Lucy the Elephant’s footprint just got a little bigger.

Ahead of a project to build a new center for visitors and programming at the massive landmark in Margate City, the Save Lucy Committee Inc. acquired a property across the street. The location will temporarily serve as a gift shop and administrative offices during construction.

Cherry Hill-based Vantage Commercial represented both the buyer and seller in the transaction involving 9219 Atlantic Ave. Financial terms were not disclosed.

According Save Lucy Committee Executive Director and CEO Richard Helfant, work on a new state-of-the-art, ADA compliant interpretative center is scheduled to begin in September and be done by mid-2026. The structure will rise on the site of the now-closed welcome center at the base of Lucy the Elephant.

While construction is underway, guests can visit the shop at the corner of Atlantic and Washington avenues to purchase tour tickets and Lucy-themed souvenirs.

After the project wraps, Helfant said the recently purchased property will continue to serve as storage and offices.

According to a Zillow listing, 9219 Atlantic Ave. is a four-bedroom condo less than a block from the beach with an estimated value of $1.28 million. The mixed-use property also features street-level commercial space, Vantage said.

A longstanding landmark

In a statement, Vantage Commercial Vice President and partner Ken Richardson said, “We are pleased we could execute the sale for the owner within five months from the listing date. This was ideal as it was the off-season for the shore community.”

He added, “The Save Lucy Committee’s vision for the property will greatly enhance the experience for visitors and help preserve the legacy of Lucy the Elephant. This project is a great addition to the Margate City community.”

Originally built in 1881 to help promote real estate sales and attract visitors, Lucy is one of the oldest surviving roadside tourist attractions in the U.S. and is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

The beachfront site is also one of the most popular.

Last year, USA Today readers named it the No. 1 must-see stop on road trips. On an annual basis, Lucy the Elephant draws about 40,000 visitors, according to the site.

In recent years, the six-story structure has also received some much-needed upgrades.

A $2.5 million project between September 2021 and December 2022 focused on restoring Lucy’s exterior. According to the site, $500,000 worth of work on the interior should begin in late 2025. The upgrades will include a new heating and air-conditioning system as well as flooring.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 9:22 a.m. EST March 14, 2025, to include more details about 9219 Atlantic Ave. Additional updates were made for historical corrections about Lucy, including the date the structure was built and its designation.