The Whitebrier, a popular bar and restaurant in Avalon, announced it has been sold to a private club from Philadelphia, according to a social media post on the restaurant’s Instagram page.
“The Whitebrier has officially been purchased by the Philadelphia Union League,” the post states.
A letter sent to the Union League’s membership Wednesday from club president Robert Cavalier said the club’s board of directors voted to approve the agreement of sale.
“Last night, the board of directors unanimously approved an agreement to acquire the facility and surrounding land currently known as the Whitebrier in Avalon, New Jersey,” Cavalier’s letter said.
The Union League has expanded its footprint in the Avalon area over the past decade having opened the Bungalow in Stone Harbor in 2014. The club also owns the Union League National Golf Club in Swainton.
“The Bungalow has become a cherished destination, but its popularity and limited footprint have made summer dining a challenge,” Cavalier said in the letter to members. “The addition of Whitebrier’s 200-seat capacity will significantly enhance our ability to serve members, their families, and guests at the shore.”
It was unclear Friday whether the Union League planned to make the Whitebrier property exclusive to its members and their guests.
A representative from the club declined to answer questions or comment further.
“With more than 2,500 members owning residences within 30 minutes of Avalon, expanding our presence in this thriving community is an investment in the future of the League,” Cavalier added in his letter.
The Union League plans to close on the property in the next few months, according Cavalier’s letter, and hopes to be open for members this summer, according to the letter.
The Whitebrier is currently one of the few family-friendly restaurants in Avalon, offering several dining options. A message left at the restaurant Friday seeking comment was not immediately returned.
The Whitebrier closes for the winter and only opens for select events before Memorial Day, according to the restaurant’s website.
The Whitebrier sits on a larger tract of land that was listed for sale in 2023.
Avalon mayor John McCorristin said Saturday that the Whitebrier property begins about a third of the way down 21st street up to Ocean Avenue and does not include the Sea Grill on 21st street or the Princeton and the Circle Tavern along Dune Drive.
McCorristin said that the Union League had been in touch with him about the purchase but that no hard details on plans for the property were discussed.
Commercial real estate company CBRE listed the property for sale in 2023 and noted that Avalon was the most expensive zip code in South Jersey in 2021 and registered in the top 100 most expensive zip codes in the country that year.
The Union League was founded in 1862 “as a patriotic society to support the Union and the policies of President Abraham Lincoln,” according to the club’s website.
The club boasts over 4,000 members, according to its website.
Stories by Matthew Enuco
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