For new restaurants.
Is it a bubble?
From Thursday’s Coast Star (Italics added) :
New restaurants get Belmar’s OK
Two, possibly three, at site of new brewery
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Once home to the historic Freedman’s Bakery, the new commercial complex on Main Street where East Coast Brewing Co. is constructing a brewery will see two, possibly three, new additions in coming months: restaurants.
On Monday, in a 7-2 vote, the borough’s planning board approved an application from MB1 Belmar, LLC, seeking to change what was originally designated as a retail or office area to permit certain restaurants.
MB1 Belmar, LLC, is owned by Joel S. Brudner, of MB1 Capital Partners — a Wall Township-based investment firm that is heavily invested in East Coast Beer Co. — the producers of Beach Haus beer, which is the same beer that will be produced in the Belmar brewery.
Mr. Brudner had previously gone before the board on March 24, for a preliminary site plan approval for the site including a brewery, without a pub, and retail space.
The latest application sought approval for two restaurants on the ground floor — one on Main Street, and one facing back toward the parking lot — as well as a third restaurant upstairs.
Given the building’s location, restaurants are a permitted use in the building, though the firm’s initial application to the board made no mention of potentially installing restaurants at a later date.
Mr. Brudner explained that after putting the retail space on the market, given the proximity of the space to the brewery, most of his offers were coming from restaurants — and as such, he wanted to modify the plans.
“In our course of marking the retail space, most of the users were desirous of putting restaurant uses there,” Mr. Brudner said.
Prior to Monday’s meeting, Mr. Brudner said, two leases had been signed that would be in effect pending an approval from the board.
The first is for an approximately 800-square-foot space on the first floor, on the southernmost side of the building facing Main Street, which has been signed by Chris Brandl, owner of Brandl, on Main Street, who plans to open Jakes Cakes — a seafood restaurant…………….
………..Biagio “Bennie” Schiano, owner of Mossuto’s Market, in Wall Township, will take control of the space upstairs……………….
………..The third restaurant is still unconfirmed…………….
Personally, I’d be happy to give up every restaurant in Belmar if we could have this back:
13 Comments
Since you mentioned the old Acme, I saw an article online about what a town in Texas did: http://www.sustainablecitynetwork.com/topic_channels/building_housing/article_f50f7efe-9440-11e3-9fa1-001a4bcf6878.html
What if Belmar took the old Acme, and made it either (1) the public space to replace Talyor Pavilion?? or (2) a new modern adult library (leave the current one as the children’s library)?
This would increase and benefit from the traffic in the main street / business district, is isn’t that the goal?
I’ve been a proponent of using the Acme building to replace Taylor Pavilion for 2 years … a good idea that fell on deaf ears.
Belmar taxpayers already borrowed about $600K in 2012 for parking lot improvements …. a BMIA tax rateable chase …. where the BMIA assessment dropped about $15K for 2015 …. a loser. (my residential property assessment went up $15K for 2015)
Now, the regime wants more restaurants with residential property owners bankrolling their parking cost burden ….
A fair solution would be a parking surcharge on restaurants & bars based on their rated occupancy.
I agree, miss the ACME. Belmar needs a supermarket! Hearing rumors that Whole Foods is coming to near the Family Dollar. True???
Unfortunately, Whole Foods will not be coming to Belmar. They have already selected a space near the A&P in Wall.
I doubt the number of increases in restaurants will have an impact in the long term as they have a very high failure rate along with flower shops. It is extremely hard to even get financing even with stellar credit.The good weather months will have an impact on their financial stability.
We are not going to pay for a parking deck.No way. Mayor Party
I find it amazing that anyone would criticize any person who wants to invest in Belmar in a conforming use and legal endeavor.To “Robert” and “Eugene”, how do you propose that Belmar “take” the now empty “Acme” building. And to “George” these people who are investing in Belmar are NOT doing it to lose money or destroy their credit ratings.
Years ago I suggested making the Acme a Sr Citizen building opened from 1-3 so we would have a place to go for passing the time of day and socializing . It also fell on deaf ears.
Thinking it could be purchased (and renovated) for a lot less than $7M
I would never propose a “taking” unless there is a compelling public need without alternatives …. a term lease of the vacant Acme floor area …. just like any other tenant …. would be easy, expeditious and benefit all.
I agree with you Eugene but the problem is Belmar is a Summer Beach Destination, you will never get a name brand company or any large retailer to sign a lease due a number of reasons such as traffic count, population year round and completion within the area.
When the beer party starts in a few months there will be little parking left. Food stores have declined Belmar being the parking lot is owned by the town.Please stop dreaming about a food store, that will never happen.
Sorry I meant to say competition in the area not completion guest 12 thanks for saying what I meant to say.
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