Shore Plaza Motel

[Rob Casasanta]

I was down in Wildwood, NJ on 2/14/09 and 2/15/09 I visited what once was The Shore Plaza.

NOTHING!

Sad to report
Still a empty lot.

Maybe Summer 2010, 2011, 2012?

[Jessa]

I heard they are not rebuilding.

[HPP]

IF THAT IS TRUE, THAT IS SAD BUT AS MENTIONED IN THE EARLIER COMMENTS THAT IS THE OWNERS CHOICE.
WILDWOOD JUST ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE ANYWAY.
A LOT OF THE "GOOD" RESTAURANTS ARE GONE NOW.
THE HAUNTED HOUSE AND THE SHORE PLAZA BURNT DOWN.
CONDOS SEEM TO BE GOING UP EVERYWHERE.
THEY SAY THAT EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. IN THIS CASE, SINCE THE SHORE PLAZA BURNT DOWN, I HAVE FOUND OTHER VACATION SPOTS THAT I AM ENJOYING WITHOUT A DOUBT. I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN CONTENT AND NOT OPEN MINDED TO OTHER VACATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND KEPT GOING DOWN TO WW EVERY YEAR. YES, I WILL MISS THE SHORE PLAZA AND WILDWOOD BUT THINGS CHANGE AND WE ARE EXPERIENCING A WIDE VARIETY OF NEW AND EXCITING DESTINATIONS. THESE PLACES ARE BREATH TAKING AND FAIRLY INEXPENSIVE IN COMPARISON TO IN SEASON WW RATES.
WE HAVE OUR MEMORIES OF THE MOTEL AND WW AND NO ONE CAN EVER TAKE THOSE WAY. IF THEY REBUILD, YES I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO SEE THE NEW MOTEL, BUT UNTIL THEN I AM GOING TO HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK AND LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF THE NEW PLACES THAT I AM GETTING TO SEE!!!!!

[Jamie]

Rob Casasanta wrote:

Hello, my name is Rob Casasanta.
I live in Peekskill, NY
Does anyone know the status of the
Shore Plaza Motel? Are they going to
rebuild?
32 years of my life I spent EVERY summer
at the Shore Plaza. Wildwood is just not
the same without Shore Plaza.

I too spent many,many years going to the Shore Plaza as a kid with my famiy!! Pool on the roof!! Great memory's there!

[Chris]

hmmm wrote:

Just curious what caused the fire in the first place? Wanted to cash in on the condo building craze i bet. Just 2 luxury condos alone waterfront could make them millions.

According to the Wildwood Fire Department a fan motor in a bathroom cieling fan seized up overheated and set the bathroom on fire. The fire took off thru the building because all of the room doors were missing because they were being replaced.

[Rob Casasanta]

Every Summer I stop in Sam's Pizza and ask the gang what is going on. Summer 2006, 2007, 2008 and every Summer I get a different answer. Rebuilding? Yes, No, Maybe

Not sure what the word is for 2009?

God bless the Spera family.
Thanks for the great memories!

Rob

[George]

Rob Casasanta wrote:

Every Summer I stop in Sam's Pizza and ask the gang what is going on. Summer 2006, 2007, 2008 and every Summer I get a different answer. Rebuilding? Yes, No, Maybe
Not sure what the word is for 2009?
God bless the Spera family.
Thanks for the great memories!
Rob

Or maybe it's none of your business and the family just doesn't want to share their plans with you.

[Steve]

Fuhget about it!

Rob Casasanta wrote:

Every Summer I stop in Sam's Pizza and ask the gang what is going on. Summer 2006, 2007, 2008 and every Summer I get a different answer. Rebuilding? Yes, No, Maybe
Not sure what the word is for 2009?
God bless the Spera family.
Thanks for the great memories!
Rob

[Barbs811]

I also have been waiting for them to rebuild...It is a shame about the fire. I had some great memories there too! You always felt like home..the people who ran the place were so friendly. and the people that stayed there were just as friendly..I also miss going to the topside cafe for food and refreshments..Staying somewhere else is just not the same!!!!

[Warren]

Stayed at The Shore Plaza every summer because of the great location. The pool and restaurant on the roof were also great. The rooms and hallways were pretty much a mess and really stunk. As for the people that ran the place, they always seemed crabby and miserable. Still, I really do miss it because of the location and the great views from the balconies.

[Christina]

I agree very sad!!!

