Business Buzz
Believe it or not, it’s August already! But that doesn’t mean there aren’t new businesses to explore here in Sea Isle. This month, as you’re strolling down Landis Avenue shopping or heading out for a nice meal, make sure to pop into these just-opened offerings. Whether you’re looking for an upscale Italian meal, something to satisfy your sweet tooth, or even a special gift for your furry friend, Sea Isle truly has it all, especially with the addition of these new businesses.
Kristy and Dave Esser
Tails By The Sea
5011 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City
Dave and Kristy Esser are no strangers to running a business. Both have owned and operated storefronts from their home in Pennsylvania, but they have a true passion for animals.
Their business experience combined with a love of dogs inspired them to open Tails By The Sea this summer, a stylish dog boutique that is open from 3-9pm on weekends.
The pair wanted to bring this retail concept somewhere they knew residents would love to spoil their dogs, like they spoil their own – an 8-pound Shih Tzu named Cookie.
“It’s what we love,” Dave Esser says. “We love our dog, more than anything, and maybe hope other people feel the same way about their dogs.”
Cookie is now the face of the business, with her likeness appearing in the store’s logo – a sketch of Cookie with a mermaid’s tail, affectionately dubbed a “fur-maid.”
Tails By The Sea stocks all kinds of upscale merchandise for dog owners, with a few things for cat lovers thrown in as well. The boutique features dog dresses and outfits, custom Sea Isle collars and dog walker bags, as well as hand-crafted beaded leashes. There’s also a photo station with beach-themed accessories and even sweet treats for your furry friends to enjoy while you shop.
Kristy Esser’s hand-painted artwork is also on display for sale in the store, featuring bright colors, heart-shaped designs, and seashells to match the shore theme.
Above all, though, the Essers want to share their love of dogs and help fellow pet owners spoil their furry friends.
“A lot of times, you take your dog to the groomer or the vet, they’re shaking, they’re nervous,” Dave Esser says. “Here, they’re happy. They want to come here.
“Down the shore – what better place to be?”
Alessia, Liana, Frank, Valentina, and Michael Mattera
Sole
8609 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City
609-263-7300 • soleseaislecity.com
Frank Mattera wants to “feel your soul” at Sole, Sea Isle’s newest upscale-casual BYOB eatery. Sole – the Italian word for sun – began serving Italian-Mediterranean fusion cuisine in mid-July from its location in the heart of Townsends Inlet.
Mattera’s whole family has worked in the restaurant industry, something he said he has always wanted to get into. He also spent many summers of his youth traveling to Italy to visit the area where his family is from. These two factors combined to inspire Sole.
“You come here and you eat well,” he says. “You have good food and good company, you feed your soul and you’re happy.”
Some of that good food includes contemporary Neapolitan-style pizza from Sole’s wood-fired oven, imported directly from Italy. There’s also a unique spin on Bolognese, Sole di Mare – a seafood pasta dish – and other specialties like the short rib and salmon.
The fish of the day special changes every few days based on availability of fresh seafood in the area.
“Everything on our menu has been selected based on fresh ingredients, prepared naturally,” Mattera says. “We try to be simple, and keep everything with just basic ingredients that all shine through.”
Mattera and his family – wife Liana and their children Valentina, Alessia, and Michael – have been summer residents of Sea Isle for eight years. Now, they’re all helping run one of the only Italian eateries in Townsends Inlet as a family.
“I have a lot of support from my family,” Mattera says. “So, we have a lot of collaboration on the menu and everything we’re doing.”
The restaurant is open 3-9:30pm on weekdays, 3-10pm on weekends. Head to their website to check out the full menu and make a reservation.
From left: Lydia Fairlamb, Cassie DeShong, Dana Ianelli, Nina Aquilante, Margaret Kane, Kathleen Downs
Shorebreak Café
4002 Landis Avenue, Sea Isle City
609-486-2137 • shorebreakcafe.com
From competing in Food Network’s Wedding Cake Championship to serving sweets right here in Sea Isle – Dana Iannelli is bringing her professional pastry skills back to the Jersey shore.
Ianelli grew up coming to the Jersey shore, but after receiving pastry and culinary degrees from The Culinary Institute of America, she lived in Florida for the past 10 years. She’s now excited to return to her New Jersey roots with a menu at the new Shorebreak Café.
“My whole family has been trying to get me to move back to New Jersey,” Ianelli says. “So, it was a perfect opportunity to come and live back in a town that I used to come to as a child, and to now get to have a bakery there.”
The café menu features everything from freshly brewed Lavazza coffee and breakfast pastries to parfaits, cookies, cupcakes and more.
Ianelli is particularly excited about Shorebreak’s homemade ice cream, which can be served plain or in a variety of sundaes. Customers can also enjoy their homemade scoops in a unique bubble waffle cone – a modern spin on a Belgian waffle that the pastry chefs at Shorebreak are making into a cone.
“We’re trying to make really unique flavors with homemade mixin’s as well,” Ianelli said. “If it’s a brownie ice cream, we’re making the brownie and we’re making the ice cream. And we’re trying to really use good quality ingredients to make a really nice product.”
Ianelli says she hopes to stay open year-round and also provide cake services as well as the pastries in stock at the store – especially wedding cakes.
“We’re here baking just because it’s what we love to do, and we want to make people happy,” Ianelli says. “I’m hopeful that we can get the word out and that makes people order.”