WILDWOOD — A longtime Wildwood breakfast institution is getting new life from the restaurant operators behind King's Pub in Atlantic City.
Chef David Wong, co-owner of King's Pub, confirmed that he and his partners are behind the purchase of Larkin's Restaurant, the landmark New Jersey Avenue eatery that had been operated by the Larkin family for approximately 75 years.
And while changes are coming, one important piece of Wildwood history isn't going anywhere.
The Larkin's name will remain.
“We're doing a lot of research development on how we can capitalize on the breakfast game,” Wong said Tuesday during an appearance on Off The Press with Scott Cronick on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.
A Wildwood Tradition Dating to 1950
Larkin's, at 2600 New Jersey Ave., opened in 1950 and became known to generations of Wildwood vacationers and residents as an old-school breakfast spot.
The restaurant remained in the Larkin family for decades before the property was sold following the death of longtime owner Kathleen Larkin in 2025. When the sale was announced in December, it was reported that the new owners intended to retain the Larkin's name and reopen the restaurant, but little was publicly known about who was behind the purchase or what they planned to do with the property.
Wong's interview now fills in much of that picture.
Wong and his partners — casino-industry veterans who also operate King's Pub on Tennessee Avenue in Atlantic City — are planning a concept considerably different from their late-night Atlantic City bar and restaurant.
Breakfast will be at the center of it.
“Everybody loves breakfast,” Wong said, noting Wildwood's appeal to families vacationing with children and extended family. “I have to find the most whimsical menu I can and execute it the same way I do.”
Wong described the new restaurant as a different challenge from King's Pub.
“This is gonna be a completely different animal,” he said.
Renovations Underway
Don't expect Larkin's simply to reopen exactly as it was.
Wong said work is underway to address aging infrastructure inside the building, specifically mentioning old cast-iron piping.
“They're fixing up a lot of outdated things,” Wong said.
While the restaurant's history will remain important, Wong indicated that the interior will be upgraded rather than preserved unchanged.
Cronick asked whether the group planned to retain the same aesthetic.
“No, they are gonna upgrade it,” Wong said, describing the property as historic but in need of modernization.
Exactly what the finished restaurant will look like — and when customers will get their first look — remains unsettled.
Asked when Larkin's could open, Wong had a straightforward answer: “No clue.”
“It's a work in progress,” he said.
Could Larkin's Expand Beyond Breakfast?
Breakfast appears to be the foundation of the new Larkin's, but the owners haven't ruled out doing more.
Wong said he and his partners are discussing whether the restaurant eventually could offer dinner as well.
“We're debating,” Wong said. “My partners are talking about it. It is really just when we can break ground.”
For Wong and his partners, taking over a restaurant with a long-established local identity isn't entirely new.
The group followed a similar path when it took over the former Pic-A-Lilli Pub location on Tennessee Avenue in Atlantic City and developed King's Pub.
Wong said they wanted to improve the restaurant without eliminating everything people remembered about its predecessor.
“You don't want to change everything,” Wong said. “Everybody has expectations. And that's my challenge — to live up to the expectations and then, you know, obviously do our flair. Something different.”
That balancing act now moves about 40 miles down the coast to Wildwood, where the group is taking responsibility for a restaurant name that has been around since 1950.
For now, Wong isn't promising an opening date. But he made clear that Larkin's will remain Larkin's — with a new ownership group, an updated building and a new menu being developed for its next chapter.
David Wong appeared Tuesday on Off The Press with Scott Cronick, heard Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.
About the Author
Peter Killeen
A 25-year radio news veteran, Peter covers South Jersey for NewsTalk 1400 & 92.3 WOND radio. Known for his concise and impactful delivery, he ensures listeners and readers stay informed without unnecessary filler.
