Academy of Culinary Arts 2023 Graduate Cole Perfetti, a Third Generation Business Entrepreneur, Opens New Coffee Shop in Smithville

SMITHVILLE — The tradition continues. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father before him, Cole Perfetti, an Atlantic Cape Community College Class of 2023 Academy of Culinary Arts graduate, is keeping the family’s entrepreneurial spirit alive by opening his own new business, Surf Road Coffee Bar & Beach Bowls, in Historic Smithville.

A ribbon cutting ceremony on June 8 officially welcomed Perfetti’s coffee shop to the area. Several members of the Academy of Culinary Arts, including Director Joseph Sheridan, chef educators Vincent Tedeschi, Linda Wohlman and Ruth LaTorre, as well as Galloway Township Mayor Anthony Coppola, Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce President Michael Chait and others, attended the event.

Perfetti, who was the class valedictorian at last year’s graduation ceremony, looked back fondly on his time at the Academy of Culinary Arts (ACA) and how his culinary education helped him achieve this entrepreneurial milestone.

“One of the greatest things that was available to me at the ACA, besides all of the amazing chefs I learned from, was all of the amazing classmates that I was able to work with. I had some really great classmates who I was able to grow with and they taught me a lot,” said Perfetti. “Learning what you can from your peers is incredible because you see where they are at on the same playing field as you and it helps you grow even more.”

Raised in Marmora, just across the Great Egg Harbor River in Upper Township, Cape May County, Perfetti spent many days in his younger years around coffee and businesses with his family.

“Growing up I used to sit on coffee bags. I remember spilling many coffee bags all over the place, drinking coffee since I was six years old and always having it in my house,” said Perfetti, who was also presented with the Nathan Schwartz Memorial Award during last year’s culinary graduation ceremony.

Sheridan, the ACA and Hospitality Management director, had glowing praise for his former student.

“We are immensely proud of our alumnus, Cole Perfetti, valedictorian of the ACA class of 2023 and participant in our Italy study abroad program, for opening Surf Road Coffee Bar,” said Sheridan. “Cole's outstanding achievements continue to inspire our community and I am sure he will be immensely successful.”

Perfetti plans to attend the Rhode Island School of Design beginning this fall to begin studying another of his passions in life, art.

“I want to keep going and I want to implement more of that (art) into this when I can, make some cool stuff, not just with coffee, but kind of combine two of my passions (art and coffee) and create some really cool stuff.”

Mayor Coppola praised Atlantic Cape and the Academy of Culinary Arts for educating South Jersey’s next generation of chefs.

“Thanks to Atlantic Cape for having an incredible accredited culinary program right here in our county because a lot of these chefs stay local and they put a real chef’s touch on a place like this. When you get a guy like Cole who has a culinary degree and operates a coffee shop it elevates the level in these kinds of places,” said Coppola.

Surf Road Coffee Bar & Beach Bowls is located in the Village Greene at Historic Smithville on Route 9 and East Moss Mill Road. It offers various flavored coffees and teas, fresh fruit smoothies and acai bowls 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday. Starting in July they will have extended hours 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Visit surfroadcoffeebar.com for more information.

Visit atlanticcape.edu/aca for more information on Atlantic Cape’s acclaimed Academy of Culinary Arts Program and to learn how to apply for the upcoming Fall semester starting September 3.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with several four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree without having to leave home.