Carini's Ristorante & Pizzeria, a fixture of the Wildwood Crest dining scene since 1985, will close its doors for good on November 21. The restaurant, located at 9854 Pacific Avenue in the Diamond Beach Plaza area, has confirmed the closure and is planning a send-off that gives back to the local community on its way out.
According to 97.3 ESPN, which first reported the news, the restaurant has operated for over 40 years and is owned by John and Sandy. The outlet reports the eatery has thanked customers for their loyalty, support and friendship, and also thanked its staff for their dedication and hard work. Carini's menu has included traditional pizzas, Italian pasta dishes, seafood, burgers and sandwiches, per the same report.
Coverage of the closure has varied slightly on exactly how long Carini's has been open. 97.3 ESPN's headline describes the restaurant as closing after 40 years, while a Wildwood Video Archive report puts the figure at 41 years. Either way, the restaurant's own website states that it first opened its doors to the public in 1985, in what it describes as the then quiet seashore town of Wildwood, New Jersey, according to Carini Restaurant's site.
A Final Day With A Purpose
Carini's final day will include more than just last orders. Per the Wildwood Video Archive report, the restaurant's last day will feature a pasta dinner fundraiser benefiting Wildwood Middle & High School, giving longtime patrons one more reason to stop in before the lights go out for good.
The restaurant has also asked customers holding gift cards to use them before the November 21 closing date. As the Wildwood Video Archive piece put it, you need to redeem them before their closing.
The report also noted that Carini's has served the year-round community, unlike many establishments throughout the Wildwoods that operate primarily during the summer tourism season — a distinction that set it apart from much of the seasonal dining scene nearby.
What Comes Next Remains Unclear
As for what happens to the Pacific Avenue space after Carini's shuts its doors, that remains an open question. The Wildwood Video Archive report states that no confirmed sale of the property or plans for its future use have been established through the publicly available information reviewed.
For now, the focus is on the final weeks of service and the community send-off planned for November 21. Carini's maintains an active following on Facebook, where its page shows nearly 4,000 likes and thousands of check-ins from visitors over the years, according to the restaurant's Facebook page.
