Coaster Photo
At the Made and Sold in Asbury Park event held Sat., Feb. 3 at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park were Andrew Grossman of Andrew Grossman Custom Fabrication; Calli Feehan, Fun House; Gene Mignola, Fun House and Lola Vaccaro, Vaccaro Guitars.
By ED SALVAS
Asbury Park’s reputation as a beach town with restaurants and nightclubs is well known, but there are many other products that come from the city that are not. Things like cotton candy, wood products made from local trees and electric guitars.
The wide range of things made and sold in Asbury Park was on display at the Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Zone’s first Made and Sold in Asbury Park Market Making event at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel Sat., Feb. 3.
JulieAnn Murray, UEZ director, came up with the idea soon after arriving in the city seven months ago.
She organized the event with about 25 vendors and promoted it widely. Several hundred people showed up to see for themselves.
There were businesses both new and old. Variedades de Trinidad, selling fresh flowers and other gifts at 804 Main St., was on display next to Monmouth and Ocean County Awning Co., a family business on Main Street for 84 years. PAWS, selling dog treats in the Shoppes at the Arcade on Cookman Avenue was the attraction for people who brought their own four-legged friends with them.
Barbie’s Hair at 814 Asbury Ave. has 100 percent human hair for wigs and custom made hair extensions. Barbie’s has been in business in New York since 1985 and in Asbury Park since 2020.
The Fun House with Asbury Park themed gifts and souvenirs has two locations, 704 Cookman Ave. and on the Boardwalk in the Convention Hall Arcade.
The words “awesome” and “amazing” were heard over and over from the people who walked through the Kingsley ballroom, where they could also sample coffee from Booskerdoo and beverages from local producers, Asbury Park Brewery, Asbury Park Distilling and Wild Air Beerworks. Live music was provided by Malletec and the Bill Carter Band.
Longtime Asbury Park businessman Henry Vaccaro was showing off his newest Vaccaro Guitars and reminded that he was behind restoration that saved the Berkeley Hotel in 1983. His business is located in the old Studebaker building, on Summerfield Avenue along with Cottage by the Sea where William Cusick turns old trees into stunning furniture. The Asbury Park Cotton Candy Co. makes its own cotton candy here and sells online and ships anywhere in the world. Orders and info at apcottoncandyco@gmail.com
UEZ Director Murray said all the participants at the event are members of the UEZ. She said benefits to members include being able to charge a lower state sales tax, make tax-free purchases and use the UEZ’s Business Assistance Programs. She can be contacted at JulieAnn.Murray@Cityofasburypark.com
