Margate

Margate City was originally incorporated as the borough of South Atlantic in 1885, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, and then reincorporated with the name Margate City in 1909.

Margate is on Absecon Island, which stretches for eight miles. Atlantic City and Ventnor City are to the north, and Longport, to the south. The city is approximately eight blocks wide from the Atlantic Ocean to the bay and is about two miles long. The excitement, gaming, shopping, nightlife, and attractions of Atlantic City are just ten minutes away. Margate is only 90 minutes from Philadelphia, and New York City is just 2.5 hours away.

Margate is a popular Jersey Shore destination, with two miles of beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, and popular restaurants, taverns, nightclubs, and beach bars. Margate is also home to the famous Lucy the Elephant, a 65-foot-high wooden and metal-clad elephant, which is a National Historic Landmark.

Margate is also known as a premier shore community, with iconic mansions, single-family homes on tree-lined streets, oceanfront high-rise towers, and many condominium complexes, both big and small.

History

Margate was originally called South Atlantic City, and its growth was spurred by the opening of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad in the mid-1800s. The railroad provided convenient transportation to the South Jersey shore for Philadelphia residents, and seasonal homes and cottages began to be built in Atlantic City and south along Absecon Island.

The extension of the railroad line through Margate encouraged more development, and in 1881 a hotel was built in the shape of an elephant, named “Lucy”.

More on the history of Margate can be found here.

About Margate

Margate has two miles of beautiful ocean beaches along the Atlantic Ocean for swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, Hobie-Cat sailing, surfing, and more. You can reach the boardwalk at the border between Margate and Ventnor and walk or ride into Atlantic City.

Margate’s bayfront runs along Amherst Avenue, from Coolidge to Washington Avenues. Margate’s marinas offer boat slips, boat rentals, and fuel. Many boats can be chartered for deep-sea fishing.

The bayfront area was once known as the “Barbary Coast,” with iconic clubs and taverns like Gable’s, Memories, Kelly’s Pub, Merrill’s, and Maynard’s. Most of the bars have given way to upscale bars and restaurants like Tomato’s, Sofia, and Steve & Cookie’s. There are other things to do on the bayfront, like eating donuts, ice cream, and even going to a water park during the summer.

The city has made many improvements to the bayfront, with new public parking, a bike lane, and a promenade along the bulkhead.

Margate’s Parkway section along Ventnor Avenue features several mansions from the early part of the 20^th century and has elaborate fountains featuring mermaids, fish, and frogs. Another notable section of Margate is Marven Gardens, famous for a misspelled Monopoly card, named MAR for Margate, and VEN for Ventnor. Some of the original houses remain, and the gardens themselves are on the National Register of Historic Places.

For shopping and dining, there are two main business districts in Margate, offering a wide variety of options for retail shopping. Margate restaurants offer everything from fine cuisine to casual dining and pub fare. And many restaurants are open after hours, which gives the city its great reputation for lively nightlife.

While many visitors come to Margate all year round, Margate is especially popular from May through September. Margate has no hotels, so visitors use short-term rental services, such as local realtors, Airbnb, VRBO, and others. Many Margate residents own second homes and make them available to rent on a weekly, monthly, seasonal, or annual basis. Margate has many real estate offices for listings for short and long-term rentals, as well as homes for sale.

Margate is the home of Lucy the Elephant, the “largest elephant in the world.” Lucy was originally built as a hotel and is nearly 150 years old. The National Historic Landmark is visited by more than 100,000 people each year.

Margate hosts many events throughout the year. Fall Funfest along the bay, and the Margate farmers’ market is held every Thursday during summer months. For the full calendar, visit https://margatehasmore.com/upcoming-events/

Margate’s Downtown

The Jewish Community Center (JCC) is a large part of the fabric of Margate. The JCC is located on Jerome Avenue and serves the Jewish community, as well as the broader Atlantic County community. The JCC has a basketball court and a swimming pool, and organizes sports and recreation programs for children and adults throughout the year.

Adjacent to the JCC on Jerome Avenue is Jerome Avenue Park, with tennis courts, basketball courts, several baseball fields, and playgrounds.

For Businesses

For more information and resources on locating your business in Margate, contact:

Palma Shiles: Board Administrator

Phone: (609) 822-2605 Ext. 117

Or click here https://www.margate-nj.com/planning-board-zoning

Are there any financial/tax benefits to developing in this municipality?

Local Small Business Loan Programs from the Atlantic County Improvement Authority (ACIA) 

For Atlantic County Businesses | ACIA Business Loans May be Combined with Small Business Administration Loans for Maximum Impact

Click here for details

New Jersey Economic Development Authority Business Loan and Incentives Programs 

For New Jersey Businesses | Various Loans and Incentives | Click here for details

Primary Contact

• Name: Michael Collins
• Title: Mayor
• Phone Number: (609) 822-0424
• Email: [email protected]