The Grenville Hotel and Restaurant

Grenville Hotel, at 345 Main Avenue is a Grande Dame of summer hotels from the late nineteenth century on Barnegat Island. Situated on land purchased by Anna Nunemaker for $400.00 in 1886, the hotel dates back to 1890, and was built by Wycoff Applegate who also built the Bay Head Yacht Club. A capable business woman, Anna also owned and operated a sugar plantation in the West Indies where she and her husband wintered. By 1901, Bay Head was ready for electricity, so the electric company thought. But the town officials quickly objected to such modern inventions. Hoping to dazzle the town with electricity, in the darkness of a Saturday night, poles were planted and wires strung along Main Avenue as far as the Grenville Hotel. Sunday morning the surprised town officials arrested the offenders, and armed with axes cut the poles down. In 1922, the hotel was sold to Nellie Georgette who renamed the hotel The Georgette. It remained The Georgette until 1945 when it was sold to The Grenville Corp. It was renamed The Grenville after The Grenville Arms Hotel was destroyed in a fire. In 1956, The Spurgat family purchased the building. It continued it's journey as a hotel. In 1987 the building was given new life when it was purchased by Joe Milza. It took a year to renovate it into a stunning hotel with 29 guest rooms, private showers, central air and heat, and the only elevator in Bay Head. In November 2003 Harry and Renee Typaldos were at the Jersey Shore when they passed the Grenville and decided to have lunch. It was love at first sight. In less then 6 months they purchased the building, and another era begins. The Grenville Hotel is standing tall (4 stories) and continues to be the Grand Victorian Lady of the Jersey Shore. The Grenville proudly hosts their Award Winning Four Star Restaurant on the first floor.