Wildwood seeks bids for beach bars

Last Updated on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 07:04 pm Written by Christie Rotondo Wednesday, March 20, 2013 02:49 pm

Planned to be ‘up and running’ for summer 

WILDWOOD - While Wildwood will not have beach fees this year, the city expects to see revenue raised from a few different activities this year, including beach bars.

At the March 13 meeting, commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the city to go out to bid for the “construction, operation, and management of a seasonal food and alcohol beverage service facility on the Wildwood Beach.”

According to the resolution, the city had received proposals for the beach bars on Feb. 1, but decided to reject them after a “straw poll” of the governing body was taken Feb. 7.

The resolution says that the project was advertised for bid in the Press of Atlantic City for a second time, and proposals would be received March 26.

“We’re certainly hoping to have that up and running this summer,” Commissioner Pete Bryon said of the bars on Monday. He explained that the process for establishing the bars is different than seeking a liquor license. Bidders are sending in proposals for a “concessionaire’s license” to operate the bar on the beach.

“People will bid on it to lease the ground, with the criteria that it would be a beach bar, or a restaurant and bar,” Byron said. Then, the winning bidder will have to acquire proper licensing and approval from the state to operate the bars on the beach. The bidder will also be responsible for constructing a “non-permanent” structure on the beach out of which to operate the bar.

“Some of the proposals we’ve gotten are similar to what you see in Atlantic City,” Byron said. He noted that the structure will have to be secured and fenced in.

In the contract, Byron said the liability involved falls on the concessionaire, rather than the city, to protect it against potential lawsuits.

Potential lawsuits are what some citizens are most concerned about when it comes to the bars. Mary Ann Giblin, a member of the “Wildwood Watchdogs,” said that there was too much risk involved for the city in operating the bars.

“What happens if someone gets drunk and falls into the ocean?” she said at a March 12 meeting.

Byron said that in creating the contract, the liability is being placed on the concessionaire, but did admit that someone could come after the city in a lawsuit. However, he said if someone left a local bar in the city and had a drunken-driving accident, the city could see a lawsuit from an instance like that as well.

“There is always that risk,” he said.

Besides the bars, Byron said the city is working on holding two festivals on the beach this year, as well as a surf camp and water slide on the sand.

Christie Rotondo can be emailed at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or you can comment on this story at www.wildwood.shorenewstoday.com.