Seaside Victorian Hotel in Cape May, New Jersey
The Chalfonte Hotel is located in historic Cape May, NJ, just 3 blocks from the beach. The hotel opened in 1876 and is the oldest continuously operating hotel in Cape May, welcoming guests each summer. In addition to the hotel, we have an onsite restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner and hosts weddings and groups events. The King Edward Bar serves cocktails and features live music.
Cape May is often found on lists of the best small towns & best beach towns in the USA. Located at the southernmost point of NJ, it is a National Historic Landmark City & a classic Jersey Shore town.
About Chalfonte Hotel
The Chalfonte is a busy seasonal hotel and restaurant in Cape May, New Jersey located just three short blocks from the Atlantic Ocean.
The Chalfonte was built in 1876 and while it has been renovated to provide modern comforts such as air conditoning and private baths, great care has been taken to preserve the integrity and charm of the original structure. Our tradition of providing genteel southern style hospitality is what draws guests to return year after year. At the Chalfonte, they can unplug and slow down to enjoy the ocean breeze, the passing horse drawn carriages, the homestyle cuisine, the cocktails and conversations- all of which is made possible by our front and back of house staff.
The Magnolia Room Restaurant serves southern style cuisine and is known for our skillet fried chicken. We have live music on the porch or in The King Edward Bar several nights a week, and host the popular Howard Street Ramble every Thursday night.
The Employee Experience
The Chalfonte is a family run business, and you will see the owners onsite working along with you. Our staff is small, but always welcoming and inclusive. While we provide professional service to our guests, you will not find a corporate environment behind the scenes.
For generations, people have travelled from around the world to join the Chalfonte staff for a summer and have found much more than a temporary job. Every year, we have groups of "alumni" who return to vacation with their families or gather for a celebration. Many members of our staff are the second, third or fourth generation of their family to be a part of our staff.
The Chalfonte, and Cape May in general, is at once a place to be part of a community and place where you can enjoy solitude. Our staff members often head to the beach or other local attractions as a group in their off hours, and travel together in the off season; but Cape May has plenty of spaces to slip away on your own to enjoy a walk, a bike ride, a meal or a good book. The best part about working at the Chalfonte is getting to spend an entire season in one of the best vacation destinations on the East Coast, and be part of the history of this unique place.
Ideal Candidate
Working at the Chalfonte requires flexibility and adaptability. Our staffing needs will vary throughout the season and our most successful team members become proficient in filling different roles in different departments. We value quick learners, problem solvers, and creative thinkers. The pace of work will vary, being slower in the "shoulder" season (May and early June, late September and October) and much busier in the peak season (mid-June to mid-September). Your schedule will likely vary from week to week based on projected occupancy and events. If you get bored when every day at work feels the same, you might be a great fit at The Chalfonte!
Room and Board
Full-time employees are eligible for free seasonal housing which is provided in a dormitory-style building on the property. Like the main building, "staff quarters" was also constructed in the late 1800s and rooms are simply appointed with beds and dressers. You will have a roommate, and bathroom facilities are shared in the hallway. There are very limited kitchen facilities and no laundry facilities in the quarters. There is a laundromat on the island, approximately one mile from the hotel. All staff living on the property will share in the responsibility of keeping the quarters clean.
Staff breakfast and staff dinner are provided when the restaurant is open, and dozens of restaurants as well as a small grocery store are within walking distance.
Employee Perks
We offer our staff members discounts on food and beverages in the restaurant and bar, as well as discounts on hotel rooms for family to visit during the season.
Getting Here and Getting Around
Bikes are the best way to get around Cape May. If you bring one we have multiple bike racks on the property. If you need one, there are a number of local shops that sell new and used bikes, or you may find the perfect bike at a spring yard sale!
Staff may bring their own cars. The Chalfonte does not have a parking lot but free on street parking is available on the blocks immediately surrounding our property. Parking elsewhere in town is metered which is why we recommend a bike for getting around day to day, and you will find most things are within walking distance.
Cape May is accessible by bus from Philadelphia and New York City, via NJ Transit. Depending on when you are travelling, you may need to transfer in Atlantic City.
For Fun
Centrally located in historic Cape May, you will be able to walk or bike to all the local attractions. Beyond the award winning beaches, there are activities that will appeal to a variety of interests. Within minutes of The Chalfonte you will find nature preserves, live music and theater, excellent restaurants, breweries, wineries, and distilleries, boutiques, antique stores, farmers markets, spas, and so much more. A classic "Jersey Shore" town, you will also find surf shops and fresh seafood, candy stores and ice cream parlors, mini golf courses, a lighthouse and an arcade, as well as the Wildwood Boardwalk on the neighboring island to our north. The city hosts free concerts in the park and free movies on the beach weekly.
How to Apply
Please email your resume with your preferred position in the subject line to: admin@chalfonte.com
In the body of your email, please provide the dates of your availability. Preference will be given to candidates that can stay through the end of the season in October.
Interviews will be conducted virtually via Google Meet.
Contact Info
- Katie VanZandt
- admin@chalfonte.com
- (609) 884-8409
- www.chalfonte.com
