The Full Story
About Gregory's
The Gregory family has been providing good food and drink for their Somers Point patrons for over half a century and five generations. We're proud to continue our traditions into the next century and to ensure Gregory's will always be a friendly, familiar place for good food, inexpensive drinks, and great times.
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From The Ground Up
Our building has graced the corner of Delaware Avenue and Shore Road since 1908. Constructed from an assortment of wood salvaged from the bay after a storm, each door is a different size, and the unique shape of the roof borrows its design from the hull of a ship.
Before The Beginning
Originally a home and business known as Piercy's General Dry Goods Store, Ella Piercy and her sister, Carrie Reckstel, were the first to obtain a liquor license for the premises. In 1913, their nephew, Gerald S. Piercy, took over and operated as the Piercy Hotel, later known as the Hotel Boulevard. Then, in 1929, it was purchased by Mrs. Keemer and Mr. Davis and renamed the Davis Hotel, a popular scene with duck hunters, boaters, and fishermen.
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During prohibition, the Davis Hotel relocated its bar into the basement, where it remained even after the repeal of liquor laws in 1933. The Davis Hotel changed hands for the last time in1946.
Walter "Pop" Gregory
Walter "Pop" Gregory owned and operated Walt's Cafe at Emerald and Cumberland Streets in the Kensington section of Philadelphia since before prohibition. An avid fisherman and seasonal resident, he purchased the Davis hotel for his sons Walter and Elmer when they returned from the war, and named it the Gregory Hotel.
The Early Years
The bar remained a rathskeller for the Gregory Hotel's first season before being moved upstairs, and in 1950 Ray Smith Sr. built the classic Philippine mahogany horseshoe bar. With a dart board, pool table, and seven drafts for a dollar, Gregory's become a popular neighborhood tavern frequented by local fishermen and seasonal visitors alike.
The Next Generation
In 1979, Elmer's Son, Gregory, and Walter's Son, Walt, took over the business. They remodeled the building but kept Gregory's reputation for fresh seafood and inexpensive drinks. Together, they initiated "Taco Tuesday," "Adios Turistos," "Vince's Birthday," venison on the Super Bowl Sunday buffet, and many other popular occasions.
Today, Tomorrow, Forever
Now, a new generation of Gregory's has taken over the kitchen. Joe and Paul, both graduates of the Culinary Academy at Atlantic Cape Community College, continue Gregory's longtime traditions, including "Pop's" homemade snapper soup and whole lobster dinners, and have also added their own unique touch to the menu.
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On any given day you can find a member of the Gregory's clan working around the restaurant in some capacity, keeping Gregory's a family affair.
