New Business Ribbon Cuttings, Grand Re-Opening In Downtown Belmar

The Belmar Business Partnership (BBP) recently held ribbon-cutting events to celebrate the grand openings of Midnight Candle Company and Sonny’s Grille, as well as the grand re-opening of Sportsnut Cards & Collectibles at its new location on Main Street in Belmar, New Jersey.

Midnight Candle Company

Mayor-Elect Mark Walsifer cut the ribbon at the grand opening of Midnight Candle Company, 1108 Main Street, on Saturday, November 17. Attendees included the business owner, Matt Dates, and his wife Christine, who reside in Belmar; Brian Katz, owner of 10th Ave. Burrito Co. in Belmar; Tom Burke and Christine Cardellino from the BBP's Board of Trustees; and friends and family of the business owners.

“One of the things that makes Midnight Candle Company unique is that there is a very good chance you will be buying your candle from the maker or while candles are being made,” Matt said. “You can even bring in your own container for custom filling. We also work with local nonprofits to help them raise necessary funds through candle sales, which is very rewarding. In the near future, we will be offering educational events and fun workshops at our shop. Customers can expect quality products at fair prices. We’re friendly, positive, and transparent in all we do.”

Christine and Matt Dates, owners of Midnight Candle Company in Belmar, New Jersey.

Sonny’s Grille

Sonny's Grille, located at 821 Belmar Mall Plaza, held its grand opening on Saturday, November 17. The owner, David LaTempa, along with his wife, Ana, and their children, Anthony and Nikki, all took part in the ribbon cutting. The LaTempa family currently resides in Jersey City, New Jersey, and are excited to be part of the Belmar business community.

“Our vintage-looking restaurant was hand built by me and my family. We put our heart into this place,” David said. “We pride ourselves in using the best ingredients and making most items from scratch, including our famous chili and hand-made burgers. We are mostly known for Sonny’s Italian hot dog and our signature hot dogs, for which we were voted among New Jersey’s 25 Best Hot Dog Joints.”

In addition to Mayor-Elect Mark Walsifer, also in attendance at the Sonny's Grill ribbon cutting were Councilwoman-Elect Pat Wann, Tom Burke and Christine Cardellino from the BBP’s Board of Trustees, and friends of the family.

David LaTempa, owner of Sonny's Grille, recently relocated his business from Neptune Twp., New Jersey, to downtown Belmar. The restaurant is named in memory of David's father, "Sonny," who always dreamed of opening his own hot dog joint.

Sportsnut Cards & Collectibles

Sportsnut Cards & Collectibles held its grand re-opening on Saturday, November 24. Participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony were the owner, Ted Henschel, along with his wife, children, and parents; Mayor-Elect Mark Walsifer, who cut the ribbon; and Tom Burke and Christine Cardellino from the BBP's Board of Trustees.

"We are unique because we buy and sell all types of sports collectibles, and we have items for every level of sports fan or collector -- from the most sophisticated collector to the young sports fan. We add new inventory almost every day, and we probably have one of the biggest selections in the state."

Ted Henschel opened Sportsnut Cards & Collectibles in Belmar 11 years ago after graduating from college.

Ted moved his business to 1102 Main Street after a fire forced the closure of his prior location (1210 Main Street) in October 2018.

"I am very excited to be on my new block. Everyone has been so welcoming to me," Ted said. "I want to give special thanks to the police officers and fire fighters who responded to the fire in our old store. They responded so quickly, and because of them, I was able to save a large amount of inventory and stay in business in Belmar. Thank you very much!"

Story and photos by Patch Mayor Christine Cardellino, publisher of the award-winning Belmar Beachcomber Blog.

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