Promenade Food Court Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Ocean City’s first and only food court celebrated its 40th year in business on the Ocean City Boardwalk this Friday.

The Promenade Food Court is located between 7th and 8th streets on the boardwalk, with over 10 restaurants offering a variety of cuisines and plenty of seating. 

Founder and owner Giovanni Baratta said his favorite part of running the business each day is working alongside two daughters, Rose and Giovanna, grandchildren, and other extended family.

“We celebrate the Promenade every day,” Baratta said. “The most rewarding thing is being able to work with all my family. I have my kids and my grandkids around, and that is rewarding itself.”

Baratta moved from Casanova, Italy to West Orange, NJ in 1966. He worked as a teacher for 5 years, picking up side jobs during the summers. After spending a few seasons working at a pizza restaurant on the Ocean City boardwalk, he decided to pivot his career to building his own business there.

“I decided to give up teaching and dedicate myself to the boardwalk and to the business,” Baratta said. 

In 1985, Baratta purchased two side-by-side boardwalk storefronts between 7th and 8th street with a loan, and transformed them into Ocean City’s first and only food court. He said at the time, there were no other boardwalk stores that used their entire property, but just utilized the front section.

“Everybody thought I was crazy, because everybody builds in the front and nothing in the back,” Baratta said. “I decided to extend the business all the way.”

Baratta said that over the years, many restaurants have come and gone, while others have simply shifted locations within the space. A few restaurants who’s menu favorites have remained consistent include the pizza, cheesesteaks and gyros.

“Coming to Ocean City and not coming to eat at the promenade is like going to Rome and not seeing the Coliseum,” Baratta said. He would know as he lives on his farm in Casanova, Italy from October to May each year.

A wide variety of worldwide cuisines can be found at the promenade today, with Italian, Mexican, Greek and Asian options.

Many customers appreciate how the many different restaurants within the Promenade can accommodate a variety of dietary needs. Kerry Treasure was out to lunch with her daughter Charlie Birch and grandson, and had an Asian rice noodle bowl, while Birch and her son enjoyed grilled cheese and french fries.

Treasure pointed out that the extensive seating and areas with shade are also a major benefit to eating at the Promenade.

“We’re not in the middle of the boardwalk with all the bicycles and people walking, so it isn’t too noisy here,” Treasure said. “But we mostly come for the variety of options they offer here, and there’s always plenty of shade.”

Long time employee Devent Raposo, who today runs GiGi NY Pizza, said there’s a very strong sense of community between employees across all restaurants at the Promenade.

“There is a real sense of family here,” Raposo said. “I’ve learned life lessons, I’ve basically learned how to be an adult from being here.”

Raposo said all the food served at the Promenade is cooked with extreme care, making it the best, most versatile food option on the boardwalk. 

“I think that people should eat wherever they want, but if you want good food, you should come to the promenade,” Raposo said.