The Coaster
Friday, January 27, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The Coaster
No Result
View All Result
Home Asbury Park

Beloved Boardwalk Businessman Remembered

by The Coaster Editorial Staff
December 12, 2018
in Asbury Park
21
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare via EmailShare on Twitter

One of Asbury Park’s most beloved boardwalk businessmen died Nov. 29.

George J. Panas, the long-time owner of the iconic Howard Johnson’s restaurant on the Asbury Park boardwalk, was 88.

After he immigrated to the United States in 1956, he and his family opened and operated the Howard Johnson’s 50 years until his retirement in 2006.

Wonder Bar manager Debbie Delisa said she first met Panas when she and Lance Larson were working on getting the Wonder Bar, which is right across the street, open in 2002.

“He sold us some of his extra restaurant furniture really cheap. He was more than generous.  He would come over every day to see if we needed anything. He talked a lot with my father and he was very kind to him when he was sick,” she said.

And Delisa said Panas was the only business open on the boardwalk back then.

“Asbury Park had crime and was kind of rundown but he would open every day, in rain or snow, and sometimes he only had two customers a day,” she said.

And Don Stine, who was born and raised in Asbury Park, agrees that Panas was there during both the good and bad days.

“Mr. Panas never gave up on Asbury Park. He held in there until the very end, even through the really bad times. I believe he was one of the only Howard Johnson franchises left in the country,” he said.

Working for Panas in the HoJos on the boardwalk was Stine’s first job.  He was a busboy and his sister, Connie, was the hostess there during the summers.

“My sister and Mr. Panas were very close. Connie later died and when I saw Mr. Panas and told him about it, I could see that he was visibly shaken; he cared about her that much,” he said.

Stine said he remembers badly cutting his pinkie finger there when trying to catch a large gallon-jar of marmalade from falling to the floor.

“The jar broke. I cut my finger and had to go to the hospital. I still can’t bend the end of my left-hand pinkie finger to his day. And Mr. Panas was very good during the whole thing. He was a very nice, caring man,” he said.

Former Asbury Park Beach Manager Joe Pallotto said he knew Panas quite well over the years and that Panas was well-respected by his peers, “without a doubt.”

“He was just a good guy and always treated us good,” he said.

Pallotto, who is president of the Asbury Park Fishing Club, said club members used to fish on the beach in front of the Howard Johnsons and that Panas used to come down and collect the fish.

“He would bring the fish back to the restaurant, cook them, sell them, or do what he could do with them. He was always very good to people,” he said.

Born in 1930 in Thana, Tripoli Greece, Panas served in the Greek Army as an officer and later pursued a teaching career. He was a devoted member of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Ocean Township and served on the parish council for 27 consecutive years.

Related Posts

St. Patrick’s Day Committee Names Sammy Boyd Grand Marshal

January 27, 2023
Disussions Continue to Preserve Asbury Park Historic Sites

Disussions Continue to Preserve Asbury Park Historic Sites

January 25, 2023
Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

January 25, 2023
In Asbury Park Steps Taken to Create Citizen Review Board

City Gets Good Marks for Budgeting

January 25, 2023
St. Patrick’s Day Fundraisers in City

St. Patrick’s Day Fundraisers in City

January 24, 2023
Asbury Park’s New Athletic Director

Asbury Park’s New Athletic Director

January 18, 2023

Trending This Week

Ocean Grove Ladies Auxiliary Raised $58,000 for Projects

Pilot Parking Program is Topic Of Special Meeting in Ocean Grove

January 25, 2023
Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

January 25, 2023
Stabbing Incident at Asbury Park High School

Red Bank Man Charged With Numerous ‘Upskirting’ Offenses

January 24, 2023
Disussions Continue to Preserve Asbury Park Historic Sites

Disussions Continue to Preserve Asbury Park Historic Sites

January 25, 2023

Advertise Online with The Coaster

Advertise on The Coaster to reach countless new customers for your local business.

START ADVERTISING TODAY

E-mail Newsletter

Sign up to get a free weekly newsletter to your inbox.

Subscribe

Contact Us

The Coaster
1011 Main St
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Phone: 732-775-3010
FAX: 732-775-8345
editor@thecoaster.net

Email Newsletter »

All Articles

Search Our Site

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved.