08037 Hammonton | Winter 2023/24

Christina - I prefer roses over chocolates, just a little more sentimental. Like, you see a curtain flower and think of me. It’s more sentimental than buying a bag of chocolates.

Zoe- I prefer chocolates so I can eat with the person that gave it to me ...

Shannon- Roses, I like flowers!

Anastasia- I prefer roses, that way I could decorate my house around valentine.

Nicole- Roses because I think they’re pretty!

Letter from the Editor:

Hello 08037! Oh winter, you are still here! Snow has already fallen and we’re either gearing up for six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Depends on if you believe that popular groundhog superstition! Well, in any case, I am excited for you to check out our Winter edition magazine dedicated to the lifestyle and community of Hammonton.

Kathy Chang EDITOR

We start our issue with the DiDonato family. John DiDonato and his son Zach have transformed the Pinelands Golf Club since they purchased it in 2020. Nestled on the outskirts of Wharton State Forest in Hammonton about a half hour from Philadelphia, Pinelands Golf Club at 887 S. Mays Landing Road is home to one of the area’s most authentic and challenging 18-hole golf courses. “People come from the city, come and spend the day here, golf, eat dinner, and once we have the lodges they can stay the night, and spend the weekend,” according to John. Learn all about how the DiDonato’s transformed the Pinelands Golf Club, which started at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to now on page 5.

Next we meet Jim Sacco, who opened Vinyl Brewing in September 2017 with his aunt and uncle, Susan and Tom Puentes. Sacco was a longtime home brewer and when discussion about opening a brewery came about, downtown Hammonton

was the place to do it. “We are all from Hammonton,” he said. “Our families are from here. We felt what better place to open a brewery than in a town that we have lived all our lives.” And it just so happened, they found the right location at 300 12th St. Sacco said their style offerings change with the seasons. All the beer is made onsite and “one of the things we have become known for since our opening is our sour beer.” Grab a seat at the bar and learn about their story on page 8.

Downtown Hammonton is the place to be every third Thursday of each month. MainStreet Hammonton hosts the night from 5-8 p.m. with a theme for each month. The event lineup is discussed and planned at the beginning of the year and each month is paired with an art component, according to Mica McCullough, executive director of MainStreet Hammonton. January’s Third Thursday was titled “To New Beginnings” celebrating the new year. Shoppers were able to enjoy new products and specials from the shops and eateries. The third Thursday in February falls a day after Valentine’s Day, Feb. 15. Hence the title “Amore-Love is in the air!” March is Ladies Night Out – a celebration of women. Learn all about it starting on page 12.

Also check out our Hammonton Happenings on page 14 for future community events. All of this and more awaits on the pages ahead!

Enjoy!

Kathy Chang Editor

Winter 2023/24 Contributors

Andrea Mendoza

Kathy Chang

‘A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING’

THE DIDONATO FAMILY HAS TRANSFORMED THE PINELANDS GOLF CLUB SINCE THEY PURCHASED IT IN 2020

By Kathy Chang

It was February 2020. The DiDonato family including John and his son Zach were finalizing the purchase of the Pinelands Golf Club.

Nestled on the outskirts of Wharton State Forest in Hammonton about a half hour from Philadelphia, Pinelands Golf Club at 887 S. Mays Landing Road is home to one of the area’s most authentic and challenging 18-hole golf courses.

And with roots in Hammonton, the DiDonato family is at home.

The purchase was six months in the making. Little did they know a month later they would have to shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Now we own a golf course and it’s shut down … we have all these bills and we’re just looking at empty property,” John recalled.

Scary, scary times! Luckily roughly two months later, golf courses were one of the first things allowed open, Zach noted.

People – golfers, non-golfers alike –flocked to outdoor recreation.

“We really picked up,” Zach recalled. “It seemed like the business of golf grew a ton –everyone at that time just wanted to get out of the house because there was nothing else to do. There were parks or you could golf, that was pretty much it. Our restaurant was still closed at the time.”

Fast forward three years out from COVID, the DiDonato family is some 80% complete with their five-year term plan - a million-dollar undertaking, John said.

Before we get into that five-year plan, let’s look at some of the history of the golf club. When the DiDonato’s came into the picture, the golf club “was open, but pretty slow and beat up.”

“The golf course was like a cow pasture … it was pretty bad,” John added.

In 1964, as the ribbon was cut at Pinelands Golf Club for all 18 championship holes, Ralph Leopardi who - designed, oversaw construction, and became the first superintendent at Pinelands Golf Club - was gleaming, according to history of the site. Leopardi had spent the previous 17 years

The Pinelands Golf Club is nestled on the outskirts of Wharton State Forest in Hammonton. The DiDonato family has transformed the club since they purchased it in 2020.

PHOTOS BY ANDREA MENDOZA

PINELANDS GOLF 08037

from page 5

as superintendent of Atlantic City Country Club (ACCC) during many tournaments like when Babe Didrickson Zaharias won her first of three U.S. Golf Association (USGA) Women’s Open Championships in 1948, or the many golf outings of Arnold Palmer at ACCC in the 1950s when Palmer was stationed at the Coast Guard nearby. Leopardi honed his design skills by talking with many of the pros of the day at ACCC as well as the many late night talks with Palmer.

Leopardi was ahead of his time. On opening day 1964, he discussed how his design will provide privacy between fairways and speed up play by keeping balls out of adjacent fairways. He said, “I designed the course to be challenging, but fair.”

However, over the years the golf course fell into disrepair. In 2020, the DiDonato family purchased the public golf course and hired renowned golf architect Stephen Kay to oversee the renovation to return the course to its original authentic design, while adding modern touches to bring the course up to today’s standards.

“We do have members, but anybody can just come in,” John said emphasizing they are a public golf course.

When they purchased the property, they started working on the golf course and with Kay they modernized the club house, cart barn, and upgraded modified greens, bunkers, and fairways turf.

The golf course features 6,503 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72.

Today, at the helm of Pinelands is a seasoned management team, whose goal is to carry on Leopardi’s tradition of providing a challenging, authentic course, that is fair and well kept.

“We further want to provide a great outdoor experience, with respect for the environment. No matter the weather conditions or course challenges, just gear-up and get ready for a great day in the pines!”

OK back to the five-year plan.

If you talk to the DiDonato’s, they will explain they offer “a little bit of everything.” And if you have any questions, Morgan Ostermueller is the person to go to.

“I help wherever is needed,” she said. “If a department needs help one day I’m there, even if it’s with the grounds crew, I’ve cooked in the kitchen, I’ll bartend if I need to. I also do backend things. I do accounting for the company and payroll. I used to plan all weddings and events here. I’m just learning the company inside and out. My goal every day is to keep on learning and improving and seeing the company better.”

During the summer, the Pinelands Golf Club employs up to 70 to 80 people – including students who come help out for the summer. During the winter months, staff stays around 35 to 50 people.

As for the “little bit of everything,” let’s start with Twisted Tavern, the restaurant on site.

“There wasn’t really a restaurant to begin with,” Zach recalled when they came in, noting the previous owners were only offering deli sandwiches and hot dogs. “There was no name to it.

“We wanted to open up a real restaurant with freshly made food,” he continued. “We opened up in June 2020 with takeout only in the beginning [due to COVID restrictions]. We had the patio and people were able to sit outside.”

Eventually dining inside was allowed back.

PINELANDS GOLF CLUB

As part of the renovations, the DiDonato’s transformed the entrance space with offices and bathrooms before you enter the restaurant area.

“None of this was here,” John said.

“The kitchen was really small with one fryer, one flat top, and two stoves, Zach said. “There was no dishwasher or anything.”

“There was no dishwasher or anything.”

To transform into a restaurant, they needed more kitchen space.

“We ended up taking out the men’s locker room, built the kitchen, storage area, prep area, and walk in fridge in replacement of the locker room,” Zach said.

