By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Asbury Parks landscape continues to change daily as the citys beachfront developer races to have some of the boardwalk businesses open and operating by Memorial Day.
Gary Mottola of beachfront developers Madison Marquette told a crowd at the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday that finishing touches are being made to Convention Hall, and several retailers will be open for business in the Fifth Avenue Pavilion for the holiday weekend.
We still expect to roll everything out this summer from Memorial Day to July 4, he said.
The landmark Wonder Bar, which closed in September, is also expected to re-open Fri., May 23 with a performance by Bill Hector.
Mottola said Tim McLoone who is now operating the Salt Water Beach Cafe, is preparing to open an old fashioned supper club on the second floor of the old Howard Johnson building, with a new atrium entrance from the boardwalk.
He is adding his music scene to his supper club, which is special to the Jersey Shore, but would be special anywhere.
In addition, Casa DeFromagerie is adding specialty pizzas to its menus and the owner of Brielle Cyclery is opening a great new concept store in the Fifth Avenue Pavilion.
On the entertainment side Mottola said Live Nation, the largest international entertainment promoter, will feature live shows at several venues in the city throughout the summer. Those scheduled to perform include Peter Frampton, defmo and Emmy Lou Harris.
Improvements being made to Convention Hall include new air conditioning, roofing, bathrooms and electrical work.
All the things needed to have a truly functioning arts venue,Mottola said.
A symphony orchestra is also scheduled to perform in the the carousel portion of The Casino. The grand opening of that building is scheduled for May 31.
In the arcade in Convention Hall, The Baker Boys bakery of Ocean Grove, will reopen and the second biggest clam bar in New Jersey will also be opened.
Mottola said the owners of the largest clam bar, now in Hoboken, are coming to the arcade this summer.
An Irish pub, named Caroline OTooles after the manager of the Stone Pony, will also open in the arcade.
In January, Mottola announced an ambitious plan to refurbish the pavilions along the boardwalk from the Convention Hall to the Casino and install dozens of retailers. At the time he had hoped all work would be completed by Memorial Day. During his talk to the chamber this week he spoke of his frustration in not being able to get things done as quickly as he liked.
You can have 98 percent cooperation but if one person stops ya, that is as bad as being stopped from day one. Thats been my frustration at stuff thats not being done…there has to be a sense of urgency.
Mottola said being told something had never been done added to his frustration.
We are a nationally recognized company, Im expecting people to find ways to resolve this, find a solution, not say weve never done this its an issue in terms of getting things done.
Mottola said what his company is doing is unprecedented in its scope of attempting to rehabilitate an entire city at the same time, in a short period of time.
We have had extraordinary cooperation from the city to get approvals and permits in a short time, Mottola said. We took a risk to do the entire boardwalk at one time.
Mottola said road improvements will continue on Third and Fourth Avenues and Kingsley Avenue will be paved from end to end.
Also all power lines will be taken down and installed underground.
Mottola said the building that is going on will not only benefit summer businesses, but he expects the Ocean Avenue side of the pavilions to remain open for winter business.
He said having the Ocean Avenue businesses open during the winter months should not interfere with downtown retailers.
People still want to get that old fashioned spirit of strolling on a downtown street.
Mottola said depending on approvals from the city he is confident the new establishments will be rolled out between May 31 and July 4.
Were going to have a phenomenal summer.
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