The Starer family takes a selfie in front of Farley & Ferry’s new photo board.
VENTNOR – Trendy North Beach Ventnor is the place to be seen and while you’re there, enjoy some new culinary offerings. Andi Sinderbrand, marketing director at Farley & Ferry Realty, already knows the area is up-and-coming, attracting millennials and their parents and grandparents. She also knows the city plans additional amenities for the streetscape project along the North Beach section of the Atlantic Avenue business district that will be completed in fall.
That, and all the new businesses opening on the block, is a “rebirth” of sorts, giving the neighborhood a new sense of place.
“We were so inspired by the growth of our block and the rebirth happening in the North Beach neighborhood that we felt the need to draw attention to all the new fantastic small businesses around us,” she said. “We saw an opportunity to create an interactive experience inspired by the idea of growth and our green and gold Ventnor photo wall became a reality.”
The wall outside the Farley & Ferry real estate office is becoming the place to be seen by residents and visitors who stop by to take a photo or selfie in front of the topiary board that boasts in gold script letters – Ventnor.
On a cool drizzly Tuesday, the Starer family, who were enjoying a mid-day bite at the Healthy Hippo, a new ‘grab and go’ restaurant a few doors down, stopped by to take a family selfie in front of the sign that will likely be shared on their social media sites.
It was their first visit to the new business, which specializes in smoothies and acai bowls, and the Starers know business. They run the Ventnor Farmers Market every Friday morning at St. James Church several blocks away.
Penny Starer said the photo wall is just one of the new ways to promote Ventnor.
In addition to putting up the “center of place” sign, the real estate office, which has been selling real estate in the North Beach area for more than 100 years and at the corner of Atlantic and Little Rock avenues since 1955, broker Mary Lou Ferry spruced up the exterior of the office with white benches, topiaries, and a water station for pets. The plate glass window has an LED display showing some hot buys in the neighborhood.
“There has been a tremendous response regarding our new look. We use it with happy new homeowners to celebrate their recent purchases,” Sinderbrand said. “One of the greatest aspects of our block is the diversity of businesses.”
Rocky Lacovara and his girlfriend Rebecca Jones opened The Healthy Hippo eatery on Atlantic Avenue in the North Beach business district.
Rocky Lacovara, 28, of Ventnor, came up with the idea of opening the Healthy Hippo when he was vacationing in Puerto Rico earlier this year.
“We thought it would be fantastic to try to do something like this here in Ventnor. Once we decided, we were all in,” he said.
Lacovara’s girlfriend, Rebecca Jones is a ballerina with the Atlantic City Ballet and it’s her job to eat well, he said.
“We opened this to give people healthy eating options, and so far, we’ve had a lot of happy customers and a lot of positivity,” he said.
The demographic is younger, but older folks, vegetarians and vegans come in too, he said.
The Healthy Hippo offers smoothies and acai bowls.
“This gives people more options to eat healthier than pizza or subs every day for lunch. If you mix in a bowl or smoothie one or two days, it’s a lot better for you,” he said.
Gennaro Comella, 33, a native of Naples, Italy who currently lives in Atlantic City, opened Pulia, an Italian fusion restaurant across the street in the old Lisa’s location and next door to Aroma, another new Italian restaurant that opened earlier in the season.
“People love our ambiance and our traditional flavors that include products from the Pulia region of Southern Italy, such as olive oil, tomato sauce and homemade pasta,” he said.
Pulia offers Italian fare morning, noon and night.
The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is European style, offering healthy options, including avocado on multi-grain sourdough, salmon toast, bagel schmear and fruit salads.
“They eat this way in Europe. But in Italy, breakfast is quick and easy, such as sfogliatella (an Italian pastry) and an espresso,” he said.
Of course, there’s an espresso machine where the cappuccino and lattes flow.
Chef Natale Antonio and restaurant owner Gennaro Comella just opened Pulia in the North Beach section.
The restaurant also boasts a pizza oven were Chef Natale Antonio makes Roman-style pizza.
“It takes 72 hours for the dough to rise and that makes a crust that is soft and light,” Comella said.
Pulia opened on the 4th of July weekend and has been busy, especially on weekends, he said. He plans to stay open through winter.
“We do catering, take-out, dine-in or delivery, are open seven days a week, and plan to extend our menu later on,” he said. “We’re here to offer healthy food at a reasonable price and cater to residents and visitors. We want them to feel like they are in Italy.”
The block boasts some other interesting eats, including Poppy’s, a Kosher-style pizza and deli, and Megu Sushi, an Asian staple on the avenue. Heart Revolution Yoga is there for peace of mind, and Let’s Face It, where the young at heart can get botox fillers.
A streetscape project along Atlantic Avenue in the North Beach section of Ventnor will be completed in fall.