Twisted Tavern offers a family welcome environment of fine casual dining offering anywhere from sandwiches, hot dogs, and burgers for that lunch and quick grab to go to a sit-down meal of hearty filet mignon, prime rib and/or lobster tail.

Lunch starts at 11 a.m. and dinner starts at 4 p.m. The restaurant is open every day from April to Nov. 1.

In the winter months, the restaurant is open Thursday to Sunday.

“The chefs work really hard from April to Nov. 1 from events, weddings and what nots,” Zach said. “This gives them a rest, a break with three days off a week and gives them time to relax, spend time with family during the holidays.”

The restaurant offers entertainment from 6-9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Now on to the Cart Barn, which offers a unique indoor/outdoor space for weddings, proms, banquets, parties, meetings and events.

“We are working on a project to bring in lodges so people can stay here,” Zach said. “We find sometimes a lot of people that come to weddings here are not from the area and say, ‘Oh man I wish you guys had some place to stay on the property.’ That’s where we got the idea and we believe it will be beneficial.”

The Cart Barn space was previously used to store golf carts from the weather and the DiDonato’s decided to keep the name.

Along with the lodges, they look to build a driving range as part of their five-year plan.

“The property is 200 acres, we are kind of built like a resort for the day,” John said. “We are not a course where there’s a lot of houses around it. People come from the city, come and spend the day here, golf, eat dinner and once we have the lodges they can stay the night, and spend the weekend.”

The Pinelands Golf Course is probably one of the busiest courses in South Jersey as far as the number of rounds – four and a half miles of cart paths, John said.

For the DiDonato’s, they are looking forward to completing their five-year plan in the next year or two.

“Once we get to the point where we finish the project we envision with the lodges and all, it’s at that point we will reevaluate,” John said, adding they will always try to be cutting edge. “…I think when we finish everything with the lodges and all, this is going to be something very special for the area.” — 08037

‘We get a little silly in here’

VINYL BREWING COMPANY OPENED IN 2017 AND HAS BECOME KNOWN FOR THEIR SOUR BEER

ABy Kathy Chang

t Vinyl Brewing Company, the brewery focuses on a lot of different styles. “One of the things we have become known for since our opening is our sour beer,” said Jim Sacco, who opened Vinyl Brewing in September 2017 with his aunt and uncle, Susan and Tom Puentes.

Sacco was a longtime home brewer and when discussion about opening a brewery came about, downtown Hammonton was the place to do it.

“We are all from Hammonton,” he said. “Our families are from here. We felt what better place to open a brewery than in a town that we have lived all our lives.”

And it just so happened, they found the right location at 300 12th St. The location previously housed Perrone Door Company Inc., a garage door company.

“We wanted to be here in the downtown,” Sacco said, adding they were fortunate Perrone Door Company installed the garage doors they have in front.

Once they found the location, they started building out and getting the appropriate state licenses, which took roughly a year.

“Then we started brewing,” Sacco said.

Vinyl Brewing Company is located right smack in the middle of Philadelphia and Atlantic City. Putting flavor first and style second, Vinyl Beer is inspired by music, hard work and their farm family roots, according to its About Us description on its website.

The name blends Sacco’s two loves – music and beer.

VINYL BREWING COMPANY

“Since I was a teenager, I have been a drummer in a band, Sacco explained. “As a little punk rock kid, I wanted to blend the two loves I had in my life – music and beer into one. This was the end result.”

Sacco said their style offerings change with the seasons. All the beer is made onsite.

“A typical brew day will take about six to seven hours depending on style of beer that we’re making,” he explained. “From there it will take two weeks to four weeks or more depending on style. A lager ferment is a little longer, two to three weeks is usually average from the time we brew it to the time it goes on tap.”

“Now, with the colder weather we’ll have more dark beers on tap,” he said offering different flavored stout.

In December, they held a Christmas beer event with beers on tap inspired by Christmas including a milk stout - can you envision the chocolate chip cookies? - a gingerbread stout, an eggnog stout and a winter wonder ale.

Sacco said as a brewer, he likes to challenge himself.

“That’s why I like these events,” he said.

