Historic Smithville: Small-town
charm near the Jersey Shore

By Ruth Rovner
For the Times

On a sunny afternoon, the village green in Historic Smithville is a colorful place.
The old-fashioned carousel is circling round and round and the red mini-train is starting its brief journey.
Across the footbridge that spans the lake, people sit on benches or walk along the lakefront as they watch the ducks gliding on the water. Others stroll along the cobblestone pathways and visit the specialty shops housed in colonial style buildings.
Historic Smithville is a world of its own. It’s a beautifully restored village with colonial flavor and serene ambience where visitors are transported to the past. And this idyllic village on Route 9 in South Jersey is just a 15-minute drive from Atlantic City.
In contrast to the whirlwind activity of the casinos and Atlantic City boardwalk, here visitors slow down to enjoy the novelty of an old-fashioned village.
It’s a decidedly family-friendly village. Kids and their parents can enjoy rides on the carousel, the mini-train and the boats on the lake. Besides paddle boats, there’s a gondola complete with serenading gondolier.
And no one goes hungry in this colonial village. Among the 10 eateries are an ice-cream shop, pizzeria, bakery, colonial café, plus the convivial Fred & Ethel’s Lantern Light Tavern, and the stately Smithville Inn, an award-winning restaurant and popular site for weddings and other celebrations.
What makes Smithville even more interesting is that this is a town that’s been restored to new life by four dedicated entrepreneurs from the Philadelphia area. All four are former residents of Havertown.
Eleven years ago, on January 31, 1997, Laura and Charles Bushar and their close friends Fran and Tony Coppola became owners of what’s officially called the "Towne of Historic Smithville" (it’s the area on one side of the lake, and it’s distinct from the actual town of Smithville, which is nearby.)
Historic Smithville dates back to the 1950s. It began as a restored colonial village with shops and an elegant restaurant, the Smithville Inn, which soon became the prime place to dine.
But this quaint village later fell into decline. The once stately Smithville Inn was closed and boarded up. And most of the shops closed, too.
All that changed when the Bushars and Coppolas became the new owners and brought new life to historic Smithville. They did extensive renovations and then re-opened the Smithville Inn. They also re-opened the Lantern Light Tavern, and spruced up the shops so they could be rented.
Before they took over, only seven shops were open. Now, there are more than 60, covering a wide range of specialties — candles, soaps, bronze, pewter, collectibles, crystals, Irish imports and much more.
Historic Smithville is now a dramatic success story. It’s open year-round except for Christmas Day and draws numerous visitors, including devoted fans who return repeatedly. Those who want to enjoy an extended visit can stay right in Historic Smithville in the charming Colonial Inn, a bed and breakfast facility.
The village is divided into two sides bisected by the lake. One side, officially called the Towne of Historic Smithville, has most of the shops, many with quaint names such as Two Country Ducks, Pocket Full of Posies, Fleece on Earth, and Ireland and Old Lace. The two restaurants, the tavern and Smithville Inn, are also on this side.
On the other side, known as the Village Greene, are more shops, plus the carousel, the mini train, the boat rides, and a Family Arcade with varied games. All this plus the Brownstone Puppet Theater, which performs every day.
This side is separately owned by a South Jersey couple, Wendy and Ed Fitzgerald of Absecon, who work in cooperation with the Bushars and Coppolas.
"We’re all working together to make Smithville the wonderful place everyone remembers — and even better," says Laura Bushar.
Besides the ongoing attractions, the village is the scene of special weekend events throughout the summer and well into the fall.
For instance, on the weekend of Aug. 16-17, visitors can see a Civil War Encampment. Then there’s the Antique Auto Show on Sept. 14, an annual event that draws large crowds.
"It’s huge!" says Bushar, describing how the parking lot is filled with antique cars — everything from old Ford Model T’s to classic Chevy Corvettes.
"They’re incredible cars, beautifully restored and maintained," she adds.
But even without special events, visitors are delighted with the novelty of this village.
"It’s wonderful to watch families having such an enjoyable time," says Bushar.
She and the other owners never tire of seeing the enthusiastic response of those who discover — or rediscover — Smithville. Quite often visitors will seek them out to thank them personally for bringing Smithville back to life.
"It’s good to know we’re bringing pleasure to so many people," says Bushar. "This town deserved a second chance. We’ve always believed it’s a magical place." ••
Historic Smithville Is located 12 miles from Atlantic City on Route 9 and Moss Mill Road in Smithville, N.J. For more information, call 609-652-7777 or 609-748-6160. Or, visit the Web site at www.smithvillenj.com