Ocean City Could Soon See New Life at This Vacant Property

Named one of New Jersey's Most Beautiful Island Towns, Ocean City has been a popular destination for Summer Vacations and South Jersey year-round residents for over 120 years. With four bridges gaining motorists access to the island, hundreds of thousands of people come to Ocean City each summer.

The heaviest traffic entry point for Ocean City is the Route 52 Causeway, which enters the popular South Jersey Shore Town at 9th street. While the stretch from the foot of the bridge to West Avenue is aligned with mostly modern buildings and businesses, 30 years ago it looked very different. Until the early 21st Century, 9th Street in Ocean City was famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) for having six gas stations.

Famous gas station brand names like Exxon, Mobile, Citgo, Getty, Sunoco, and Hess had their big signs on full display.

But the gas stations with the bright Sunocco and Shell signs were the last ones standing before closing in 2019. The local favorite Wiesenthal’s Auto Service was demolished, and a massive Republic Bank was built at the corner of 9th Street and West Avenue.

When Republic First Bank shut down nationally and was acquired by Fulton Bank, many people expected the fancy-looking building to get the same treatment the Shell and Sunocco gas stations suffered.

After almost two years of sitting vacant, there are reports there is a real future for the bank building at the corner of West Avenue and 9th street.

According to reports by Fideri News websites, Chase Bank has purchased the building and property. The closest bank location with an ATM for current Chase Bank customers is on Route 9 in Little Egg Harbor, and outfront of the CVS Pharmacy in Cape May Court House.

Chase Bank is one of the largest banks in the United States, and it has grown in market share by over 10 percent since 2019. The JP Morgan Chase Banking Company has successfully executed an aggressive strategy to gain more personal banking, credit card customers, and business banking clients over the last several years.

No official word on when Chase Bank would reopen the large, glass-enclosure building in Ocean City. But there is speculation that the goal is to have a Grand Opening for Chase Bank in 2027.