Nino’s Family Restaurant Closes After 30 Years in Cape May Courthouse

Another longtime South Jersey staple has gone dark.

This week, Nino’s Family Restaurant announced that it has officially closed its doors, ending a run that spanned more than three decades in Cape May Courthouse. For many locals, this one hits hard.

In a statement shared by the family, they explained that ongoing financial struggles and falling behind on taxes made it impossible to continue operating.

It was a decision they said they fought hard to avoid. And if you’ve ever spent time inside Nino’s, you know that wasn’t just something written for Facebook. This was a place that mattered.

For over 30 years, Nino’s wasn’t just a restaurant. It was a constant. Because you knew what you were getting. Because you probably grew up eating there, or your parents did, or both.

That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident.

The restaurant was built by Nino, whose name stayed on the sign long after his passing. After he died, his family kept the doors open, carrying on what he started and trying to preserve the business he built from the ground up. That alone tells you how personal this place was to them.

In their message, the family called the restaurant their livelihood, their pride, and their way of serving the community they loved. That line matters, because anyone who has spent time covering local businesses knows how thin the margins are, especially for family-run restaurants. You’re not just running a kitchen. You’re running a life.

They were also honest about why it ended. Rising costs. Financial pressure. Taxes. There’s no sugarcoating it, and there doesn’t need to be. This is the reality for a lot of mom-and-pop spots right now, especially ones that have been holding on for decades.

“We are incredibly grateful to every customer who supported us, believed in us, and allowed us to be part of your lives. Your loyalty, kindness, and trust meant more to us than we can ever fully express. Thank you for the memories, the support, and the years of standing by us. We will always be deeply thankful.”

And I speak on behalf of all of your guests, we are grateful for you and your cooking. Like many, we got our start eating your food when it was Nino’s on the Triangle and followed you to all of your locations.

For Cape May Courthouse, the loss of Nino’s is more than losing a place to eat. It’s losing a familiar piece of the landscape. One less spot where generations overlapped. One less reminder that some things used to just stay the same.

Restaurants like this don’t always make headlines while they’re open. They don’t need to. Their importance is felt quietly, over time. And you only fully realize it once they’re gone.

Nino’s Family Restaurant may be closed, but its place in the community is secure. For 30 years, it showed up every day. And that’s a legacy worth recognizing.

If you grew up eating there, celebrated something there, or just stopped in let us know your memory.