Rob Casasanta wrote:

Hello, my name is Rob Casasanta.
I live in Peekskill, NY
Does anyone know the status of the
Shore Plaza Motel? Are they going to
rebuild?
32 years of my life I spent EVERY summer
at the Shore Plaza. Wildwood is just not
the same without Shore Plaza.

[Danielle]

Warren wrote:

Stayed at The Shore Plaza every summer because of the great location. The pool and restaurant on the roof were also great. The rooms and hallways were pretty much a mess and really stunk. As for the people that ran the place, they always seemed crabby and miserable. Still, I really do miss it because of the location and the great views from the balconies.

My family always stayed there when they came down to visit, and the rooms were always clean and the owners were always nice.

[gretchen]

The location, the pool and the balconies were awesome. The rooms and halls deinitely weren't the cleanest or up to date but we came to overlook it.

Some of the staff was friendly, some were not as friendly, but we adjusted to that too.

I do miss the Shore Plaza Motel because I have a lot of fond memories from my childhood and my adult life.

If they rebuild I would defintely stay there again. I haven't found a motel that I really like since and haven't been to Wildwood in the past two years.

I saw Sam's on the Food Network network. That was pretty cool but it brought back all my Shore Plaza memories and that wasn't cool because I miss it!

You can't think of Sam's w/o the motel and vice versa. At least for all of us 70's and on babies!!!!!

[Stan Vaughn]

http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/article/53...
Check out the link above. It may make us all feel more optimistic.

[Zack]

The shore plaza is being rebuilt!!! 55 units!!!!!

[Thank you]

Plans for new Shore Plaza Motel

WILDWOOD — The Wildwood Planning Board approved a Boardwalk motel project at a regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Aug. 3 giving the owners of the resort landmark restaurant, Sam’s Pizza, the go-ahead for an adjacent 55-unit proposal.

According to a release, the Board’s approval will permit construction of a new Shore Plaza Motel to replace the former lodging, which was completely destroyed in a December 2005 fire. Sam’s Pizza was rebuilt in record time and opened for Memorial Day 2006, but the motel site was left vacant.

“I am very happy that the Shore Plaza will be rebuilt,” said Mayor Ernie Troiano.“It was a classic 1950’s motel that was a Wildwood institution. We need more first-class motel rooms to remain a top tourist destination. I applaud the Spera and Zuccarella families for showing their strong commitment to the community by rebuilding the Shore Plaza.”

The municipal land use law has changed and a new master plan is in place since the reconstruction of Sam’s Pizza. In response to board requests, the owners agreed to reduce lot coverage, eliminate intrusion to the City’s right-of-way and enhance the safety of the ground level parking garage. Most importantly, agreement was reached to deed restrict the parking Jot across the street from the motel. This will link the two properties legally and will not allow the motel to be sold in the future without the parking lot.

The Shore Plaza Motel was a classic Wildwood “Doo-Wop” motel, with curved balconies overlooking tile boardwalk and a rooftop pool. It was opened in 1957 by Salvatore Spera, along with Sam’s Pizza, at 26th Avenue and the Boardwalk. The new plan, designed by architect Kevin Young of AIA, incorporates many of the original motel’s design accents. The rooms have been reduced in number from more than 70 to 55, in older to make them more spacious, in accordance with modern travelers’ tastes. The owners are waiting for a final disposition of their insurance claim from the 2005 fire before construction will begin.

[Rob Casasanta]

Wildwood Approves Shore Plaza Motel Reconstruction

WILDWOOD — The Wildwood Planning Board approved a Boardwalk motel project at a regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Aug. 3 giving the owners of the resort landmark restaurant, Sam’s Pizza, the go-ahead for an adjacent 55-unit proposal.

http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/article/53...

[trixy]

lets face it. we had all the fun but it is a great undertaking to run a hotel. after so many years maybe they are just tired of the whole scene. none of us is getting any younger.

[John Clem]

Celeste wrote:

I spend many a vacation there. I was trying to book a getaway and read this article online.Wow! I heard the news about the boardwalk catching fire but I had no idea it was the Shore Plaza hotel. I just have to find a new vacation spot.
Celeste, Newark, DE

Try the Aloha Motel on 3rd Ave. in North Wildwood. A bit far from the boardwalk (about 12 blocks) but everything else about it is right on the money.

[beth ann]

what good would 55 units be. the waiting list will be years to stay there. that is just a tease.