By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Sea Isle City seems to have adopted a “No Plunge, No Problem” philosophy for the Presidents Day weekend.
Even without the traditional Polar Bear Plunge being held this year, city officials and local business owners are predicting a busy holiday weekend as thousands of visitors are expected to head to Sea Isle for a winter getaway at the shore.
“Simply based on the preparations we’ve seen from the local business community, the city is anticipating a large number of people in town for this weekend,” Sea Isle spokeswoman Katherine Custer said.
In one early sign of a buildup of visitors, Sea Isle restaurant owner Mike Monichetti said he noticed heavier than usual traffic arriving in town Thursday off the Garden State Parkway.
“I just drove down on the parkway back to Sea Isle and already there were a lot of cars with Pennsylvania tags getting off at the Sea Isle exit,” said Monichetti, owner of Mike’s Seafood & Dock Restaurant.
Anticipating a surge of customers, Monichetti noted that he is stocking up on a fresh supply of seafood for his Park Road eatery.
“Mike’s Seafood is looking for a banner weekend,” he said. “We’re getting ready for a very busy four-day holiday weekend.”
Optimistic predictions are being made even though Sea Isle will not have the Polar Bear Plunge, traditionally its signature event for the Presidents Day weekend.
For 25 years, the Polar Bear Plunge attracted thousands of visitors for a wacky dip in the chilly ocean and served as the centerpiece for a holiday weekend of partying, dining and shopping in the beach town.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the plunge in 2021. This year, the event will not be held because of a new city policy barring privately run events such as the Polar Bear celebration from using local streets, municipal parking lots and public property.
Sea Isle officials said the plunge and other major private events placed too much strain on the city’s police and Public Works departments and also exposed the town to potential liability lawsuits if people were injured or killed.
“The plunge was a 15-minute event, but people were also here for a full weekend to take advantage of special deals and a chance to get away for a winter weekend at the shore,” Custer said. “In general, traditionally this has always been a very busy weekend for Sea Isle City.”
Over the years, the holiday weekend has been a popular draw for Sea Isle’s second homeowners. The town also has an influx of weekend visitors who rent out vacation properties and condominiums.
Christopher Glancey, whose Shorebreak Resorts hospitality company oversees the Dunes, Cape and Cove luxury condos in Sea Isle, said bookings are picking up for the holiday weekend.
“I expect it to be crowded,” Glancey said. “We have reservations at the Dunes, Cape and Cove. That’s a good thing to see people checking in for the weekend.”
Glancey added that he also expects to have brisk business at his Diamonds Liquor store and his Shorebreak Cafe bakery, both located on Landis Avenue just off John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
A big influx of holiday visitors would awaken the beach town from its winter hibernation and provide an economic boost for local merchants.
Restaurants are already getting reservations days in advance. Bars are offering live entertainment and expect to be packed, too.
“We are getting a lot of calls for reservations at O’Donnell’s,” said Kathy Larkin, manager of O’Donnell’s Pour House and its sister property, the Ocean Drive bar.
O’Donnell’s has erected tents for its outside dining area at the corner of 39th Street and Landis Avenue to help handle the crowds.
Larkin and Bill Young, whose family owns the Shenanigans nightclub and Dead Dog Saloon on Landis Avenue, agreed that the whole weekend should be busy.
“We’re hoping it’s quite good,” Young said. “I know how devoted our visitors are. They don’t want to be the ones that are left home.”
As part of the transition away from the Polar Bear Plunge mania, the business community has rebranded the holiday celebration as the “Presidents Day Weekend Festival.”
The plunge would traditionally take place on the Saturday of Presidents Day weekend at the beaches on 38th, 39th and 40th streets. Although the official plunge is scrubbed for this year, small groups of impromptu plungers are expected to jump in the chilly ocean.
Police and lifeguards are planning to patrol the beaches to respond to any emergencies, if needed. It is not illegal for people to jump into the ocean, a public place.
Rumors have been circulating that pranksters were planning to jump into the lagoon off 42nd Place. In order to gain access to the lagoon, they would either have to trespass on private property or jump into the water from local restaurants.
In a preemptive move, the owners of the property where the now-closed Andrea Trattoria restaurant is located at the corner of 42nd Place and Park Road erected a chain-link fence and “No Trespassing” signs to block access.
The Oar House Pub on 42nd Place has placed “No Plunge” and “No Plunging Allowed” signs on the street and on the building to prevent anyone from jumping into the lagoon.
James Bennett, owner of the Oar House Pub, has a slate of entertainment lined up for the weekend, but is also sponsoring two fundraising events to benefit the United Methodist Church in Sea Isle and the Cape May County Special Services School.
A Polar Bear King & Queen Contest will be held 7 p.m. Friday at the Oar House to support the Cape May County Special Services School. On Sunday at 1 p.m., there will be a baggo tournament held under a large tent at the United Methodist Church parking lot at 4102 Central Ave. to raise money for the church’s building fund.
Like other business owners, Bennett is confident that Sea Isle will enjoy a big holiday weekend, even without an official Polar Bear Plunge to serve as the headline event. Bennett was the organizer of the Polar Bear Plunge when he formerly owned the LaCosta Lounge in Sea Isle.
“My prediction is that it’s going to be very busy. Sea Isle is so hot that everyone wants to be here. I don’t think it will hurt us at all,” Bennett said of not having the plunge this year.
“There are so many good restaurants and so many things to do here,” he added. “I think people are ready to get out and have a good time after being cooped up for so long. They’re raring to go.”
