Local Love

Hammonton may be known as the Blueberry Capital of the World, but come Valentine’s Day, we’d like to consider it the love capital of South Jersey.

What’s nice about Hammonton is that a lot of people know about it and it’s always busy, but around dinnertime, it’s calmer, said Kelbie DeCesero, manager of Tales of the Olive. You and your date “can walk up and down the streets, there are beautiful decorations and storefronts, and it feels like you’re in a Hallmark movie.”

At Tales of the Olive, couples can pregame before dinner — sans alcohol — by sampling infused olive oils and flavored vinegars “on tap.” The olive oil lounge also offers chocolates, skin care products, and gift baskets, making it easy to pick up a pre-Valentine’s gift, dessert for later, or ingredients to cook at home.

“It’s a good opportunity to come with a date, your friends, your parents or anyone and learn about each other,” DeCesero said. “Especially if you’re on a first date, you can say, ‘Oh, I like spicy’ or ‘No, I don’t like spicy.’”

When she’s in the mood for something savory, she likes Milanese gremolata-infused olive oil and when she’s craving fruit, she pairs orange olive oil and cranberry pear white balsamic vinegar, DeCesero said. Visiting Tales of the Olive epitomizes the kind of slow, novel experience that we’re missing these days. “You use your senses, so you’re not just talking all the time,” she explained, “and it’s the idea of coming in and taking your time and trying things you’ve never tried.”

Just next door, Annata Wine Bar offers another cozy pre-dinner option with an Italian feel. Menu favorites include formaggi and salumi boards; small plates like Nonni’s clams casino and pulled pork Italian potstickers; and mains such as Nonna’s risotto, miso- and sesame-glazed salmon, and charred prime rib. Desserts range from artisan truffles to molten chocolate lava cake.

“It’s relaxed but romantic,” DeCesero said. “I go with my husband; we like to get appetizers and drinks.”

She’s also a fan of Joe Italiano’s Maplewood. “Getting the garlic bread with salad at the beginning is always a must-have,” she said, along with classics like shrimp scampi, cavatelli, chicken parm, and red sauce with meatballs or sausage.

Hammonton’s surrounding wineries add another romantic layer. Sharrott Winery and White Horse Winery are favorites of Taylor Davis, who lives nearby and works at Annata. White Horse is “off the beaten path, with the vineyard surrounding you,” offering a picturesque setting. Davis enjoys the wine tastings and flights — dry whites preferred — along with food trucks in warmer months and the newly opened kitchen.

For Grace and Thomas Hind, romance comes from simple routines and shared traditions. The couple moved to Hammonton last August, after being drawn to the area through Art Club Hammonton. Early on, they often grabbed pizza at Marcello’s Trattoria before heading to life-drawing sessions or after running Art Club festivals. Marcello’s has become nostalgic for them — it was the site of their first local date. They still walk there often or order takeout, sitting side by side and looking out onto Bellevue.

They’ll also bring Marcello’s pizza to Snouts and Stouts, a dog-friendly brewery where Grace goes for seltzer cocktails and Thomas opts for IPAs. The space offers live music, shuffleboard (which Grace says is perfect for friendly Valentine’s competition), bingo, trivia, chili cook-offs, and more.

There’s a quiet kind of romance in cooking together. Married a little more than a year ago, the Hinds frequent Bagliani’s Market, an Italian grocery shop they love for its ingredients and expansive cheese selection. Grace recalled that when they lived in Mays Landing during quarantine in 2020, they picked up premade food from Bagliani’s to make Christmas feel special. “That was our big outing for Christmas at that time,” she said. She added that Bagliani’s charcuterie boards make a thoughtful gift.

No date roundup is complete without dessert. The Bakeshoppe — now occupying the former Chimney Rustic Ales space — is all the rage right now, Grace Hind said. The couple likes to arrive early before the owner sells out. Grace orders a hot ham-and-cheese sandwich, while Thomas goes for the grown-up pig-in-the-blanket, and they’ll share a cookie.

The couple also bonds over staying active. They attend Adrenaline Fitness together for free weights, group classes, and sauna sessions. They even took an eight-week Pilates series at Revive & Rise Yoga, where “you overlook Hammonton Lake” and can “peek outside to see sunset or sunrise,” Grace said. “We would always set up our mats right next to each other,” she said, sharing quiet conversations, giggles, and support during the sequences. “We do everything together. We try everything together.”

