Landmark Ortley Beach Breakfast Spot Looks to Expand

Sunny Hunny, Ortley Beach, N.J. (Photo: Sunny Hunny/ Facebook)

A slice of paradise – served one pancake at a time – will look to grow in the near future, with Ortley Beach’s Sunny Hunny Restaurant and Pancake House seeking zoning board approval to expand at its current location.

The iconic restaurant, located at 1907 Route 35 North, at the intersection with Sixth Avenue, is open seasonally and has been serving breakfast and lunch since the 1960s. It is famous for its breakfast menu, from dozens of omelettes to signature “Mickey Ears” style pancakes that have been a hit with children for generations. It is currently owned by the Markey family – the grandchildren of longtime proprietor Bernard Ferris, who passed away in 2023.

The proliferation of residential development in Ortley Beach’s business district, as well as a residential proposal for the lot across the street, raised questions about whether the restaurant would remain open, but the zoning board filing last week indicates that its owners are looking to expand in order to bring more room to the establishment. A hearing before the Zoning Board of Adjustment is required since the physical building where Sunny Hunny is located is split between the primary business use and a multifamily residential use, a pre-existing nonconformity left from the original construction date of 1930, according to Ocean County property records. Any expansion of a nonconforming use, even if it is merely an expansion of an existing property, requires supermajority approval from a local land use board in New Jersey.

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Sunny Hunny, Ortley Beach, N.J. (Photo: Sunny Hunny/ Facebook)

According to the board filing, Sunny Hunny’s owner is seeking approval to construct an addition to the existing building. Variances are required for maximum building coverage on the lot (60 percent allowed, 62 percent proposed), front yard setback (17 feet required, 16 feet proposed), minimum side yard setback (10 feet required, 5.2 feet proposed on the westerly side and 2.5 feet on the southerly side) and two setback requirements for outdoor decks.

A hearing on the application is scheduled for the Feb. 27, 2025 zoning board meeting, set for 6:30 p.m. at the township municipal building on Washington Street.