Usually in February/March, they have seven to eight imperial stout flavors on tap.

As spring comes along, the brewery will offer a little bit more lighter refreshing styles of beer.

“More like fruit, citrusy with fruits in them,” Sacco explained. “I always try to keep a little of something on tap all the time because even in the summer some people may wanted to drink dark beers. You have stout drinkers that are just stout drinkers, then you have sour drinkers that want sours in the winter so we try to keep a little bit of everything on all throughout the year.”

In the spring - end of April - Vinyl Brewing holds a Sour Week to celebrate the sour ale drink.

“We do 12 to 15 different sour beers that we’ll tap during that week,” Sacco said. “It has sort of grown in popularity over the years. We also do plenty of different IPAs.”

A couple times a year, Vinyl Brewing joins the other two breweries in town for walkable beer crawls.

“We’re all friends,” Sacco said. “We start with a group at each brewery and take four to five hours, then we walk and rotate to each other’s breweries. Sometimes we will do a collaboration beer together on that day so people can have. It’s cool making Hammonton a destination for breweries. I think we all definitely offer something unique … we all do our own thing well.”

see VINYL BREWING page 10

PHOTOS BY ANDREA MENDOZA Vinyl Brewing Company opened in 2017 and has become known for their sour beer.

VINYL

BREWING

08037 from page 9

At Vinyl Brewing, the beers on tap rotate to keep the selection fresh.

“Our most popular IPA is called ‘My brain hurts,’” Sacco said and as for the names, he tries to be creative and a little silly. “I usually send it out to the local bars in the area. Another sour ale – ‘Glitch in the Matrix’ – a blueberry, blackberry, raspberry sour ale won a few awards. My personal favorite is ‘Low Life’ – it’s my take on the Miller High Life. It’s a very easy drinking nothing to it beer that has become pretty popular.”

For those who are not beer drinkers or are gluten free, the brewery also offers a selection of seltzers.

Sacco said they do take suggestions from customers all the time.

“Sometimes customers ask for beers that were on tap three to four years ago and we bring them back,” he said. “We are pretty open when it comes to the beers we have. We try to have fun.”

As the brewery rolls into its seventh year, Sacco said for the most part they have set out everything they wanted to accomplish when they opened.

“I always think it’s a work in progress,” he said. “We’re always trying to improve everything that we do here.”

With changes on what they are allowed to do in terms of events through the state, they will work on incorporating more music performances.

“We will do mainly acoustic because a full band is a little loud in here,” Sacco said.

When Sacco and his aunt and uncle set their sights on opening Vinyl Brewing, they initially really wanted to try to take some of that Philly city feel and bring it to small town Hammonton.

“I think we have done a pretty good job with that,” Sacco said. “When it’s busy in here, the vibe is really cool. It definitely has a city atmosphere. It’s relaxing, just a place you can go to. Sometimes we’ll have sports on sometimes professional wrestling on … we get a little silly in here.” — 08037

Vinyl Brewing is open Wednesday through Sunday.

Wednesday to Thursday - 3-9 p.m.

Friday – 3-10 p.m.

Saturday – 1-10 p.m.

Sunday - 1-7 p.m.

08037

third thursdays and so much more

EMAINSTREET HAMMONTON CELEBRATES 40 YEARS THIS YEAR

By Kathy Chang

very third Thursday of each month, businesses in Downtown Hammonton stay open later than usual for a themed filled night of fun.

As Mica McCullough, executive director of MainStreet Hammonton, explains their objective is to support the businesses through events like Third Thursdays.

“They are here 24-7, 365 days a year,” she said, adding MainStreet Hammonton hosts 15 to 20 more events sprinkled in between the Third Thursdays. “It’s a time for residents who may not get a chance to come to the downtown often to explore and another way to support our amazing business community.”

PROVIDED PHOTOS FROM MAINSTREET HAMMONTON

Photos from Third Thursdays over the years. The events have been offering themed filled nights of fun for 10 years.

McCullough said the Third Thursday event from 5-8 p.m. has been around for 10 years. The event lineup is discussed and planned at the beginning of the year. An art component is part of each month.

