The Rio Station Restaurant has been a staple in the county for many decades.
Families have been going there to enjoy their world-famous crab cakes and their “The Best in the Universe” prime rib, but is there a chance the infamous restaurant sold?
Located at 3505 U.S. 9 in Rio Grande, its train station theme complements the history of the area.
The Rio Station is named after the Rio Grande train station that used to be located behind the Rio Grande Fire Company Station 72. That building still stands today as the train station at the Historic Cold Spring Village.
Back in September 2020, we announced that the Rio Station was put up for sale.
The listing said;
“Successful turn-key, year-round Restaurant/Bar, in operation for 35 years, “The Rio Station”, with approximately 199 indoor and 70 outdoor seats, in the heart of the busiest commercial district in Cape May County w/ over 150 parking spaces! Included in the sale: the business, equipment, fixtures, Class-C liquor license, land PLUS an extra huge vacant .94-acre lot to the North and next to the subject property. The total of both parcels measures approximately 1.29 Acres.”
Since then, things have been quiet but this past March something pinged up on our research.
A public notice application was filed on March 23rd and posted on March 30th for a person-
to-person transfer of Plenary Retail Consumption License No. 0506-33-001- 008, sited at
3505 U.S. Route 9 South in Middle Township, New Jersey.
As you can see this is the address for the Rio Station Restaurant. You would only see such aperson-to-person transfer application if the said restaurant was sold or was selling.
The application goes on to say that it’s transferring from Rio Station, Inc. to TSP Rio, LLC, trading as Rio Station Restaurant.
After researching the LLC TSP Rio, we found that it’s connected to a well-known (and well-loved) restaurant and bar here in North Wildwood…The Surfing Pig.
The individuals who own the LLC also own the same LLC that falls under the Surfing Pig.
If looking at the name The Surfing Pig is equated to the new LLC TSP Rio, we could be seeing that the TSP Rio could be the shorthand name for “The Surfing Pig Rio.”
Since in the State of New Jersey there is a delay with the Property transfer reporting, we can’t confirm a sale at this time.
What do you think? Would you like to see a Surfing Pig in Rio Grande?
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