The reality of MTV's "Jersey Shore" is that it is having a big impact on the economy of Seaside Heights, a shore town that has seen better days, especially with the way the economy has slumped these past couple of years.
One restaurant renamed itself "Jersey Shore," another offers a Deep Fried Snooki Sandwich, and at Jimmy's Breakfast, half the menu is devoted to dishes named after some of the show's characters.
"It's a big hit," said owner David Boukili of 'The Situation' omelet -- a 3 egg concoction with pork roll, ham, sausage, bacon and cheese served with a side of home fries (Pepto Bismol is extra).
Jimmy's also offers a Hot JWOW omelet with hot peppers, tomato, onion and cheese.
And of course, in honor of Snooki(aka Nicole Polizzi), there's an omelet with, what else, pepperoni, onions, peppers and cheese.
Snooki seems to be the go-to star for businesses here, as Johnny G's has the Deep Fried Snooki Sandwich.
Owner John Gugliotta describes it as white bread around Nutella spread, marshmallow fluff and peanut butter, then deep fried and topped with powdered sugar. We don't recommend you try this at home.
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The bottom line is the bottom line, of course.
Mike Loundy of Seaside Realty, the lucky broker who actually handles the house MTV rents for the show, estimated 130 crew members take up some 9,000 hotel room nights, and get served 40-50,000 catered meals during the nearly two months that they are here.
"There's definitely an MTV effect," said Mike Loundy.
You can see that at The Beachcomber Bar and Grill, where owner Mike Carbone keeps his staff busy catering thousands of meals for the 130 crew members who shoot the show.
"Everybody's complaining about getting laid off but they're not getting laid off in Seaside," Carbone said.
Steven DeMuro took over an aging pizzeria near the 'Jersey Shore' house, renamed it Bubba's and came up with an acclaimed hot dog that he says even cast members appreciate.
"Since they came it's been nonstop," DeMuro, 22, said of business since the show started taping a couple of weeks ago.
Plenty of people come who say they would never have considered Seaside Heights before the show won fame(or notoriety) last winter.
One of them is Kym Grant, 47, of Dallas, Texas.
"My husband was going to take us to Mexico, Cabo San Lucas, but we chose the Jersey Shore," Grant said as she waited on the Boardwalk for a glimpse of Snooki, The Situation and the other cast members.
Follow Brian Thompson on Twitter @brian4NY
