Two New Restaurants Are Coming to North Wildwood

The off-season is always the time to see new businesses move onto the island, and from time to time, we see restaurants change hands. But this time around, we’re seeing two restaurants change hands, but to the same owner.

According to reporting from the Philadelphia Business Journal, partners Gent Mema, Joshua Friedberg, and Orbelin Bitraj have purchased the former Trio North Wildwood property at 700 New Jersey Ave. and the Salty Mermaid Bar & Grille at 2507 Delaware Ave.

This group is known to have run a few many different restaurants, including The Library in Collegeville, Versante in Schwenksville, and Il Granaio in Phoenixville,

The purchase of the Trio North Wildwood property happened in early December and included the building as well as Trio’s liquor license, which will allow the group to move forward with a new full-service concept.

While the restaurant’s name and menu have not yet been finalized, the partners say they are evaluating what type of dining experience best fits the evolving North Wildwood market.

The property previously housed Trio North Wildwood, a casual fine dining restaurant that opened in May 2021 after renovations by former owners Debbie and Paul Gioquindo and Chef Gus.

In their farewell post on Facebook they said, “To all of you who dined with us, shared a glass of wine, celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and simple nights out—you became more than guests, you became family. Thank you for the love, the laughs, and the loyalty. It’s been an amazing ride.”

Also See: New Things Coming to Cape May! Construction Update Feb 2026

Trio closed in late August 2025 after the Gioquindos announced plans to retire. The gran question is, where will Chef Gus end up this summer?

In addition to the Trio property, Mema, Friedberg, and Bitraj have also acquired the Salty Mermaid Bar & Grille in North Wildwood for $2.45 million on January 30th.

This sale is more than just the building and the liquor license. It also included a single family house behind it.

Many people have been confused with this restaurant has it had seen a ton of changed over the years.

Here’s a quick rundown. It was Tony’s Cafe, O’Boyle’s Irish Pub, Salty Mermaid, Ocean Bay, back to Salty Mermaid, and now sold. (Does anyone else miss Tony’s shuffle bowling?)

The 4,000-square-foot restaurant features seating for up to 200 guests across indoor and outdoor areas.

Plans call for the Salty Mermaid to reopen in mid-April with a refreshed menu inspired by The Library, located in Collegeville, PA.

To give you an idea of The Library menu, it is upscale casual American cuisine with strong Italian and Mediterranean influences.

It highlights a mix of raw bar selections, seafood dishes, shareable small plates, and elevated comfort favorites designed for social dining.

Are you excited for these news restaurants coming to the Wildwoods?