Wildwood Diner Update?

[doowopdude]

Can anyone tell me what the status of the Wildwood Diner is today? Did they demolish it yet? Can it still be taken? If anyone has the number of the owner or person responsible for it or any pics, that would be great. Send to [e-mail]

Thanks

[thelastresort]

It's gone

dwpl.proboards44.com/index.cgi?board=motels&action=display&thread=1155050929&page=1

[ContessaAnisha]

Letter from the 'Herald'

To the Editor:

By the time this article is printed, the most beautiful testament to Wildwood's Doo Wop architecture will be demolished. Of all of the properties going the way of the wrecking ball the Wildwood Diner is the biggest tragedy. My family owned and operated the Wildwood Diner from 1957 through 1998.
I understand it was our choice to sell the diner. At that point, the fate of this famous structure was no longer in our care. Subsequent ownership and irresponsible maintenance of the
"Gem of the Jersey Shore" caused it to look awful. However, the dining cars should have been taken over by the Doo Wop Preservation League or the Wildwood Historical Museum.
The Wildwood Diner is not just another restaurant in Wildwood. It was the place where everyone ate. As a child taking vacations all over the US, I would wear a Wildwood Diner tee-shirt. I was always getting approached by people telling me a Wildwood Diner story.
For a short period of time, I attended the University of Arizona in Tucson. I was walking to class and a professor rolled his chair out into the hall. He said hey, Wildwood Diner. I turned and answered hi. He asked me where I got the shirt. I told him I was from Wildwood and my family owned the Wildwood Diner. He reminisced with me that he played in a band at the Fairview and went to the Wildwood Diner every morning after the club closed.
The Wildwood Diner was the regular hangout of all of the celebrities who appeared in town. thingy Clark was a regular customer. My mother would tell me that he would order eggs with tomato sauce. Chubby Checker replenished his energy at the Wildwood Diner after doing the "twist"
all day and night. When Joey Bishop appeared at Cozy Morley's Club Avalon, Bishop and his crew came in every night. Even in the later years the Wildwood Diner was the place that visiting celebrities came to eat.
The Wildwood Diner has been featured in books, newspapers and magazines. The Smithsonian Institute featured the Wildwood Diner in an exhibit about Americana. Tony Bruno, a Philadelphia radio host would call me every Friday on Memorial Day weekend to get my opinion on the season. Peter Genovese, the author of Jersey Dines was interviewed by a magazine and asked why he devoted an entire chapter of his book to the Wildwood Diner. His answer was that the Wildwood Diner is one of the top three Jersey diners and clearly emits the essence of a Jersey diner.
It is a sad day when such a landmark as the Wildwood Diner is just a memory. I personally feel that the Doo Wop Preservation League has failed its mission to preserve Doo Wop architecture. The Wildwood Diner, the most famous eatery at the Jersey shore is gone.

JOE SCROCA JR.
Ocean View

[thelastresort]

Wow! Quite an indictment of the DWPL, eh?

"However, the dining cars should have been taken over by the Doo Wop Preservation League or the Wildwood Historical Museum."

That statement in that article sounds at best, naive, and at worst, ridiculous. It is my understanding that the DWPL is a volunteer league with limited funds and resources. If the former owners cared so much, why didn't they volunteer some of their time (and money) to save it?

Sorry, just my cynical side coming out.

[firemansgirl]

I agree 100%...if they were so worried about what was going to happen to it, they could have done something about it.

[thelastresort]

Sure. and just to clarify, I am not a man without a conscious. I empathize. Yes, it's terrible to see what was once your business mismanaged and run into the ground. But also, how is this the DWPL's fault? They have no legislative or other authority to do anything. Sure, they can make suggestions, but there is only so much that can be done on a limited budget with limited time and resources.

For what it's worth, I think the DWPL is doing a great job getting the message out. For that article to suggest that they could somehow change the forces of destiny is absurd.

[Al Alven]

First off, Mr. Scroca's passion for the diner and what it represented really comes across in his letter. The historical context he provides is fascinating, and makes the loss of this institution all the more difficult to understand and tough to take.

In all honesty, I can say that there was a clear, noticable difference in the way the diner was managed, the quality of the food, etc., after the new owners took over in 1999. It's a shame it was mis-managed after years of operating proudly by the Scroca family. A damn shame.

That said, I must disagree with Mr. Scroca's insinuation that the DWPL somehow failed the Wildwoods by not "saving" the diner. As lastresort mentioned, the DWPL is a non-profit organization with limited funds.

Some people just don't seem to understand (or flatout ignore) the enourmous cost it would have taken to uproot, move and re-open the diner. Even then, the new location would have had to make sense and the business would not have been a profitable slam dunk. Where would it have gone?

Anyway, the DWPL does a great job in getting the word out there, and does what it can. They've done more than some people realize, but some situations (such as the Wildwood Diner) are way out of just about everyone's hands.

The real shame of the matter is that, once again, a classic Wildwood icon is gone, and it will probably get more publicity and be deemed "historical" now that it isn't around anymore.

[thelastresort]

alalven said:

The real shame of the matter is that, once again, a classic Wildwood icon is gone, and it will probably get more publicity and be deemed "historical" now that it isn't around anymore.

