Wildwood by the millions every year to buy expensive homes and stare at the water. It became a resort because people from all walks of life, poor and rich, could go there and have a great time. They come to escape to a special time in history. Those doo wop hotels. Those funny looking signs. All of it. That is Wildwood. There are beaches everywhere. There is only one Wildwood. If the mayors and developers were smart about this, and reinvest time and effort into what made Wildwood the place it was and still is, then things would be a lot better. However, that is nothing but wishful thinking. Progress, Progress, Progress. You hear that a lot from the money men. It is not progress when the city loses its identity. Thank god Sam's will be rebuilt. At least that's something.

[henry family]

I was devastated by the destruction of Shore Plaza. My family has been staying at Shore Plaza for years. It is our main summer vacation. We too enjoyed the roof-top restaurant and pool. We always stayed at an ocean front room and used to sit up until 2:00 a.m., watching all the activity. Wildwood will not seem the same. I have been going to Wildwood for 24 years and it simply isn't the same without Shore Plaza. I do not know the fate yet of the hotel, I am just desperatetly hoping it will be rebuilt. Even then, it will not be quite the same. I loved the fact that it was an old hotel with character from a different time. Looking forward again to our family time at a new hotel.

[shore plaza family]

henry family wrote:

I was devastated by the destruction of Shore Plaza. My family has been staying at Shore Plaza for years. It is our main summer vacation. We too enjoyed the roof-top restaurant and pool. We always stayed at an ocean front room and used to sit up until 2:00 a.m., watching all the activity. Wildwood will not seem the same. I have been going to Wildwood for 24 years and it simply isn't the same without Shore Plaza. I do not know the fate yet of the hotel, I am just desperatetly hoping it will be rebuilt. Even then, it will not be quite the same. I loved the fact that it was an old hotel with character from a different time. Looking forward again to our family time at a new hotel.

Enjoyed reading your quote on the shore plaza, we too wish to rebuild. It may take time, the pizza place will reopen this summer. hope to see all there.
Thanks,
Rosemary

[shore plaza family]

Thanks to everyone for their concern and kind words, they meant alot to all of us at Sams and shore plaza, We lost alot this winter, we also lost our pie man, Pete the little guy,he passed away in January at the age of 52, he will be greatly missed. Sam's presently is being rebuilt, we also have plans to rebuild the motel but it may take a couple of years. We had many memories and alot of wonderful customers that became like family to us.
Rosemary

[Eleanor McClure]

We have been coming to this hotel for years and now my sister and I have been coming with some of our grandchildren and this year I was finally going to have my whole family come down and then the fire happened, we are going to come but it will not be the same, we used to put the kids to bed and sit out there most of the night and watch the people on the boards, I will so miss that this year when we come down.

[Mike]

I am really going to miss that first slice of the season that I have traditionally had every Easter Sunday for many years at the best pizza place in Wildwood.

[Khrysse]

Mike wrote:

I am really going to miss that first slice of the season that I have traditionally had every Easter Sunday for many years at the best pizza place in Wildwood.

Yes, I missed that first slice of Sam's this past Easter Sunday. But I am so glad to see that they are rebuilding.
I mean, where else would I go for pizza on the boardwalk!!!

[The Blute Family]

We are also devastated. As someone who stayed at the motel every summer for over 24 years, we will surely miss it. We wish the best to all of you, Ro,Rita,Steve,Sam and the whole family. P.S. Pete "the little guy" will also be missed. Love always, The Blutes.

[Andrea McCabe]

I am so glad you are rebuilding. I worked for Sam in 1960 when I was 17. Also had dinner at his house in Trenton. Sam and his wife were wonderful,as were his two small children. I have been going to Sam'since with my family. Good luck to all of you. And the "the little guy will be missed.

[shore plaza family]

Hi Barb and Tim,
Please call the motel and leave your tel.# I've trying to call you but had the wrong number.
Roe

[sunnyray]

So sorry to hear about the "little guy" He will be missed. I can't wait for you to rebuild. We always traveled to Wildwood in the winter, not this year. I didn't want to see the site across from Gateway :( Glad to hear Sam's Pizza will be open for the summer! I have been enjoying Sam's Pizza for over 40 years now!

