Dine-In: Sal Spena Simplifies Winning Formula at Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall
Photo of Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall and Isabella's Italian Pizza Kitchen by Meredith Winner/Mer-Made Photogaphy
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
ATLANTIC CITY – For Sal Spena, it’s his vision and unyielding dedication that create a great eating establishment that is first noticed upon entering his newly renovated restaurant his hometown, Atlantic City.
It is clear to see he is passionate and has been able to bring to fruition the lively and welcoming experience Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in the city’s Orange Loop district provides.
The Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall is one of the shining stars in the renaissance of the Orange Loop. Spena has been assisting in leading that charge since December 2024. He is co-owner with Mark Callazzo. With 30 years in the eatery industry, Spena is a man who knows what he’s talking about.
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READ: Orange Loop’s Bar 32 is Where Music, Fun, Drinks and Chocolate Meet
“It’s not brain surgery,” Spena told Front Runner New Jersey.com Dine-In recently. “It’s like blocking and tackling in football, the basics. You take care of your guests, give them a great meal and show them that you care. Give them great hospitality and they’ll not only come back, but they’re tell others about it as well. It’s a very simple formula.”
The Orange Loop takes its name off the renowned board game Monopoly, which was based off streets in Atlantic City. The Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall piggybacks on that tradition with some fun names on its menu items, such as the Musselopoly, B&O Railroad Chili, Pennsylvania Avenue Soft Pretzels, the New York Avenue Dog, Mozzarella Monopoly Stix, Monop Rings, Classic Tycoon salad and Park Place Phish and Chips.
There is even a nod to the former HBO hit show “Boardwalk Empire,” which was based on Prohibition era Atlantic City, with the Empanada Empire, Boardwalk Crab Cake Platter, and the Empire Expresso-Tini.
Front Runner New Jersey.com Dine-In were enthusiastically greeted with smiling faces and welcoming gestures upon arriving at the spirited Tennessee Beer Hall that sunny summer afternoon.
The wait staff made our experience stand out/special with their friendly and attentive, family-like service. They made suggestions on some of their patron’s favorites with the perfect variety of their delicious and popular menu items.
The FRNJ Dine-In team dined on the most delicious Phish and Chips, one of the signature dishes at the restaurant, along with roasted “Angry Cauliflower” as an appetizer and a “white” pizza from Isabella’s Italian Pizza Kitchen next door.
The pizzeria is under the same ownership as the beer hall. It was so much fun being able to order an artisan pie from next door in the comfort of the table we sat at with the service of the wait staff in Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall. It was wonderful to learn and experience this welcomed cross order option.
With enthusiasm and a grin, Spena went on to say, “I love it when guests say, ‘That was awesome,’ because there’s really only two ways you can affect a person’s mindset in my opinion — through food and their enjoyment, or through a relationship, which is harder, right?”
With menu options that celebrate the city’s unique history, favorites are named with descriptive titles. The wide-ranging mouth-watering choices make it a must to visit and experience Spena’s creation.
The hall serves some of the best huge burgers where you will need two hands to indulge, along with homespun staples such as signature dishes that contain the “wow” factor, including the chili, Buffalo wings and Mac and Cheese.
“I take great pride when people give us five stars and say, ‘That’s awesome; they treat us like family.’ That’s what it’s all about. We just try to give every customer an amazing experience,” Spena added.
And that they do!
It’s probably the reason why Visit Atlantic City.com calls The Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall “the cornerstone” of the Orange Loop experience, sitting in the middle of Pacific Avenue and the resort town’s world famous Boardwalk.
“As part of this growing neighborhood destination, the Beer Hall offers a laid-back yet lively atmosphere where locals and visitors come together to eat, drink, and unwind,” Visit Atlantic City.com said.
“The venue features an impressive lineup of craft beers on draft and by the bottle, along with classic brews, creative cocktails, and house-made punches. The food menu highlights elevated comfort fare, from their fun and delicious appetizers, the juicy burgers, loaded hot dogs, artisan pizzas, to craveable snacks and seasonal specials.”
According to TripAdvisor.com, the beer hall has more than 100 craft beers on draft and in bottles and cans. Those include IPAs, double IPAs, ales, lagers and stouts. Wall mounted televisions make it an ideal place to watch sports while the outdoor garden has customer-friendly games like cornhole and Jenga.
During Front Runner New Jersey.com’s Dine-In visit, the atmosphere was both invigorating and relaxing with accommodating wait staff that were very friendly and eager to serve.
Spena, who came to the Beer Hall after serving as director of food and beverage for the Showboat Hotel and Island Waterpark, said his restaurant has been able to cater to locals as well as tourists. While the name suggests an emphasis on adult beverages, Spena said his eatery has established its purpose with its clientele focused on where it is about family.
“Things have gone better than expected,” Spena said about his 10-month mark at the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall. “It’s been very, very good through the winter and the summer has been beyond my expectations.
“I think the customer base changed the style of the place to more of a family atmosphere, where it was a lot younger crowd. That new crowd really embraced the change, the vibe, kind of attitude and spirit of what we were developing here. It’s more family friendly, more high-end food based on switching up the menu.”
Spena pointed to the efforts of his partner in changing the atmosphere in the Orange Loop district and ushering in its rebirth.
“Mark Callazzo initiated all the real estate renaissance with all of these properties,” Spena said. “He had issues with the previous people that were helping to run [the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall]. I’ve known Mark for over a decade, and you know, he asked me to come in and be his partner.”
There was an agreement early on, Spena said, to not treat customers as “transactions,” but try to give them meaningful experiences.
“We want it to be meaningful,” Spena said. “When they come here, there is a customer service mantra. There is aways a ‘hello’ and a ‘goodbye.’ There’s always a ‘Hey, where are you from? How’d you find us? There’s an interaction. There’s not just coming in to spend your money and see you.”
Spena also credits a strong social media presence in keeping up the Tennessee Beer Hall as a family establishment. The Beer Hall still has its fun-loving outdoor venue with colorful murals, fire pits and a stage that incorporates live music with performances on the weekends.
“The fire pit has been wonderful,” Spena said. “You can get served food on the inside and outside. That has been really nice.”
After three decades in the business, Spena said he has come to realize that people have only a finite amount of money that they can spend on food and entertainment in a resort town that has plenty of options.
“They can go anywhere, so you’ve got to take care of people when you have them,” Spena said. “Yes, there’s always missteps. Everybody’s human. There may be a mistake in meal service, the bar may be too busy, but if you show genuine care and compassion for the customer, that always comes shining through.”
Spena said he hopes business at the Beer Hall and the Orange Loop will only get better with condos under construction nearby, promising more full-time customers in the district. He said, however, they want to make sure they continue giving top notch service to the great customers they have right now.
Tennessee Beer Hall is open from 11:30 a.m-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sunday. Brunch is served on Sunday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. with a three-course dinner at 6 p.m.
Front Runner New Jersey.com Dine-In believes business for the Orange Loop and the extraordinary efforts and fun-loving establishments have proven the ingredients that will absolutely grow and thrive! So, get a few family members and/or friends together, grab your car keys (or catch a Jitney) and head on over to the Orange Loop to experience the lively and welcoming eateries and entertainment in The Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, Isabella’s Italian Pizza Kitchen and Bar 32. You will be glad you did!
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