I suspect one of the local papers will do a wonderful, whimsical post-mortem on it like they did on the Captain's Table a number of months ago, with pictures and everything! What a joke! Where are all the articles when these places need them? What good does the paper do by taking us on some maudlin sentimental journey when they are gone?

[Al Alven]

That's exactly it, lastresort.

These classic structures and businesses need to be celebrated NOW. Perhaps one idea is for the DWPL (and/or us on this message board) to organize some sort of Internet "street team."

Hear me out for a moment here...

What the preservation effort needs is publicity, like any would- or should-be first-class resort. Articles on the island and its "Doo Wop" architecture still pop up in newspapers and magazines, but it seems with less regularlity these days. Maybe that's just me.

But, remember when the whole "Doo Wop" craze really kicked off five or six years ago? Around the time when the Starlux opened, there seemed to be a good deal of national (yes, NATIONAL) press on the Wildwoods.

(Quick aside -- Darleen Lev, the New York designer who used to post here as funkychic, was introduced to the Wildwoods when she saw an NY Times article on the subway that featured a pic of the Lolipop Motel.

She was fascinated, looked into it, visited the Wildwoods, and learned about the history of the resort and its architecture. She went on to meet with the new owners of the Caribbean Motel and went on to be hired to completely redesign the motel in retro fashion.

Today, the Caribbean is celebrated as a "Doo Wop" treasure and is held as one of the brightest examples of how an older property can be maintained and renovated, and remain very profitable -- thanks in large part to Darleen's work.

It's proof how one article, one little instance of publicity can go a long way.)

Something like that, NOW, could really help sound the alarm.

Let's figure out a way to get the stories of places like the Fairview, the Shamrock, the motels, the remaining diners and restaurnats, out there, before it is too late.

What I propose with this "street team" idea is pretty simple. A group of us could put our heads together and come up with a good, basic cover letter. Then, we can start sending it out, pitching stories on the Wildwoods to various media outlets all over the place.

Worst case scenario, the newspapers and magazines we contact reject the idea. Best case scenario -- the Wildwoods get a write up in a paper in, say, the Boston, Minnesota or even San Diego area... and perhaps one even catches the attention of someone with the passion and resources to help out.

You never know. But, I think it's a low risk/high reward endeavor. Any thoughts?

[thelastresort]

Good points, Al. I'm just curious if there are any advertising people, marketing people, etc., or anyone with connections (I don't have any personally) with any PA, NJ, DE, MD, NY news channels or papers?

I also thought it would be "cute" to have some good WW publicity due to that wedding that took place on the Ferris Wheel, but in response to my suggestion, sounds of silence. oh well?

[Al Alven]

thelastresort said:

Good points, Al. I'm just curious if there are any advertising people, marketing people, etc., or anyone with connections (I don't have any personally) with any PA, NJ, DE, MD, NY news channels or papers?

I do have some connections with individuals in the Philly media, through my writing endeavors.

I'm going to contact them, and try to expand and get the word out on that front first. It could be a good start.

[fuzzyscorpio]

contessaanisha said:

The Wildwood Diner was the regular hangout of all of the celebrities who appeared in town. thingy Clark was a regular customer. My mother would tell me that he would order eggs with tomato sauce. Chubby Checker replenished his energy at the Wildwood Diner after doing the "twist"...

OMG, I can't believe there is no way to stop this stupid forum software from rendering the perennial New Year's Eve host as "thingy Clark." That is SO lame... especially when true vulgarity enjoys free rein on this board.

Excuse the digression from this very serious and sad topic... speaking of which, I sent Thom’s pictures of the Wildwood Diner and its remains to my friend the mechanical engineer, a Midwesterner who knows little and cares less about the Wildwoods, but does take an interest in architecture. And even he was indignant, responding: “That is just terrible, it doesn't look run down... I'm amazed that the historical preservation society has nothing to say about this stuff. The stainless steel trim is actually done quite tastefully, which is rare.” (Yes, I explained to him that the DWPL isn’t exactly a “historical preservation society.” <sigh>)

[fuzzyscorpio]

alalven said:

Best case scenario -- the Wildwoods get a write up in a paper in, say, the Boston, Minnesota or even San Diego area... and perhaps one even catches the attention of someone with the passion and resources to help out.

You never know. But, I think it's a low risk/high reward endeavor. Any thoughts?

It would be great if this group could pull together and focus on a mission of its own. This idea needs to be developed quickly if possible. I worry that editors won't have much interest in material about a summer resort during the winter months. The publishing window for stories about the Wildwoods situation is probably September, early October at the latest and then it'll close until spring. Do you agree, Al? Apparently you have some experience with news media, whereas I'm strictly a tool of the business press

We need a theme to get the editors' attention... maybe some sort of myth-vs.-reality thing. To be continued.

-Kathi

[wildwood4life]

Saving the diner would have been great and as Al mentioned would have costed mega $$$ to uproot and move. With that aside, it is my understanding that the kitchen to the diner was located in the blue building next to the diner. With this in mind, aside from moving the diner, there would be the added cost of constructing a building to house the kitchen of the diner also.

[hulk007]

The kitchen was seperate from the diner? Isn't that unusual for an eatery?