[Happy]

I really glad Sam's is going to be back in 06. I lived on 26th for countless summers with my friends and it was our favorite place every night after a great night out on town! Best Pizza in WW with out a doubt

[NeedNew]

I am sorry the Shore Plaza is no longer standing. It was a landmark of the Wildwood Boardwalk that will be missed. It will be nice to have a NEW motel in it's place. You must admit alot of the Wildwood Motels have seen their age. The Pleather sofa's have got to go. Most rooms smell of mildew. They are charging 2006 prices for a 1978 room.

[Anne]

I am so sorry about the Shore Plaza going up in smoke. It has been a tradition in my family for the past twenty years to visit the the shore plaze each July! I will be waiting for news hopefully of a rebuild. Its just not Wildwood to me without my favorite gataway place!

Hurry back

[phelps FAMILY]

2 WEEKS BEFORE THE FIRE,MY HUSBAND TOLD ME TO MAKE SURE I BOOK FOR OUR JULY TRIP TO WILDWOOD. WE MISSED A YR AND WANTED TO RETURN.NOW I'M NOT SURE WERE TO GO?????????? HARRY BACK . WE LOVED YOUR FAMILY ROOM

[Phil Trotter]

Hi Roe you probably remember me as we only met a couple of times but Tony and Anthony may do. Its Irish Phil who worked in the basement and then graduated to the cheesesteak grill in my final summer. Please say Hi to Tony and Anthony for me and I hope you will be up and running again soon. Really sorry to hear about the fire and also about Pete who gave me many laughs when I worked there, at least he did whenever I started to understand what he was saying! In my first summer of working there he would constantly ask me for "MARM" and I would just stare at him blankly. Then he would grumble loudly and get what he needed himself. It was only two summers later that I realised that "MARM" was actually MUSHROOM!Then we started to get along, and what a one off he was, great worker too. Anyway, very sad to read about his passing. Take care and good luck. May bring my wife to see my old employers at some point and taste a cheesesteak.philiptrotter@hotm ail.co.uk

shore plaza family wrote:

Thanks to everyone for their concern and kind words, they meant alot to all of us at Sams and shore plaza, We lost alot this winter, we also lost our pie man, Pete the little guy,he passed away in January at the age of 52, he will be greatly missed. Sam's presently is being rebuilt, we also have plans to rebuild the motel but it may take a couple of years. We had many memories and alot of wonderful customers that became like family to us.
Rosemary

[Propst-Morcom Family]

shore plaza family wrote:

<quoted text>
Enjoyed reading your quote on the shore plaza, we too wish to rebuild. It may take time, the pizza place will reopen this summer. hope to see all there.
Thanks,
Rosemary

I am so sad that we won't be staying in your hotel anymore. We always stayed either on the third or fourth floor, rooms 327 or 427. We came to Wildwood 17 years in a row, and then hit and miss over the next 10. My mom, gram, nana, my twin, any myself enjoyed every minute of it. Every year, the second week of July. I was looking forward to seeing my children, now 8 and 5, enjoy your hotel as much as our family did. My husband, daughter and son have stayed with you twice as a family, and it's so sad that it won't happen again. I'd appreciate you keeping in touch, and let all of us sad families know if you are going to rebuild. Good luck, and god bless.

[Pat and Judy from Arizona]

Dear Sam, Ro and family -- what a tragedy! We have been coming all the way from AZ for some years and could not conceive of staying anywhere but the Shore Plaza. It was our WW home. We grew up in WW, and now have our own families meet us there to share that experience. Where on EARTH will we stay?? PLEASE build again -- it is our fondest hope. Give Sam a big hug for "Kim's sisters" from Arizona. Good luck and stay well.

[Ernie from Philly]

Is Sam's pizza open yet? There is no reason to go to Wildwood if there is no Sam's!