Jersey Shore Mourns Longtime Arcade Pioneer and Gateway 26 Creator

Issue #569

January 07, 2026

In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather

🎡Jersey Shore Mourns Longtime Arcade Pioneer and Gateway 26 Creator

💰St. Joseph Church to Hold Food Drive Thursday for Cape May Families

🚧Two Landmark Bayfront Properties Listed for Sale in Sea Isle's Historic Fish Alley

Cape May Local Scoop’s Events Are Sponsored By: Daisy Lane Boutique

👇 Here’s what’s going on in the Cape May Local Area👇  

 January 7

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Jersey Shore Mourns Longtime Arcade Pioneer and Gateway 26 Creator

 The Jersey Shore community is mourning the loss of Martin “Marty” Shapiro, the influential figure behind one of Wildwood’s most iconic boardwalk attractions. Shapiro, founder and longtime co-owner of Gateway 26 arcade, passed away on Sunday at the age of 89. A fixture of Wildwood’s boardwalk scene for decades, Shapiro opened Gateway 26 in 1979, growing it into one of the nation’s most successful arcades. Even after selling his share of the business in 2007, he remained an active presence at the arcade through 2025, well into his late 80s. Shapiro’s journey in the amusement industry began early. At just 16, he worked at a Skee-Ball parlor in Irvington's Olympic Park. By 21, he owned his own Fascination parlor. Following the closure of Olympic Park, he moved to Wildwood in 1968, where he and two partners launched a new arcade venture on the boardwalk. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Shapiro’s business ventures flourished. At their peak, he and his partners operated 32 different arcade and amusement businesses across Wildwood. By 1991, he had sold off all his operations except Gateway 26, where he focused his attention for the remainder of his career. Gateway 26 plans to hold a celebration of life in his honor later this summer.

St. Joseph Church to Hold Food Drive Thursday for Cape May Families

St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sea Isle City is holding a community food drive this Thursday to support families in need throughout Cape May County. The drive will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Parish Life Center, located at the corner of 44th Street and Central Avenue. Community members are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to help stock the shelves of local outreach programs. High-priority donation items this month include spaghetti sauce, coffee (instant and regular), sugar, baked beans, canned beef stew, saltines or Ritz crackers, and cookies. Food collected during the drive will be distributed to several local organizations including The Branches in Rio Grande, the United Methodist Church in Sea Isle City, and Holy Redeemer. Those interested in participating or seeking more information can contact St. Joseph Parish at (609) 263-8696 or by email at [email protected].

 

Two Landmark Bayfront Properties Listed for Sale in Sea Isle's Historic Fish Alley

Two key bayfront properties in Sea Isle City’s Fish Alley neighborhood are now for sale. The first, a vacant lot at 4210 Park Road where Casa Taco and Casino Pizza once stood before a 2024 fire, is being marketed for mixed-use development. The second is the Oar House Pub, listed for nearly $7 million, which could either continue as a restaurant or be redeveloped. Both properties sit in a historically significant area and offer unique opportunities for new investment and development. Together, the two listings represent a pivotal moment for this historically rich part of Sea Isle City, with the potential to reshape its waterfront skyline and usher in a new era of development.

Answer to the January 6th Trivia Question

What event in 1878 significantly shaped the architectural style of Cape May, leading to its large collection of Victorian homes?

A) The arrival of a famous architect
B) The completion of the Cape May Lighthouse
C) A five-day-long fire that destroyed much of the town
D) The discovery of Cape May diamonds

Answer: C) A five-day-long fire that destroyed much of the town

In 1878, a devastating fire lasting five days destroyed 30 blocks of Cape May's town center. The rebuilding efforts that followed focused on Victorian architecture, which is why Cape May is now known for its well-preserved Victorian homes​ .

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