January’s Third Thursday was titled “To New Beginnings” celebrating the new year. Shoppers were able to enjoy new products and specials from the shops and eateries.

The third Thursday in February falls a day after Valentine’s Day, Feb. 15. Hence the title “Amore-Love is in the air!”

“We are paying homage to Valentine’s Day and to Italy,” McCullough said, adding the day is to celebrate love of all kinds from family, friends and significant others.

If you love Italian, you’ll love Hammonton, the description of the night states.

“The art component is the ‘perfect pairing’ of businesses that are opposites,” McCullough said. Opposites attract!

“The incentive is for shoppers who spend time at one business and get say a 10 percent coupon to the other business.”

March is Ladies Night Out – a celebration of women. Enjoy an evening downtown with your girlfriends. You deserve a night out!

see DOWNTOWN page 15

Hammonton Happenings

FEBRUARY

THIRD THURSDAY “THAT’S AMORE, Italian Love Affair”: February 15 from 5 PM to 8 PM in the Downtown Hammonton Art District. Love is in the air and Downtown’s shops, galleries and eateries will be open late offering a full array of specials, sales and offers in true Italian fashion, that’s amore! 609-567-9014. www.downtownhammonton.com

MARCH

THE EASTER EGGSPRESS: March 9 to March 30 (Select dates and times.) DiDonato Family Fun Center.

Hop along on the outdoor Easterthemed train ride before a meetand-greet with the big bunny himself, also included is an egg hunt and special treats. 609-561-3040. www.didonatofuncenter.com

THE WINTER OPERA GALA: March 17 at 2 PM - Tomasello Winery in Hammonton. Experience an elegant afternoon of music, wine and fine dining. Thoughtfully selected arias by world class artists in an intimate setting. 800-MMMWINE. www.tomasellowinery.com

THIRD THURSDAY: LADIE’S NIGHT OUT: March 21 from 5 PM

to 8 PM in the Downtown Hammonton Art District. Ladies--are you ready for a night out? Bring your crew for an evening of pampering, shopping, sampling and tons of fun in Downtown Hammonton-- there’s something for everyone. Plus, parking is free throughout the Downtown District! 609-5679014. www.downtownhammonton. com

EASTER EXPERIENCE: March 23, 24 and 27, 28 at 7 PM at Victory Bible Church in Hammonton.

Join Victory Bible Church for their interpretation of the life of Jesus. Through the use of live actors and creative outdoor props, this event is fun that you can enjoy from the comfort of your car.

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA: March 29 from 1 PM to 3 PM in Downtown Hammonton. Hop along through Downtown Hammonton and fill your Easter baskets with goodies. Meet the Easter Bunny. Enjoy games & giveaways, including the Great Egg Drop at Toy Market. 609-567-9014. www.downtownhammonton.com

APRIL

THIRD THURSDAY: SHOW YOUR CREATIVE SIDE: April 18 from 5 PM to 8 PM in Downtown Hammonton Art District. Express yourself as Downtown Hammonton transforms its shops and eateries into an artistic bash. 609-5679014. www.downtownhammonton. com

MAY

HAMMONTON ARTS & MUSIC FEST: May 4 from 12 PM to 5 PM in Downtown Hammonton. Live outdoor music, artists and fine crafters displaying a wide variety of items, interactive experiences and more. 609-567-9014. www. downtownhammonton.com

DOWNTOWN CLEAN-UP & FLOWER PLANTING: May 4 from 9 AM to 1 PM in Downtown Hammonton. Volunteer with your fellow friends and neighbors and they clean-up and plant flowers throughout the MainStreet District for the Spring season.

