Wall's Circus Drive-In Sold

WALL, NJ — The iconic Circus Drive-In has been sold.

Gerald Norkus of Wien Real Estate, the company handling the property, confirmed a report that the iconic restaurant, which has been closed since last year and on the market since January, has a buyer at last.

Norkus said information about the buyer would not be available for a week or so.

The restaurant, whose big top and clown sign have been in place since it was established in 1954, will probably not resume operations as a restaurant, Norkus said, confirming a Facebook post and repor by News 12 New Jersey's Jim Murdoch about the sale.

Norkus did say, however, that the site was not purchased by PETA. The animal rights organization had sought a low-cost long-term lease to turn the property into a vegan restaurant and "empathy museum focusing on animals who suffer when exploited for entertainment in circuses," PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said in a letter to Norkus in January.

That proposal was turned down, Norkus said. The property was put up for sale or lease because the owner no longer wanted to run it as a restaurant and the owner, whom Norkus described as an investor, wanted to get as much money for the site as possible.

The sale price was not immediately available, but Norkus previously said the 1.44-acre property on Route 35 is very valuable.

Take a look at some of its history here:

Wall's Circus Drive-In Up For Sale; See Videos, Old Photos

Photo via Google Maps