Byrne Plaza Adds More Fun To Wildwood

Ah, summertime in Wildwood. Time for fun and frolic on the Boardwalk and beach . . . and downtown.

This summer, Wildwood visitors have another entertainment option, the recently dedicated Byrne Plaza on the 3400 block of Pacific Ave.

The space’s location is significant: It encompasses roughly an acre-and-a-half of land that, for decades, was the site of the Penalty Box, one of the nightclubs that made summers roar back in the day. Since early 2010, the block has been devoid of such venues; the opening of Byrne Plaza, which will host a season-long series of free film screenings and musical performances -- as well as the popular Wildwood Farmers Market, marks the return of the location as an entertainment destination, albeit one that is family-centric.

According to John Donio, president of the board of directors of the Wildwood Business Improvement District, an all-volunteer body made up of small business owners, reviving the downtown strip is about more than giving seasonal crowds even more family-oriented fun than the town already provides along the ocean.

“We want to work towards adding more activities, more opportunities, more options in the off-season as well,” said Donio, who owns the Daytona Inn and Suites. “We want to be 'year-round' as much as we can be.” When the weather turns inhospitable for visitors, he added, “We still want to have a central hub for people to go to.”

He described Byrne Plaza in terms of a "third place” for year-round residents. “Work, home and there's that third place. We want it to be the downtown.”

Donio was quick to note that Byrne Plaza is not designed as an alternative to the Boardwalk, but as a place where the public can avail itself of activities not found on the seaside promenade because of space limitations.

He also suggested that, while the boardwalk has seen "recent upgrades" in its food offerings, the Downtown district is "home to 8 of the Top 10 restaurants in Wildwood according to Tripadvisor."