Popular Jersey Shore Restaurant To Close Permanently After Summer

BERKELEY, NJ — A beloved South Seaside Park eatery will close permanently after this summer and will be replaced with housing, according to its owner.

Mike Jurusz, owner of Chef Mike's ABG, shared in a seven-minute long Facebook video that the property the restaurant sits on was sold and will be demolished and replaced with 12 luxury homes (watch the video below). That includes the restaurant and the Island Beach Motor Lodge, he said.

"A lot of memories were made here," a visibly emotional Jurusz said, mentioning birthdays, anniversaries, special events and more. "So now it's very heartbreaking to know that this is our last memory."

Jurusz has spent a long time in this location. Previously Atlantic Bar & Grill, he served as head chef for a decade before purchasing it and turning it into Chef Mike's ABG.

In his time as owner, it's become a premiere spot at the Shore, being named the greatest restaurant in Ocean County among other accolades.

"We'll definitely be here the entire summer until September," Jurusz said, and added that he is actively looking for a new location for Chef Mike's ABG. However, it is "almost impossible to find" what he is looking for, and asked for anyone to share leads with him if they had any.

Jurusz asked for everyone to come out to the restaurant to share their past memories and to make their last ones.

"Let's go out in style. Let's go out on top," Jurusz said. "Let's go out like we've always been. And have fun with this one."