Featured Business: Soul of the Sea

There are some really good places to eat in Downtown Millville. This is certainly one of them.

Photo by Bill Horin/ArtC. Story by Rob Laymon/ArtC.

At Soul of the Sea, the comfort of classic soul food meets the briny freshness of the shore. Owner Sam Fowler's fusion of fried chicken with blue crab isn't just a menu gimmick—it's a reflection of his own journey: a second chance turned into a community touchstone on High Street.

“They just naturally go together,” Fowler says of his menu, a sentiment that also describes his blend of faith, food, and ambition.

Soul of the Sea, with its eat-in or take-out service, has been a busy addition to High Street, often crowded with the phone ringing nonstop. Best sellers are the Pork Chop Platter, Jersey Blue Clawed Crabs, and Baked Mac and Cheese.

But Fowler has devoted his restaurant to a higher purpose that goes well beyond wings and dry rubs.

“I’m a Christian man,” he said. “I like giving people second and third chances. I have had a second chance myself and never looked back.” To that end, Soul of the Sea has played host to street revivals and Christian outreaches, and more such events are coming this summer, Fowler said. He considers himself “on assignment.”

Fowler, who grew up in Bridgeton and now lives in Vineland, makes many sauces and dry rubs from scratch, utilizing methods taught by his mom and grandmom. And yes, he has big plans.

“We’re going to be a chain one day,” Fowler said. “That’s my vision, I want to start my own franchise.

“I’ve been doing it for 23 years in four different restaurants. It’s been a rough ride, and I’ve been through a lot of changes. I just want people to think good about the area and that there is something good going on here. I wanted to be a light.”

It’s clear the light is shining.

Soul of the Sea

622 N High St.

Phone: 856-825-6288

Cell: 856-405-7553

Website: www.facebook.com/1SOULOFTHESEA/

Email: sots622@gmail.com

Hours: Monday-Sunday, 11 am - 9 pm

2026 PlayStreets Schedule & Vendor Sign-Up

Millville's annual weekly summer fun is back! Enjoy 6 weeks of family-focused fun when we shut down Pine Street between 2nd & 3rd for fun activities.

Weekly PlayStreets Themes:

• Fantasy Land (July 8)

• Public Safety (July 15)

• Arts & Entertainment (July 22)

• Fun In the Sun (July 29)

• Health & Wellness (August 5)

• Back to School BBQ (August 12)

Organization Participation Sign Up

If your organization would like to participate in any of the weekly themed events, sign up here!

Register Your Organization

More info? Contact Holly City Development Corporation at 856-776-7979

Hosted by Holly City Development Corporation and the City of Millville Recreation Department. Special thanks to all our partner organizations that participate and contribute to our programs.

Featured Organization: Millville Free Public Library

Photo of Courtenay Reece by Bill Horin/ArtC. Story by Rob Laymon/ArtC.

The recently renovated & expanded Millville Library is so much more than books. Check it out! Libraries are usually quiet places, but maybe they shouldn’t be.

Maybe they should make noise about all the events and programming taking place there.

Walk into the Millville Public Library, for example, on just about any day of the week. You’re likely to see chess clubs in action, Dungeons & Dragons games, Storytime for young people, Play-Doh Play Time, and Yoga for Kids.

You’re likely to see book clubs, poetry workshops, events for seniors, and regular visits by a social worker during the library’s Family Seminar, to help parents manage children who might be on the autism spectrum.

You’ll encounter free internet access, printers, scanners, and all the tools that promote the acquisition of knowledge. This is in addition to the regular library functions like lending books, promoting reading, and assisting with research.

“The library is the most democratic institution in any community,” says Library Director Courtenay Reece. “It welcomes all people regardless of age, race, background, political leaning and any demographic you can name.”

Reece has spent 10 years with Millville library, having started at another library as an assistant at age 14. Clearly, the library has a way of getting into you.

The visually impaired will find a link to the Talking Book and Braille Center, a division of the New Jersey State Library, located in Trenton. They will even find treats for their guide dogs if they have one.

“The library asks you nothing when you come in,” she says. “It’s the only place you can go where you receive services for free.”

So, yes, maybe the library should make more noise. It certainly creates a hubbub.

Millville Public Library

210 Buck Street

856-825-7087

web. millvillepubliclibrary.org

Hours

Monday--Thursday 10 a.m.-7:45 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.