Local Business Feud Ends In Compromise On Outdoor Seating

It was a feud between a small business owner, an angry neighbor, and government bureaucracy.

In the end, cooler heads prevailed, and everyone seems to be pleased with the resolution.

Now, summer can officially begin on Long Beach Island.

The trouble started about a year and a half ago when the borough denied Holiday Snack Bar their mercantile license. Obtaining the license is typically a routine process.

Borough to Business: Not So Fast

However, the borough zoning office refused to issue a license, claiming Holiday Snack Bar did not comply with a host of ordinances and laws.

At the crux of the issue were plans for outdoor seating.

Holiday, located at Centre St and North Delaware Avenue, has been a mainstay on the island for nearly 50 years.

Generations of families have grabbed a quick bite to eat at Holiday during their summer stays and for many younger residents, Holiday provided them with their first work experience.

Neighbors were concerned that outdoor seating would disturb neighboring homes in the area.

Agreement in Place Will Allow Outdoor Seating

The new agreement between the business and the town, allows Holiday to offer 42 outdoor seats, and they will be allowed to operate between 8 am and 10 pm 7 days.

Additionally, the business has agreed to not play music outdoors, and cut their lights by 10 pm.

The owners of the restaurant are pleased that they'll now be able to offer breakfast on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.

The owners also agreed to make other changes to the outside of the building, changes that aren't expected to delay the process.

The agreement is expected to be approved by the board at their July 1 meeting.