Flaky Tart Bakery In Atlantic Highlands Closes

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — A very popular local bakery in Atlantic Highlands has shut its doors for good.

The Flaky Tart in Atlantic Highlands has closed, effective immediately. This is the new voicemail greeting when you call the bakery: "Unfortunately we have made the difficult decision to permanently close. Although we are deeply saddened, we want to thank you for your many years of patronage and support. Thank you for understanding. Stay well."

Pastry chef Matthew Rosenzweig, who owned the bakery with Laura Martelli, told the Asbury Park Press the decision to close was partly due to a drop in business when coronavirus began.

Coronavirus — and the stay-at-home lockdowns put in place by government — have had a devastating affect on Monmouth County businesses. And its not just small businesses, either. Hackensack Meridian closed all its Tilton Fitness locations, including the one in Hazlet, and that gym chain had 20,000 members statewide.

The Flaky Tart joins a growing list of bakeries, restaurants and gyms that have shuttered since March:

• Ocean Cafe in Red Bank, a very popular lunch spot, closed this summer
• Daza Subs & Deli in Keyport closed
• Via 45 on Broad Street in Red Bank closed in September after 11 years in business
• Espresso Joe's/Sunshine Cafe on Front Street in Keyport closed in July
• LogoWear Pros Custom Apparel & Uniforms in Highlands closed in May.
• Dosil’s Scuba, Swim, and Surf on Rt. 36 in North Middletown is now closed.
• An incredible four businesses in the Holmdel Commons shopping center have now closed: Cheeburger Cheeburger closed last month; the Modell's, Pier One and Justice tween clothing store.
• The Nordstrom at the Freehold Raceway Mall closed in May
• The Microsoft store at the Freehold Raceway Mall is now closed
• The Bed, Bath & Beyond in Howell is closing
• Alfonso's Pastry Shoppe, a family-run bakery on Broad Street in Red Bank, closed. The Campitello family will still operate their original Staten Island location.
• Modine's in Asbury Park permanently closed, effective June 3. David Burke is opening a new spot in that building.
• Sue's Nails, in business for 16 years in Atlantic Highlands, closed two months ago.
• The GNC in Middletown will close, NJ.com reported
• CJ McLoone's tavern in Tinton Falls closed for the summer, saying it wasn't worth it since they only could put four tables outside.
• Tilton Fitness permanently closed all seven of its gyms in New Jersey, including its Hazlet location. Operated by Hackensack Meridian Health, Tilton had 20,000 members statewide and was in business for more than 30 years. "Our facilities have been hit hard by the mandatory closures due to the coronavirus pandemic, forcing us to make this difficult decision," said Sam Young, president and CEO of Hackensack Meridian Fitness & Wellness.

Did we miss a Monmouth or Ocean county business that closed in the past six months? Let us know: carly.baldwin@patch.com And don't miss a minute of local news, from in and around the Middletown area! Click here to get Patch email updates and follow Middletown Patch on Facebook.