Stewart's leaving OC Boardwalk

Last Updated on Friday, 10 February 2012 10:51 Written by Cindy Nevitt Thursday, 09 February 2012 18:34

Stewart’s Restaurant, a fixture at 838 Boardwalk for more than a decade, is closing.

A crew of two was inside the 1950’s style eatery on Thursday afternoon, removing paneling from a wall using a crowbar. The black-and-orange tile floor was still in place, but the interior had mostly been gutted.

Attempts to reach the owners, who had advertised the business for sale the last few years, were unsuccessful.

This Stewart’s location is the third to leave the immediate area in the last two years. Stewart’s on Tilton Road in Northfield became Chido Burrito in March 2010 and Stewart’s in Margate became Matteo’s Beach Bay Café in April 2010.

Stewart’s Restaurants, also branded as Stewart’s Root Beer or Stewart’s Drive-In, were founded by Frank Stewart in Ohio in 1924. The chain became a franchise in 1931, and at one time there were more than 60 locations across the U.S. with 38 in New Jersey.