Another favorite is Cardboard Arena, where couples can choose from an extensive board game collection or bring their own. “You can make it romantic — be at your own table, play your own games, and play by your own rules,” Grace Hind said. (Their favorite game is Everdell.)

Casciano Coffee Bar & Sweetery, an artsy co-lab space, also holds special meaning — and has held special work. Thomas had his art displayed in its gallery. The Hinds visited on their anniversary, and baristas wrote love notes on their cups. “You always think of falling in love at a coffee place – people always joke about that,” Grace Hind said. They often order pistachio-flavored drinks and always grab a baked good. 

Samantha and Domenick Guarnaccia also associate Hammonton with romance. The Edison residents share a lifelong passion for music — both attended the Music Conservatory at Kean University — and thought the Kathedral Event Center would be the perfect setting for their wedding: it used to be a church and is now a performance venue and event space. They got married there in fall 2024.

“We were drawn to the uniqueness of our venue,” Samantha said. “The lighting felt romantic and ethereal.”

For dining, the couple recommends Columbia II, the restaurant that catered their wedding, and Joe Italiano’s Maplewood, where they held their rehearsal dinner.

“Columbia II is a smaller place, a hidden gem, for sure,” Samantha said. “I loved how warmly we were treated while dining there.” She added, “The world needs to know about the brisket!”

Joe Italiano’s also stands out for its food. Samantha said it’s some of the best Italian cuisine they’ve had “outside of home cooking by our families,” especially the freshly prepared pastas, fish, and chicken dishes — with chicken parmigiana topping the list. She noted that the restaurant accommodates both intimate dates and larger family gatherings, with diners treated thoughtfully throughout.

Whatever you decide to do on February 14 — or the days surrounding it — love is certainly in the air in Hammonton.

For Grace and Thomas Hind, creating new rituals in an established place has quickly made it feel like home, and “doing that with someone you love makes it that much better,” she said.

MORE VALENTINE’S DAY ACTIVITIES

For the Foodies

If you like a pre-dinner drink, Blue Rascal Distillery brings the sweet taste of blueberries to its brandy and liqueurs. Although strawberries (especially chocolate-covered ones) are associated with Valentine’s Day, make a reservation at The Tasting Room for a sample of their blueberry vodka, and ask about an upcoming mixology class for a date night IOU.

For the Competition-Seekers

Up the competition with your partner with a visit to DiDonato Family Fun Center. Sure, there may be a lot of families hanging out at the bowling alley-meets arcade-meets ice cream shop, but there’s a full restaurant and bar, too.

If your beau is a gamer, take them to Jersey Video Games, where they can buy, sell, and trade their games and systems, plus comic books and toys.

For the Zen Couple

Another dopamine hit comes from a more low-key, relaxing date night. Rejuvenation Day Spa at Well offers facials, massages, waxing, vitamin infusion, and other wellness services. Ask about a couple’s massage, or plan a spa day that includes a facial and a massage. 

For the Treasure Hunters

If shopping is your love language, consider strolling through one of the best antiquing towns in the state.

Antique Market Place has two floors of one-of-a-kind finds, with everything from pop-culture items and vintage board games to keepsakes and antique rugs. Antiques Trading Post is great for collectors, due to its selection of military antiques, jewelry and collectibles. Bernie’s Antiques & Artifacts has more than a dozen vendors who sell vintage clothing, glassware, furniture, books and magazines. Elemental Vintique focuses on jackets, coats, accessories, records, jewelry, and even botanical items. 

For the Creatives

Partner projects are a great way to communicate, collaborate, and connect. You can design a pallet wood panel, work with colored glass to make a mosaic, or learn how to throw clay on a pottery wheel at Sutton Studio. Piney Hollow Arts Studio offers a full slate of art lessons, workshops, and services in watercolor and acrylic painting. 

The Noyes Museum of Art of Stockton University has a location in Hammonton that showcases artists from the region, and across the world. The hall is closed on the weekends, but you can celebrate during the week by wandering the galleries, discussing what makes art beautiful. 

Or for the ultimate connection, why not get matching tattoos? Artists at Silver Wing Tattoo specialize in anime and pop culture designs. Why not get two halves of a heart permanently inked to mark the occasion?