WE BUILT THIS FOR PEOPLEA space for locals, vacationers, visitors, regulars, and first-timers.
For slow Saturdays and quick Tuesdays.
For everyone in between.
How Landmark Cafe Came to Be
Ocean City needed a third place. Not a quick chain stop, not a stuffy sit-down. Something in between. A place where the coffee is excellent, the food is made from scratch, and the room makes you want to stay.
Landmark Cafe opened at 710 Asbury Ave with that conviction. Every detail was thought through: the furniture, the tile, the lighting, the menu, and the experience from the moment you walk in.
That last part matters more than most places let on. When you arrive, a hostess greets you and asks what kind of visit you're here for. Dining in? She'll seat you. Working for a few hours? She'll find you a good spot. Grabbing food and coffee to go? She'll send you straight to the counter. It sounds simple, but it changes the whole feel. You're not figuring it out alone. Someone is genuinely glad you're here.
Yes, We're Part of a Church. Here's What That Actually Means.
Landmark Cafe is an extension of Landmark Church, a faith community rooted in Ocean City. The church built this cafe for two reasons: to give their congregation a place to gather outside of Sunday, and to genuinely serve the broader community in an everyday, no-barrier kind of way.
Because honestly, most people won't walk into a church. But they will walk into a great cafe. And that's exactly the point.
You don't have to be religious. You don't have to know anything about Landmark Church. You don't have to be looking for anything beyond a good cup of coffee and a comfortable seat. The doors are open. Come as you are.
Landmark Cafe is a for-profit business, organizationally separate from Landmark Church, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Profits from the cafe go directly toward missions and outreach efforts.
OPERATING PARTNER
Meet Cody Panetta
Cody Panetta didn't stumble into the restaurant business. He built a career in it. With years of hands-on experience running restaurants, including a background with corporate steakhouses, he knows what it takes to run a kitchen people trust and a floor people want to return to. He's the kind of operator who sweats the details so guests never have to.
But Cody will tell you the résumé isn't the point. What drives him is his faith, his family, and his love for hospitality done right. He and his wife Ceiara are raising three kids, Brody, Savannah, and Mason, and they know firsthand what it means to need a place that works for everyone at the table.
When Landmark Church set out to build a cafe that could genuinely serve Ocean City, Cody was the right fit. He brought the operational experience, the heart for people, and an obsession with quality that shows up in everything from a cold brew steeped 24 hours to a gluten-free pancake made from scratch because someone at that table needs it.
This cafe is personal for him. When you visit, you'll feel that.
What We Actually Believe About a Good Cafe
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![menu boards at landmark cafe hanging up on a wall with coffee bag storage underneath it]()
Good food is a form of care
That's why everything is made from scratch, not because it's easier, but because you can taste the difference.
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![wide photo of the interior of landmark cafe featuring couches, table & chairs, and booths.]()
Hospitality starts at the door
A hostess who's genuinely glad you're here isn't a formality. It's the whole point.
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![white male sitting at a table at landmark cafe on his computer]()
The right space changes your day
We spent a lot of time on this room because the right environment opens people up to each other.
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![mirrors, pictures, and decor hanging from a wall inside of landmark cafe]()
A third place matters
Home. Work. And somewhere in between, where you're known or can become known. That's what we're building here.
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![close up photo of a flag hanging on landmark cafe's wall titled "east coast"]()
Everyone's welcome
Whatever your background, your beliefs, your vibe. No conditions. Just come.
Visit Us
710 Asbury Ave, Ocean City, NJ 08226
Hours
Everyday
7am–3pm
Phone
609-545-8341
Follow Us
@thelandmark.church
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQs or reach out anytime.
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Landmark Cafe is an extension of Landmark Church, but it's open to everyone with zero pressure or agenda. It was built to serve the whole Ocean City community as a real third place.
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Landmark Cafe is actually a for-profit business, organizationally separate from Landmark Church, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The two are connected by mission but operate independently.
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Profits from Landmark Cafe go directly toward missions and outreach efforts through Landmark Church. So when you grab a coffee or a meal, you're contributing to something bigger than a great breakfast.
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Not at all. Landmark Cafe is open to anyone and everyone, regardless of faith background. Come for the coffee. Stay for the community. That's it.
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Two reasons: to give their congregation a place to gather outside of Sunday, and to connect with the broader Ocean City community in a welcoming, everyday kind of way. The thinking is simple. Most people won't walk into a church, but they will walk into a great cafe.
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Cody Panetta is the operating partner of Landmark Cafe. He has years of restaurant operations experience including a background with Texas Roadhouse. He and his wife Ceiara have three kids, Brody, Savannah, and Mason, and he runs the cafe with a focus on quality, hospitality, and making everyone feel welcome.
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The combination of specialty coffee, a full scratch kitchen, and genuine hospitality sets it apart. There's a hostess who greets you and personalizes your visit from the start. The space is designed to work as a restaurant, a coffee shop, a place to work, and a family destination all at once.
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A third place is somewhere that isn't home and isn't work. It's an informal gathering space where people connect and feel like they belong. Landmark Cafe was built to be that for Ocean City: unhurried, welcoming, and open to all.
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Warm, relaxed, and full of character. Think vintage seaside with modern, intentional design. Terrazzo floors, woven pendant lights, a gallery art wall with oval mirrors, a couch lounge, chess tables by the window, a barista counter, and outdoor seating on Asbury Ave.