License Denial Means Iconic LBI Restaurant May Not Reopen

BEACH HAVEN, NJ — For 75 years, Holiday Snack Bar has been serving up delicious burgers to Long Beach Island visitors. But that could come to an end, after Beach Haven officials denied the restaurant its 2023 mercantile license.

"It was never our intention to have to slam the town, or bring bad press, however their most recent decision has left us with no other option," Holiday Snack Bar shared on Facebook Wednesday. "Their tactics thus far have involved: selective enforcement, intimidation, harassment, threats and bullying."

The reason for the denial apparently has to do with outdoor dining. The restaurant was taken to court over it by the borough last summer.

According to a report by NJ Advance Media, even though the restaurant has had outdoor dining since 2011, they need to file a new site plan with the land use board for outdoor dining as COVID rules in Beach Haven have lapsed since the owners purchased it in 2021.

"In the middle of this crisis we are struggling to find the right words, but know that we are doing everything, and we mean everything to keep the HSB open despite Beach Haven's recent denial of our Mercantile License, which they say is needed to operate," the restaurant owners shared.

An owner elaborated in a Facebook comment that "we have not expanded our business, we have not increased the number of seats, we have not turned our nose up to the town, serving breakfast is not an expansion of use, this is not a Land Use Board issue."

The announcement was met with more than 100 comments from the restaurant's regulars, who said they would support Holiday Snack Bar in whatever way possible.

Their current license expires on May 14, according to NJ Advance Media, so this could be the last weekend Holiday Snack Bar is open if nothing changes by then.

"By all means please do whatever you believe is right in you heart to help The Holiday Snack Bar," the owners said. "This is much bigger than us."