Club Wa is Now Closed. Challenge of Catering to Margate Teens.


Good news: Margate is enjoying a greater influx of families, real estate investment and summer visitors. Not so good news: Did Margate forget about those too old for adult supervision, but too young to drink in a club?

That’s why hundreds might gather on the beaches & streets of Margate during the warm, summer months, especially Memorial Day Weekend. The first official weekend of summer, coincides with ‘senior week’. The need for teens to let loose. For some,  alcohol plays a major, if not mandatory, role. Sometimes, a fight breaks out.

Over the years, Margate has become a popular magnet for this annual rite of passage. This past Memorial Day Weekend in Margate, it went too far.

Margate Police Chief David Wolfson recapped the Margate beach brawl and WaWa loiterig issue at the June 1 commissioner meeting. Listen to audio >


Chief Wolfson pledges that this kind of situation will never happen again. “Club Wa is over”. We’re placing our bets on the Chief living up to that pledge.

382 calls for police service on Memorial Day Weekend. Some arrested for disorderly conduct. Twenty under the age of 20 were cuffed for underage drinking, marijuana and disorderly conduct.

Yes, there was a small fight on beach. Many teens watched jeered, laughed and shouted as the 6-man police detail, which was already there, removed the unruly few. Private video from smart phones show only a small part of the situation. Some clips show sand being kicked at officers. Reports of plastic bottles aimed at police officers were also noted.

Since the Margate PD wears body cams, all of the incidents were recorded from multiple angles.

Commissioner Amodeo was impressed with how the police officers handled this. “They did a fantastic job in a difficult situation.” Mayor Becker: “Public safety did great job…even though we got bad press.”

Potential Solutions to Curb the Crazy?

Maybe we can start the Margate beach-tag season earlier than current start date of June 1. Starting beach tag inspections as early as Memorial Day Weekend, could reduce the number of attendees at these informal gatherings.

Wawa will employ 2 off-duty Margate police officers during the evening hours.

Social media is being monitored. It’s the end of Club Wa, the nickname given to the parking lot of WAWA at the corner of Washington & Ventnor Ave in Margate. The corporate hierarchy of WAWA might have already agreed to reimburse Margate police for any overtime expenses connected to their property. Look for ‘No Loitering’ signs to go up soon too.

Social Media postings show teens scoffing at recent efforts to ‘entertain them’. Efforts by the Margate Business Association, like movie nights, dances, and other un-cool beach events may not have connected with those between 16 and 20 years of age.

18 & 19 yr Old’s Find Some Margate Events Childish.

One 8th grade Tighe student, Harrison Horn, spoke at the June 1 Margate City Commissioners meeting. Listen to audio. He said too many events are ‘childish’. ‘Teens like him just want a place to hang out and talk’. Congregate. Mingle. Meet the opposite sex. Makes sense to us.

Another 19 yr old part-time resident of Margate said girls her age are not impressed with ‘forced’ events by created by old farts.

According to the Press of Atlantic City, the local business chamber has finally been awakened to the needs of young adults in Margate. Ed Berger, president of the Margate Chamber said:  “We now know there’s a problem with teens needing something to do, whether that falls on the shoulders of city or business association or the families, we don’t know”.

11 thoughts on “Club Wa is Now Closed. Challenge of Catering to Margate Teens.”

  1. Carol Reilert

    The title of this article leads one to believe the ruckus over Memorial Day Weekend was caused by “Margate teens”, when every other article/report I have read states that the weekend melee was out of town teens causing the disturbances. Let’s give our Margate teens the credit due them for knowing how to behave and for seeking out help/suggestions from the City for age appropriate events.

    1. true, fight started by high-schoolers from out of town. but it’s still unknown how many teens were connected to 2nd home owners that vacation in Margate. ultimately, margate and other shore towns, need to figure out how to cater to, and deal with, teens with lots of time (and money) on their hands

  2. Kimberly Strenger

    How about a focus group to have the teens decide in which activities they would like to take part? This group could see what other seashore towns do to manage this problem successfully and begin there.

    1. How about a focus group to teach their parents how to raise decent human beings and to be responsible for their children’s actions?

      1. How about a focus group to figure out why someone (“Truth”), who admits he doesn’t live here and hasn’t even been here in years feels compelled to comment on a 5 year old thread?

  3. Billy Kravitz

    Maybe the food stand at Lucy could stay open weekend nights for the 17 to 20 yr olds & sell stuff they like (legal stuff, I mean)… Call it CLUB PREVEE (trying to spell pri-vay) and require some type of part or full time connection to get it… allow each kid to bring a guest… sell non alcohol ‘cocktails’ and non alcohol beer…. maybe have a DJ… let the kids pick the DJ… I’m sure there are regional ‘star’ DJ’s they all know… Years ago they might have hung at LENNY’S… So this is a little like that and a little different….Just thinking

  4. Tracey Taraquino

    This has been a place to come since I was a ten n I am 58. You need to give these young adults fun entertainment to enjoy. The dj at the beach grill sounds perfect. When they have something truly fun n geared towards them watch how responsible n productive they will be. Show them we care n give them something safe they will enjoy. Have a bunch of different things for kids who are into other things…how about a fire pit on the beach behind the green house with snacks. Wrap it up by 10 or 11pm and at least you know where they are and police patrols to control the no alcohol rules. There has to be something better to offer these kids that’s safe n fun. Think old carts weren’t always old so think young n don’t treat these kids like dumbies and they won’t act stupid. Think positively n lets hope something good can happen for them n the adults who love this titan also.

  5. Kathryn Clauson

    They have egged the town, vandalized a beach front pool while trespassing in the pool and mic more that won’t be printed. The taxpayers need help maybe a curfew. I don’t know the solution but have suffered all summer with the problem,

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