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WILDWOOD by-the-sea: Nostalgia & Recipes
Schellenger's Restaurantan excerpt from the forthcoming book by Anita Hirsch
At the corner of Atlantic and
Schellenger Avenues in Wildwood,
just one block from the Boardwalk, is
Schellenger’s Restaurant, recognizable by
all the seafaring paraphernalia on the rooftop.
In 1979, Valerie and Tony Trivelis and his
sister Irene and her husband, John Karros
opened Schellenger’s as a seafood restaurant.
Before this, Irene and John owned
restaurants in Philadelphia, and had a summer
home in North Wildwood. Tony and
Valerie had a cleaning business in Mt. Holly.
Irene and Tony’s father, Demetrios
Trivelis, was a shoemaker who immigrated
to America from the town of Velvendo in
Greece. The point of destination in the
United States of Greeks from Velvendo was
Cold Spring Village, New Jersey, where he
opened a shoemaker business in Cape May
on Washington Street, now the Mall.
Over the years, all the Trivelis family
members have worked at Schellenger’s: sister
Evelyn, and all the children and grandchildren
have worked the bar and as wait
staff. Between the months of May through
October when the restaurant is open, all
the family lends a hand and they all work
hard.
Before the restaurant became
Schellenger’s, it was a steak spot called El
Rancho. A chef preparing steaks in the window
near the entrance occupied the corner.
For several years, the previous owners
operated it as a teen dance club, and
when that was not successful they decided
to sell. Irene and John Karros heard it was
for sale, and came to have a look. They were
hoping to move out of Philadelphia and this
was a great opportunity.
Irene, John, Valerie and Tony became
partners. Not only did they change the
name of the restaurant, but the whole look
of El Rancho. The front six foot high windows
were removed, the entrance was
changed to be closer to the center of the
building, and a kitchen was built in the back.
In the early years, during the week,
Schellenger’s was a destination for bus trips,
which could bring in 600 hungry diners a
night. A stage was built and every night two
shows were featured, often with a comedian
and a band to attract tours. Now says
Valerie Trivelis, “there are few bus tours.
Seniors go on cruises or they have second
home destinations.”
In 1990, Tony Trivelis began to add sea
memorabilia to the restaurant. In the offseason,
Tony and Valerie would drive up to
Maine and then on the way home, they
would take the road closest to the ocean
and browse antique shops. Anything to do
with the sea, including old ship parts, they
would bring back to Wildwood. First they
added the “collectibles” to inside Schellenger’s and then Tony got the idea to
dress up the plain and flat roof. He bought
boats and put them up there. He had little
houses built up there to hide the air conditioner
units.
Anything to do with the sea: lighthouses,
boats, sailing and fishing attracted Tony. He
had railings and small boat shacks built inside
the restaurant. He bought collections
of buoys, and he heard about an artist that
made fish of fiberglass and he had him construct
the huge lobster in the pot that is
on the roof. Inside there is a lobster sign
from the demolished Captain’s Table restaurant
in Wildwood Crest.
Willard Berbow painted murals on the
walls. First the walls were papered and then
Willard covered the walls with his work.
Now deceased, Mr. Berbow also painted
some murals in the Ravioli House.
Schellenger’s menu contains seafood of
every kind. Lobster, especially the Lazy
Man’s Lobster is a hit. The Crab Cakes are
so popular that the recipe is given out to
guests at the register. The large menu also
includes pasta, chicken, veal and beef dishes.
Chef Dunleavy has been working at
Schellenger’s for almost 18 years. Before
that he worked at Zaberer’s in North Wildwood
for 9 years.
Alan Butler began tending bar in 2006.
Before that, he used to bring bus tours to
the restaurant for 14 years. He enjoyed
visiting the restaurant and enjoys the opportunity
of working there as well.
Several years ago, a film crew came to
Wildwood to make a movie called "The
Shore" starring Ben Gazzara and Leslie Ann
Warren. Valerie remembers that a lot of
the filming was done in Schellenger's and
they fed the crew. The movie revolved
around the waitresses and staff of a restaurant
called the "Hurricane". Locals and
actors were filmed at motels and on the
beach with Wildwood lifeguards. "It was an
exciting time," says Valerie, as she points
to a photo taken with her and Ben Gazzara.
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