Honoring Rosa’s Southern Dining

At AAHMSNJ Atlantic City (Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University)

2200 Fairmount Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401

FREE. Donations are encouraged.

Atlantic City Northside Restaurant Exhibit is a historical exploration of 649 N. New York Avenue which is currently New York Grocery and Deli. However this location once housed restaurants and a nightclub. Most notably, it was home to Rosa’s Southern Dining, a cherished restaurant that became a cultural anchor for Atlantic City’s community.

This exhibit honors Rosa Mikelonis, now 94, celebrating her remarkable life, her contributions to Atlantic City’s history, and the legacy of her restaurant, a gathering place known for good food, music, fellowship, and even visits from celebrities like Muhammad Ali.

About Rosa

Born in Savannah, Georgia, Rosa Polite Mikelonis grew up surrounded by music, faith, and community, earning awards for her exceptional singing before becoming a lead soprano at St. Philip’s A.M.E.Church. After moving to Philadelphia in 1954, she graduated as the top hairstylist from the Craig School of Beauty Culture, managed several salons, and later opened her own—Coiffures by Rosa—which gained regional recognition. In 1989, Rosa and her husband Joseph moved to Atlantic City, where she embraced her love of cooking and hospitality by opening Rosa’s Southern Dining, a beloved gathering place that thrived even as casinos reshaped the city’s dining scene. Her accomplishments span cosmetology, modeling, fashion, design, and catering, and she remains a devoted member of St. James A.M.E. Church, cherished by her family and community.