Stella Marina Restaurant & Bar on Asbury Park boardwalk closes suddenly

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Stella Marina Restaurant & Bar, an Italian eatery on the Asbury Park boardwalk, has permanently closed.The restaurant’s last day of operation was Sunday, March 1, after opening in 2009.Owner Joseph Cetrulo and his Trinity Hospitality Group still operate Sirena Ristorante and Masseria Italian Steakhouse.

ASBURY PARK — Stella Marina Restaurant & Bar, an Italian eatery on the Asbury Park boardwalk, has closed.

A spokesperson from the restaurant confirmed the sudden closure but did not provide additional information. Stella Marina’s last day in business was Sunday, March 1.

“With heavy hearts, we announce the closing of our doors,” reads a post on the restaurant’s Instagram account. “It has been a true privilege to serve the Asbury Park community over the past several years. We are deeply grateful to our incredible staff, loyal customers, friends and community supporters who made Stella such a special destination on the beach. Asbury Park, thank you for the memories, the support and the love.”

The restaurant, which is owned by Joseph Cetrulo and his Trinity Hospitality Group, opened in 2009 at the south end of the boardwalk, near the Casino and Carousel buildings at Ocean and Asbury avenues. In a prior Asbury Park Press article, Cetrulo said that after opening Sirena Ristorante in Long Branch in the early 2000s, he wanted to open a restaurant in Asbury Park because “I knew that the city of Asbury Park was on the cusp of some great changes and I wanted to be a part of it.”

“I had to wait until the right space became available on the Asbury Park boardwalk … but I knew that it was going to explode into a great seaside destination,” he said.

In addition to Sirena Ristorante, which remains open, Cetrulo also owns Masseria Italian Steakhouse in Morristown, which opened in 2025. He previously owned Cubacan on the Asbury Park boardwalk; the space is now home to BarCo Brands’ Swimcrush Beach Bar + Grill.

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to her weekly newsletter.