Hammonton Happenings

CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION: May 5 in Downtown Hammonton. Award-winning restaurants, eateries and food trucks offer some of the best Mexican food in the tristate area. Other local businesses will also tie into this annual celebration of Mexican culture. 609-567-9014. www.downtownhammonton.com

ATLANTIC COUNTY TEEN ARTS FESTIVAL: May

8 from 8 AM to 3 PM in the Downtown Hammonton Art District. Schools throughout Atlantic County are invited to display their talent, meet with professionals in the field and attend hands-on workshops or master classes. Area artists and teachers of visual and performing arts are welcome to connect and participate too. Held in various arts venues and on the streets of the Art District. 609-646-8699, Ext. 6314. www.aclink.org/culturalaffairs/teenarts

THIRD THURSDAY “POOCHAPALOOZA”: May 16 from 5 PM to 8 PM in the Downtown Hammonton Art District. Bike to Town or bring your bike and enjoy all that Hammonton has to offer including restaurants, bars, breweries, a distillery, music, arts and so much more. Some locations offer outdoor dining and drinking. 609-567-9014. www.downtownhammonton.com

CRUISIN’ MAINSTREET: May 17 from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM in Downtown Hammonton. Cruise on down for a great family evening featuring classic cars and retro music. Kids can enjoy a hula hoop contest and bubble gum blowing contest. 609567-9014. www.downtownhammonton.com

ANNUAL YARD SALE & CAR SHOW: May 18 from 8 AM to 12 PM at Victory Bible Church in Hammonton. Stop by to search out the perfect treasure from among the donated items that are on display, enjoy an outdoor car show and more. Proceeds go to a local charity.

TRI-VETS MEMORIAL DAY PARADE AND CEREMONY: May 27 at 10:30 AM in Downtown Hammonton. Military equipment, a band, dance groups, antique cars and trucks roll through town and culminates with a ceremony in Veterans Memorial Park.

(This is partial listing of events and activities in the Hammonton area compiled by Destination Hammonton, as of this magazine’s print publication deadline. Events are subject to change or cancellation. Check with event organizers to confirm details. For the most updated list, please visit www.hammonton.com. If you have an event you would like added to the website, please visit www. hammonton.com and add it to the online event calendar.)

DOWNTOWN 08037 from page 13

As part of the art component, they will showcase artwork from women at the businesses, McCullough said. The month will highlight woman-owned businesses including boutiques and salons.

Between March and April, MainStreet Hammonton is hosting an Easter Eggstravaganza on Friday, March 29.

April’s Third Thursday is titled “Show Your Creative Side.” McCullough said plans are still in the works, but they are looking to hold a forum for people to showcase poetry and music lyrics.

On April 13, MainStreet Hammonton will hold a “Cheers to 40 years in the Remaking” Gala – celebrating 40 years of downtown revitalization hosted at Tomasello Winery.

A downtown cleanup and planting and the Hammonton Arts & Music Festival is scheduled for May 5.

May’s Third Thursday is titled “PoochaPalooza,” which will see the return of the successful dog fashion show. People are encouraged to bring their pooches

downtown for a fun night out. Their pooches can enjoy dog treats from a food truck you shop!

Cruisin’ Main Street is set for May 17 and Food Truck Festival Saturday will be held Jan. 8.

June’s Third Thursday is titled “Midsummer.”

An Independence Day parade is planned for July 4.

The remainder of the summer’s Third Thursdays will see “Buona Fest” and “Renaissance.”

September to December is chock-full of fun events with Third Thursdays “Fiesta” and “Haunted Hammonton” in September and October.

A Downtown Trick or Treat is scheduled for Oct. 19 and a Downtown Open House on Nov. 9.

November’s Third Thursday is titled “Game Night” with Small Business Saturday soon after on Nov. 30.

A Holiday Tree Lighting is set for Dec. 7, Third Thursday “Winter Wonderland” on Dec. 19 and a New Year’s Eve Bash to round out 2024.— 08037

History about MainStreet Hammonton

In 1984, the Greater Hammonton Chamber of Commerce established a sub-committee called the Hammonton Revitalization Corporation (HRC), a 501 C non-profit organization, to address the dilapidated conditions of Downtown Hammonton. The HRC, along with town leaders, applied to become a Main Street program in 1992. On June 3, 1993, Hammonton officially became a Main Street New Jersey program.

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