Long Branch, N.J., has been right at the end of the Jersey Shore — with its boardwalk, beachfront pubs and relaxed shores — since it opened in 1849. The name is from one of the townships of Long Branch and North Wildwood. For those who might be anticipating the Jersey Shore’s coming-of-age, it might seem a bit unnerving that there’s even more missing than originally there was — not just the land but buildings as well.
A few good stretches — including Seaside Heights and Wildwood — have survived and flourish, but the once-bustling strip of boardwalks and retail has largely receded to a colony of beachfront bars, particularly at the end of the Hoboken Turnpike, near the northern tip of Long Branch. Some of the venerable establishments — such as L’Atelier des Donaux restaurant and Logan Restaurant, which kick the day off before the beach and beach walk begins — are still there but many others are a memory.
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