You've heard of the bar where everyone knows your name, but what about the place where everyone falls in love?
Well, according to People magazine, that could just be The Parker House in Sea Girt.
"What’s the most romantic place in America? It might just be a New Jersey beachside restaurant and bar," the article begins. "Take a stroll down Beacon [Boulevard] ... and you’ll come across a Victorian-style beach house [at the corner of Beacon and First Avenue] that's always bustling [during the season], complete with a long line of eager visitors.
"Ask anyone in town about The Parker House, and they’ll stop you in your tracks, likely calling it legendary. This restaurant by day, bar by night, has been serving up great food and music since 1878 — and sparking hundreds of love stories along the way."
The article then highlights some of the couples who met at Parker House, which is currently closed (there's a countdown to opening day on the website — now at 84 days).
But you don't have to read the article to learn about the love stories; just visit parkerhousenj.com/parker-house-love-stories.
"The Parker House has been the source of memorable experiences for thousands, and for some, it has been the beginning of a beautiful relationship," the site says. "For young and old alike, the magic is always here and every story is unique. Share your story and be a part of our story."
The first couple on the site is Kerri and Alex L., who were married in 2021.
“My husband and I met at Parker House in June of 2016," the story states. "He asked me if I wanted to dance … and the rest is history. We will always remember “God’s Basement” with fond memories. We can still point out the exact spot on the basement dance floor where we first met."
Melissa and Brendan D. tied the knot in 2016.
“Brendan and I 'officially' met at the Parker House in July of 2013," their story begins on the site. "He was down at his family’s house in Sea Girt for the weekend, and I was meeting up with some friends on the back porch. We were introduced by mutual friends and spent the afternoon on the porch and that evening down in the basement singing, dancing and having a blast.
"At the end of the night, after agreeing that dating in your 30s is not as fun as it sounds like it should be, I asked HIM on a date! Three years later he proposed on Beacon Boulevard beach, where we had spent many summer days — and went right to the Parker House to celebrate. We were married eight days later ... "
The Parker House story is itself romantic. It was one of the first buildings erected in Sea Girt, even before Sea Girt was officially a town.
It's run by three families "who see themselves more as curators rather than owners of an 1878 building," the site states, " and who are deeply committed to preserving this important piece of Sea Girt history for future generations."
Go: The Parker House, 290 1st Ave., Sea Girt, currently closed; 732-449-0442, parkerhousenj.com.