Netflix has its next recommendation for you — real estate in a Jersey Shore town that the streaming giant is betting the future on.

The company is taking a chance on a faded New Jersey area that was once a Gilded Age resort town for its next reinvention.  

Fort Monmouth had once attracted presidents and millionaires for its proximity to both the shores of the Atlantic and to New York City.

They built grand mansions along its main Ocean Avenue — forming a Millionaire’s Row.

Several of the original Gilded Age estates have been lost to time, but some remain, once providing a summertime retreat for affluent families like the Guggenheims and notable figures such as actor John Barrymore, Drew Barrymore’s grandfather, who spent his summers there. 

One local rumor has it Barrymore popped so many champagne corks at his house the ceiling needed to be replaced. 

Prominent individuals with homes in the locale included Bowles Colgate, II, a key figure in the founding and leadership of Colgate, and the Harper siblings, who established Harper’s Bazaar magazine as well as the publishing powerhouse HarperCollins. 

Now, Netflix is banking on the area becoming a boom town once again. 

In May, the streamer broke ground on a massive $1.2 billion studio, aiming to build a ‘Hollywood of the East’ in the heart of Monmouth County.

The Gilded Age is a term used to describe the tumultuous years between the Civil War up to the turn of the 20th century.   

Industries such as railroads, manufacturing, and oil fueled America’s extraordinary expansion, accompanied by increasing corruption and wealth inequality. 

The shore towns in New Jersey, in particular, much like Newport, Rhode Island, became playgrounds for the wealthy.

The acclaimed HBO series The Gilded Age, created by Julian Fellowes of Downtown Abbey fame, spans three seasons and portrays this period of lavish wealth. 

Now locals are hoping that Netflix’s arrival could spell their own season of growth.  

The onset of the pandemic in 2020 began pushing Monmouth County home prices upward, and the anticipated new studio is set to drive them up even further. 

In 2019, the average home price in Monmouth County was $328,662, according to New Jersey census data.  

Now, the average home is valued at $745,389, according to Zillow. 

The major film and TV production studio will sit at the formerly crumbling Fort Monmouth Army Base. 

It will include modern production facilities on a massive 300-acre campus.

The studio will total 12 cutting-edge soundstages covering 500,000 square feet, with additional areas dedicated to supporting advanced film uses and employee amenities.

Spanning the boroughs of Oceanport and Eatontown, the studio is expected to open in 2028.  

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos said the arrival of the studio will benefit the area immensely.

‘Netflix is proud to invest in American innovation and the creative community,’ he said.

‘We estimate that these studios will create thousands of jobs for New Jersey residents, billions of dollars in economic output, and many other cultural benefits to the region and state.

‘Over the past four years, Netflix has contributed $125 billion to the US economy and hired more than 140,000 cast and crew members. We’re excited to continue our investment in New Jersey in the coming years.’ 

The streamer has already started joining events in the community, such as hiring local food trucks when they held a Veterans Day cookout in 2024.

‘With this groundbreaking, we’re not only building a studio, we’re also strengthening our ties with the community,’ Sarandos said.

And locals are following his lead and betting on a resurgence of the area. 

At the center of the action is The Atlantic Club Residences, a new luxury oceanfront development that is drawing well-heeled buyers from across the tri-state area — and beyond.

Located a 10 minute drive from Netflix’s studios on Ocean Avenue in Long Branch, the two-tower condominium features apartments with sweeping Atlantic views and quick access to both Manhattan and the Jersey Shore.  

Teresa Minnick is the director of sales at the brand new luxury development, and says the arrival of the streamer will create thousands of local jobs and boost the local economy.

She said the once-forgotten area is already starting to boom due to Netflix, with boutiques, gourmet food shops and high-end restaurants all opening in the surrounding area.

‘They are wisely taking the opportunity to open up before Netflix officially opens its doors,’ she said. ‘A fabulous place called Baseline Social opened up about a month ago.’

Minnick said that the days of local greasy pub food may be over.

Places like Baseline now drawing locals with a menu that includes a $17 warm burrata and roasted peaches appetizer.

‘A lot of these owners took a chance and it will pay off,’ she said.

With real estate prices surging — Minnick said condo sales over $1 million in Monmouth County are up 51 percent year-over-year from July 2024 to 2025 — the area is attracting a new generation of buyers. 

She has already sold more than 40 percent of the units in the Atlantic Club, mostly to locals and commuters to Manhattan, despite construction only beginning two months ago. She also expects the building to become a magnet for filmmakers, executives, and investors involved with Netflix. 

‘You can take the ferry and it is 45 minutes to get to the city,’ she said.

The Atlantic Club Residences feature 132 one-to-five-bedroom homes, including two penthouses, with prices ranging from $1.2 million to $6.5 million. 

The luxury apartments sit oceanfront and range in square footage from 2,000 square-feet to 4,000 square-feet.

‘They all have fabulous outdoor space. You can put a hot tub or a custom built outdoor kitchen,’ Minnick said.

The building also boasts over 75,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities, including wellness facilities, curated art installations, and year-round lifestyle perks like gyms and meeting rooms.

She also added the draw is not just seasonal anymore. ‘There’s so much going on in the area now,’ Minnick said.

In Fort Monmouth, developers like Lennar Corp. are now building hundreds of townhomes in anticipation of a population growth.

The areas that will benefit most from Netflix moving in are nearby Rumson, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Red Bank, and Colts Neck, said Minnick.

Businesses in those towns are taking note. 

Local hubs like The Grove in Shrewsbury is a shopper’s dream, with a Lululemon, J. Crew and Boll & Branch all locating to the area.

The Monmouth Mall in nearby Eatontown is also undergoing a major redevelopment.

‘You get everything here,’ Minnick said.

‘The beach, the city, and a full-time community. It’s not just a summer town anymore, and that’s what’s so wonderful about it.’

With Monmouth County exploding as both a luxury destination and East Coast entertainment capital, the decision to buy nearby is already proving to be a smart one.