REDEVELOPMENT NEWS ON THE BOARDWALK by Ellen Carroll - Madison Marquette, Asbury Park’s beachfront redeveloper, is marching toward Memorial Day with a vision and a pocketful of approvals. The Technical Review Committee has already reviewed the plans for the boardwalk’s new look and the Planning Board basically gave a green light for the improvements.
“Everyone was pretty pleased with the design,” said City Councilman John Loffredo, who also sits on the Planning Board. “What’s not to like?”
In just three weeks since Madison Marquette outlined its ambitious plans for renovations to the boardwalk, meetings were arranged, renderings drawn and decisions made. The new look for the boardwalk has been promised by Memorial Day. “They are doers,” said restaurateur Tim McLoone of Madison Marquette. He is taking over operations at the Salt Water Beach Cafe on the boardwalk in March or, at the latest, April.
“We signed a letter of intent and it is now being reviewed by our attorneys,” McLoone said. “We are taking both floors. We hope to open the upstairs by July. Madison Marquette - they are telling me June!” McLoone said he is pleased and excited about his new venture.
“There will be no change in the name,” he said. “They are doing a great job there and a good business. They have a fabulous young chef and he ran the mile faster that I did in high school.”
McLoone, who also owns restaurants in Sea Bright and Long Branch, is a marathon runner and owns The Running Store.
The second floor of the Salt Water Cafe will be a supper club, McLoone said.
Loffredo said some modifications will be made to the boardwalk plans which will include public restrooms at the new Second Avenue Pavilion, where a wading pool will be located.
“The Fifth Avenue Pavilion plans will go back to the design subcommittee of the Planning Board for some tweaking,” Loffredo said. “We think we can enhance the building more.”
The boardwalk’s new look, promised for Memorial Day, will include a beach club at Second Avenue complete with a pool, new restaurants, a second floor upscale lounge, where the senior center once was, shops and a bakery.