'Jersey Shore' cast welcomed to Seaside Heights: 'You guys are great kids'

Seaside Heights has rolled out the red carpet.

After years of keeping the cast of “Jersey Shore Family Vacation” at arms length due to a perceived negative connotation the cast brought Seaside Heights during the original run of “Jersey Shore” from 2009 to 2012, the roomies were met with open arms in the borough on the Thursday, March 7, episode.

Cast members came through on Sept. 22, 2023, hours after celebrating Jersey Shore Day in Atlantic City.

“Let me tell you something, what you did for my town I'll never forget,” said Seaside Heights Police Department Chief Tomas Boyd to the cast at Spicy Cantina on the boardwalk. “I think you guys are great kids.”

“He's just saying such nice things about us, I'm like, 'Sir, I got arrested on your beach and it was like national news,' “ said Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi.

Cast members have mellowed since their days of punch-ups at Karma and bedlam at Bamboo.

“We put this town on the map, and I think it's really good so many years later the chief telling us what an impact we had on the culture, what an impact we had on Seaside,” said Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino.

The roomies walked down the boards to the Beachcomber Bar and Grill, where they were greeted by owner Mike Carbon. Earlier they stopped by the Shore Store where owner Danny Merk said hello.

The show's Jersey Shore House at 1209 Ocean Terrace, where the cast lived during the “Jersey Shore” years, sits right behind the Shore Store.

“We give tours of the house now guys — it's like the White House,” Danny said. “It's a museum now.”

“But it's our museum!” Angelina Pivarnick said.

“You were never here!” said Danny to Angelina, referring to her infamous firing from her Shore Store job. “Grab your garbage bag and please leave again!”

The good vibes were dampened by simmering tension between Angelina and Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola. Cast members are not quite sure why Angelina is beefing with Sammi beyond she's jealous of the attention Sammi's getting since returning to the show.

“I brought you into the show again and it helped you financially,” Angelina said. “I mean the girl brought a house because of me.”

Sammi, a Hazlet native, recently purchased a home in Pine Beach, just south of Seaside Heights.

More: Mike the Situation, Angelina kept dating history a secret from 'Jersey Shore' producers

More: Angelina says she left 'Jersey Shore' because Mike the Situation broke her heart

The cast — minus Pauly DelVecchio and Vinny Guadagnino — plan on sleeping at the Shore House. Mike beds down but the girls are kind of skeeved at remnants of former glories adorning the couches and beds there.

They ride over to Nicole's summer home in Toms River to spend the night.

“I'm kind of grossed out to sleep in my own bed right now,” said Sammi before leaving.

In related news, Mike and wife Lauren Sorrentino announced the arrival of their third child: Luna Lucia Sorrentino was born on March 6, 2024, at 3:49 p.m. She weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces, and was 18.25 inches in length.

Subscribe to app.com for the latest on the New Jersey music scene.

Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com .

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore Family Vacation cast welcomed back to Seaside Heights