Shopping OC
IN THE BIZ BLITZ'S MARKET
Blitz's Market is your go to spot for one-stop shopping, friendly service and yummy food. Text by Lucia Casaleno and Bill Godfrey. Photos by Macy Oteri and Stefanie Godfrey
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OU know Blitz’s Market. Everybody does. Dave Newman and his wife Joan are the owners of this local treasure and they've been providing people with their famous beach lunches for decades. And like everybody else in OC, you've been wondering how the place got its name. Am I right? "The founder was a guy named Tony Bilazzo," explained Dave. "Tony played football, and was really good at it. His nickname on the field was "Blitz," so when he decided to open his own market he named it Blitz's." So now that we've settled that, let's go get a burger! Dave's been in the industry – and at Blitz's – for a long time. He started his first cooking job at a Sea Isle City Blitz’s when he was just 16. About 20 years ago Dave bought into the business as a partner about the same time his wife Joan walked into his life. It's a true down-the-shore love story. Girl is hanging out with her friends, girl's friends introduce her to Dave, Dave impresses her with some grub from Blitz's and whammo! “I met up with some friends in Sea Isle and he actually took me to Blitz’s for a sandwich and I fell in love, food was the key to my heart!” said Joan. In 2001, Dave became the sole owner of the biz (of course he kept the name, mostly because of its good reputation) and the pair hasn't slowed down a bit. Dave manages both the stores (there are two locations – one on 34th and one on 21st Street) and the pair continue working year after year to make the market better. “We're expanding into some more healthy
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options and local products,” said Dave. You can find Cape May Honey, Ocean City Coffee Co. coffee and Hanks Hot Sauce in Blitz’s, and they use Jersey Fresh produce for everything. “We believe that because they support us it’s mutual,” said Joan. A popular new menu edition that debuted this past summer is the fresh fruit smoothies. But the biggest Blitz’s hit is the Beach Box Special. You can get this take out option that includes a choice of either two cheese burgers, two hotdogs, two chicken sandwiches or a crab cake for only $5.99 and they all include fries. Don't want to pick it up? Blitz's has partnered with Beach Bucket Lunch; a beach delivery service that will bring lunch right to you. Dave and Joan built a business and created a life together and still find time to hang with their two children, Julia and Josh, both in middle school. "The best part about working with mom and dad is having our favorite sandwiches named after us,” said Julia. The atmosphere of both markets, besides smelling like fresh delicious burgers, is very mom and pop. While a lot of customers come in for the scrumptious food, there's more to the market than just tasty grinds. There's also ice cream and Polish Water Ice and you can also find beach toys, sunscreen and paper towels. “We try to carry things that can help people avoid a trip to the supermarket and standing in a long line,” said Dave. One-stop shopping, friendly service, tasty food - it was enough to make a girl fall in love. So if you're looking to impress that someone special, Blitz's might be a good place to start.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Blitz's Market is an OC staple for locals and visitors. Two locations at 34th Street and 21st Street.