Real Estate
'Sinatra House' And Its Music Of Summer Memories Goes Up For Sale In Point Pleasant Beach
One man's love of Ol' Blue Eyes' music gave boardwalk visitors a nostalgic soundtrack for summer memories. See inside the iconic house.
POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — If you've strolled the boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach on a summer evening in the last 30 years or so, there's a good chance you paused to listen to the sounds of Frank Sinatra filling the air with melodies.
The "Sinatra House," as it has come to be known, has etched itself into the memories of thousands of visitors and residents over the years. Now, the iconic piece of the Jersey Shore is up for sale. (See photos and a video tour at the bottom of this article.)
The home at 175 Boardwalk got its nickname after it was purchased by Paul and Anita Smith in September 1986, according to Ocean County land records. Paul Smith was the former head of Sony Records' music distribution department and was a huge Sinatra fan, and after the Smiths had the house rebuilt, he began to play nonstop Sinatra music through outdoor speakers.
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"The house was a shambles when we bought it," he told author Peter Genovese in the book "The Jersey Shore Uncovered: A Revealing Season on the Beach." Smith had a compact disc player that held up to 200 CDs, and would load it with 40 to 60 each day depending on his mood. The music music played from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., only shutting down when he and his wife left for an extended time.
''The only time I hear complaints is when the music is not on,''Smith told the New York Times in September 2002.
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Smith died on New Year's Eve 2002, and since his passing, the Smiths' children have tried to keep the music playing as much as possible, but that has become more difficult as time and life have moved forward. In August 2021, one of the Smiths' grandsons told News 12 New Jersey there was discussion in the family about selling the home.
“It makes us happy to hear it," that people loved the Sinatra music, Dane Smith told News 12. "But it makes us just as sad when we can’t do it. Me personally, I want to keep the house forever. But you know how families get. Sometimes it's tough.”
The home, which has an asking price of $4.4 million, is more than just the music that drifts like the summer wind Sinatra sang about: The eight-bedroom home with four full bathrooms has one of the largest lots along the oceanfront in Point Pleasant Beach. There is room for parking at least 10 vehicles outside, according to the description by James Ward of Keller Williams Shore Points NJ.
Inside the more than 3,600-square-foot home, there is room for 25 people to sleep comfortably, with a master suite space on the top floor with a versatile bedroom or living space, along with a full bathroom, and access to the balcony with views of the ocean and the inlet.
The main level features an open concept with sweeping water views from every window and an abundance of custom features and details. There is a wraparound porch, a flex room with a private entrance that functions as additional living space or as a ninth room for sleeping. The lower level has a spacious living room with a coffered ceiling, and there is a bar area, tile flooring and direct access to the oversized garage.
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