Margate Dairy Bar & Burger: Adding on to the Past
MILLVILLE, N.J. – Preserving the past while expanding for the future can be a tricky endeavor. New Jersey builder John Mirenda took on that challenge when he agreed to construct an addition to a popular seaside staple — the Margate Dairy Bar & Burger.
Constructed in 1952, the Margate Dairy Bar & Burger was considered “ultra-modern” at the time — it served frozen desserts, custards, burgers, fries and shakes. Through the years it retained its fifties feel, making it a “must go” place for locals and seasonal shore visitors.
After more than 60 years in business the owners decided to expand their operations into space adjacent to the business that they had formerly rented to various restaurants. Stokes Architecture was brought on board to keep the nostalgic feeling of the original restaurant while designing the restaurant expansion in a tight space. John Mirenda stepped in to construct the addition.
“We started by using Superior Walls Xi Panels in a below grade application,” says Mirenda, owner of John Mirenda Construction, Inc. “Then we continued upwards and used the same Xi panels for above grade. The walls were set very close to the existing building next door. If we had used cement block, it would have slowed down the project by at least a month.”
Working with the team at Northeast Precast, Miranda gained insights that helped him successfully start the construction process. “Precast concrete walls are definitely the way to go with projects like this,” says Mirenda. “The Northeast Precast crew is extremely professional, they thought through each step of the project and turned around shop drawings very quickly. The Xi panels arrived on site in perfect shape and were installed in just one day.”
All Superior Walls products are custom manufactured off site in indoor production facilities, eliminating any on-site soil contamination such as the form oil used for poured walls. No on-site sprays or bituminous coatings are required to make the walls dampproof. The panels are delivered directly to a jobsite where certified crews install the precast wall panels.
With the foundation set in place, work continued smoothly. A canted glass box was added to intersect the existing dairy bar. A canted steel beam was positioned outwardly, with a sleek fifties style created. Completed in 2015, the Margate Dairy Bar & Burger addition now welcomes even more visitors to experience a “blast from the past” in a unique fifties environment.
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About John Mirenda, LLC
Serving the needs of clients on a personal level, John Mirenda, LLC has been in business since 1999 in New Jersey. The company provides construction management, consultation and general contracting for commercial, medical, light industrial and luxury homes. Working closely with their clients, the company focuses on safe building practices, fine quality construction and attention to detail. For more information, visit www.johnmirenda.com.
About Northeast Precast
Northeast Precast is a state-of-the-art precast concrete manufacturer located in Millville, New Jersey that offers commercial products and residential foundation wall systems. In 2001 John Ruga started selling Superior Walls® in New Jersey and started precast manufacturing in 2004. Starting as only a Superior Walls franchise, the company diversified and became known as Northeast Precast, a leader in custom precast products. Today Northeast Precast continues to expand to meet the demands of the growing market thanks to a commitment to quality and unparalleled service. For more information visit www.northeastprecast.com.
