Lizanne Tracy and her brother Scott Zurawski grew up in Avalon in the restaurant industry. It’s in their blood.
Their parents owned The Whitebrier, an iconic and historic establishment in town. It was once a family-run hotel and evolved over the years into a bar, restaurant and nighttime hub.
“Our parents owned The Whitebrier hotel and restaurant on 21st and the beach, so we grew up in the business,” says Tracy.
The family sold it but their father, Anthony Zurawski, later owned it for a second time at a different location. He sold it to The Union League of Philadelphia in 2025.
These days, the siblings co-own and operate several Avalon eateries, including The Garage at 225 21st St.
The Garage opened in July, and though it is currently closed for the season, it will reopen for Thanksgiving weekend and will also host special events and parties in the offseason.
What Happened to The Sea Grill?
The siblings opened The Garage in the same space where they had owned and operated The Sea Grill for nearly three decades, before it closed during the pandemic.
The pair also own Circle Tavern at The Princeton as well as The Princeton Bar & Grill, which they purchased from their father in 2002. Their father had bought it in 1986 and Tracy and her brother both worked for him.
“When my family purchased the property in 1986, the building was a garage used as storage for The Princeton Bar & Grill,” Tracy says. “We converted it to a restaurant called The Sea Grill and opened it in May of 1991.”
The Sea Grill, known for its cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and great salad bar, served steaks and seafood. Customers could order directly from the chefs at an order window.
“We were devastated when we were forced to close because of the COVID shutdowns,” Tracy recalls. “Many of the servers and kitchen staff moved on and we didn’t think we would ever be able to recreate it exactly as it was. It had become iconic after 29 years.”
She adds, “It’s so hard to recreate that because it had been created over so many years. It evolved. People just loved the place.”
They opted for a new concept and brainstormed ideas, including a breakfast place, a sushi spot, a Mexican place, and even a coffeehouse.
Eventually they settled on a Mexican restaurant because Tracy and her brother both have houses in Florida and there are a number of little Mexican restaurants there that they love. Their building even resembles one in Florida that is one of their favorite spots.
“So, we were like, that would be so cute,” she adds.
The Garage Is Born
“We named it The Garage because that’s what it was before it was The Sea Grill,” Tracy says.
The Garage opened in mid-July. Lizanne told the chef not to worry and that things would be slow initially “because people don’t even know we’re here.”
Boy, was she wrong. It was jam-packed. Immediately.
“Which was so scary because we didn’t have our kinks worked out,” she says. “We had so much still to learn and to do and the chef had never even cooked any food in that kitchen because all the equipment was new.
“The bartenders had never made those drinks and the servers never had seen those menu items before, and so it was just chaotic, but in a great way. I’m so sure, like anything, when you’re open, some people probably were like, ‘That place is crazy,’ and then other people really embraced it, and we had so many regulars. People started coming in often and we would see familiar faces, which is really the biggest compliment you could ever have.”
Their new baby still has that friendly staff. The vibe is very casual. Dogs are welcomed in the patio area. The walls of the restaurant are adorned with artwork that is available for purchase. The impressive and colorful indoor-outdoor space is eye-catching, and the menu offers 10 kinds of margaritas, as well as those tacos and other classics.
“We have the most delicious, hand-crafted cocktails using fresh fruits and juices,” Tracy says. “The bar is still cozy and a great place to hang out and meet people. We now serve Mexican food and have many choices of tequila. We added a beautiful patio for outside seating. The food is all homemade and delicious.”
What’s On The Menu?
The focus is on tacos and tequila. The tacos feature pulled chicken, shrimp, ground beef, and more. They also have house-made chips, fresh guacamole, pico de gallo, taco salad, playa nachos, street corn, sweet plantains, yuca fries, quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, and more.
Someone who has helped a great deal is Carol Hawthorne, the manager of The Garage. She began her journey with Liz and Scott 15 years ago as a server at The Princeton.
“Working with Liz and Scott has been an amazing experience, and I feel truly fortunate to be part of their family of restaurants,” Hawthorne says. “When I heard that The Sea Grill was reopening as The Garage, the timing couldn’t have been better. I already knew I was working for a kind, welcoming, and supportive family, and I was excited about the possibilities ahead.”
When the first manager they hired for The Garage didn’t work out, Hawthorne continued to work on the floor as a server at The Princeton and was also handling other late-night duties. One evening, something prompted her to text Liz to ask if she was still looking for a manager for The Garage.
“Her response was an enthusiastic ‘Absolutely!’” Hawthorne recalls.
She says a “whirlwind experience” ensued, which included super long work weeks “doing whatever was necessary to get the restaurant ready to open by July. It was challenging, exciting, and incredibly rewarding.”
Hawthorne says in a short time, The Garage developed its own atmosphere and personality, bringing that “authentic Mexican vibe” to the community with the variety of tacos and a great selection of tequilas.
“Just as important as the food and atmosphere is the team behind it,” she notes. “Our staff is consistently kind, friendly, and accommodating, always striving to make every customer feel welcome. Looking back, I am grateful for how everything unfolded. What started as an unexpected opportunity has become one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.”
Opening Thanksgiving Weekend
While it is closed for the season, the staff looks forward to opening for Thanksgiving weekend.
“So, we’re closed for the season now and we’re going to open for Thanksgiving weekend because down in Avalon, Thanksgiving weekend has become a really fun family event,” Tracy says. “Lots of people come down and use their homes and bring their whole family, and there’s all kinds of things for the kids.”
They plan to open for the 2027 season in May for Cinco de Mayo and are looking forward to Margarita Mondays and Taco Tuesdays.
“If you missed us this past summer, please come see us,” Tracy implores. “We are available for private parties and can create any food menu that you choose. We are looking forward to a full summer in 2027 … We can start from May and be open all summer, which will be great.”