Part of the fun and excitement of going “down the shore” is finding out what’s new in town. You may even find a few surprises (or even shocking changes!) along the way each year.
Here, we’re giving you the insider’s sneak preview of who’s moved, who’s gone, and what’s new for Avalon in 2024.
In this guide, you can discover:
> What’s In Store for the Newly Re-Branded High Dune Baking Co.
> New Tennis Courts at 8th Street Recreation Complex
> Water & Sewer Upgrades on Portions of 78th and 29th Streets
> 78th Street Pump Station Updates
Know of a business that’s moved or now gone in Avalon? Let us know. We will update this page as we receive more information.
What’s In Store for the Newly Re-Branded High Dune Baking Co.
After a brief soft opening in November 2023, 27th Street Bakery in Avalon closed for a few months over the winter to prepare for its 2024 season.
During their January and February break, bakery owners and husband-wife duo Maeve McNamara and Andrew Stanton took the time to really think about what they wanted their brand to be about, and what the business was going to look like going forward.
“We only had a couple of months from the time we got into the space to get all of the equipment we needed, set up, and open by Thanksgiving,” Andrew recalls. “There was so much to do, so we ran with a “working title” just to be able to provide people with baked goods for the holidays.”
Upon giving more thought to the initial “working title” for the bakery’s name, the couple settled on High Dune Baking Co. – as an homage to the history and culture of Avalon.
“Before development, all of Avalon was high dunes, and what has been preserved of them remains a strong signifier of the identity this island once held and continues to hold,” Andrew explains. “We live on the island, and Maeve’s family has had a presence here since the 1950’s. Times must change, and we along with them, but we still seek to acknowledge the history of this beautiful beach ecosystem, town, and community.”
And while the new name reminds us of how this quaint beach town first began, the couple remains committed to nurturing quality customer experiences and community connections through its newly rebranded bakery in every changing season.
As a nod to cherished local pastimes, High Dune Baking Co. will be offering all your favorite seashore classics like sticky buns, butter cake, and donuts. And by expanding their selections to include scones, quiches, mini pies, breads, and other cakes, they’re looking to become everyone’s go-to corner bakery in town that delivers scratch-baked quality and flavor for all your hosting, entertaining, and family gathering needs.
“At High Dune, we want to be where you get your morning coffee and treats – but also be able to provide you with rolls for your cookout, and cake or pie for dessert that night,” Andrew says.
Featuring a mix of traditional and contemporary touches, the bakery plans on using a new waiting system this summer: where guests will take a ticket with a number, and can scan a QR code that leads to a page displaying what number is currently being served. Allowing customers to be more mobile if they’d like to run a quick errand outside, grab a seat on the patio, or check out Goodness Bowls next door (their communal space neighbors) – all while keeping an eye on their place in line.
To keep things interesting, High Dune Baking Co. is offering special treats for different seasons and holidays like Easter Egg pound cakes and mini egg cupcakes, and switching up flavor combinations to tempt and tease the palate. The owners are also working hard to accommodate customers with different dietary restrictions and allergies.
“Maeve and I both come from the hospitality industry, having worked every job from line cook to bar manager, and value service as a total experience,” Andrew says. And although seasons and trends may come and go, it’s this desire to create quality experiences that drives their vision for High Dune Baking Co.’s enduring future – hoping to become part of a bigger community and lasting legacy outside of themselves.
Andrew further describes what he and Maeve see in that shared vision for generations to come: “We welcome everyone to not only come and get their coffee and treats, but hang out on our patio with their neighbors and friends. We’ve always envisioned High Dune as a meeting place where Avalon can congregate for both nostalgia and progress, and hope to elicit fond memories while also creating new ones.”
Maeve and Andrew plan to operate on a 10-month calendar – staying open from early spring through the end of the holiday season. The bakery will be open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Easter Weekend this year, from 8 am to 2 pm.
> Discover High Dune Baking Co.
Located at: 2709 Dune Drive (27th Street & Dune Drive), Avalon
New Tennis Courts at 8th Street Recreation Complex
In January 2024, a pre-construction meeting was held to discuss the addition of three new tennis courts at the 8th Street Recreation Complex. The previous year, three existing tennis courts were converted into additional pickleball courts with the pledge that three new tennis courts would be added in 2024. The Borough secured a state grant to help offset part of the costs associated with this project.
While site preparation was planned for the end of January (weather permitting), asphalt production typically begins in March. The actual construction was expected to take ten working days, although likely not consecutive due to weather and other conditions.
The contractor is required to complete this project and have the courts ready for play no later than May 1, 2024. If conditions permit and asphalt is available, the courts could be completed in mid-April. Once construction is finished, the courts will be painted with the same blue and green paint scheme as other courts in the complex.
Due to safety reasons, the basketball courts will not be available for play while this construction project is underway. Pickleball courts, however, will be available for play during construction.
Water & Sewer Upgrades on Portions of 78th and 29th Streets
The Avalon Borough Council awarded a contract to Mathis Construction for water system upgrades on 78th Street between Ocean and Sunset Drives, and a sewer system upgrade on 29th Street, from manhole to manhole, between Dune and Ocean Drives. The project was first started on the 29th Street portion, and the contract requires the contractor to have 100% of the utility work and site restoration completed by May 21, 2024.
There is a moratorium on this work through the summer months where trench settlement on both projects will occur. The contractor is required to finish the project, which includes a milling, resurfacing, and permanent trench restoration, no later than September 28, 2024.
Residents will have access to their driveways for the duration of this project. No work will be conducted on weekends. In the event of any temporary water shut offs, customers will be notified by the contractors. The project will be supervised by inspectors from Mott MacDonald, the Borough’s engineering firm.
78th Street Pump Station Updates
Project completion was delayed due to changes in the top slab and accompanying grate/ casting for the concrete pump station vault.
The configuration of electrical and control cabinets in the elevated platform on the southeast side of the 78th Street and Ocean Drive intersection also required changes due to the need for safety railing around the platform perimeter and required clearance of electrical components to the railing.
The contractor, R.E. Pierson, was expected to mobilize in late March to complete all remaining work, estimated to take three weeks to complete.
Remaining work includes: (1) excavation and removal of temporary top slab of pump station; (2) dewatering of pump station vault; (3) installation of pumps; (4) installation of pump station top slab and grates/ castings; (5) installation of electric and controls in elevated control platform; (6) construction of composite railing around perimeter of elevated platform; and (7) site restoration.
Is there something missing, or spot anything that needs an update or correction? Contact us.
