Looks like Merri-Makers, of Edison, NJ has become the latest Chefs International, of Edison, NJ.
The John Taylor pavilion is now their “venue”.
Merri-Makers was the sole bidder for the restaurant lease at Taylor and they operate the Cruz Bay Cafe there. I don’t know why Chris Brandl didn’t even try to bid to get his old place back. But unlike its pre-Sandy iteration under Brandl, the restaurant is all kitchen with no indoor seating. The lease allows for a 50% reduction in the first 6 months rent to help pay for outfitting the kitchen so we’re into it for about $27,000. (On top of the $5 mil, of course.)
It seems like more kitchen than is needed for the menu.
BTW, I would prefer to starve than ever order a “1/3lb Beefcake Cheeseburger in Paradise”.
The flip side has plug for their wedding business and their “new venue”.
Anyway, let’s go to the Taylor pavilion venue page on their website. BTW, did I forget to mention that our Borough administrator, Colleen Connolly, who is in charge of the bookings for Taylor pavilion, used to work for Merri-Makers?
Down the page there is a promotion video that includes a scene with a couple……
Illegally consuming alcohol on the beach!
And the page promotes…
An illegal “cocktail hour” on the deck!
Belmar code 17-7:c.
Beachfront, Boardwalk and Pavilions. No person shall bring, consume or possess any alcoholic beverage, malt alcoholic beverage or wine or any other intoxicating liquors on the beachfront, in the waters adjacent thereto, on the boardwalk, or in the areas adjacent to any of the pavilions owned by the Borough of Belmar including portions of the aforementioned pavilions that are occupied by concession lessees. For purposes of this section only, the term “beachfront” shall include all locations in the portion of the Borough included in the area delineated by and starting at one hundred (100) yards west of Ocean Avenue, then extending easterly to the Atlantic Ocean.
The areas where the illegal consumption of alcohol is to occur are no longer open the the public.
What happened to the chairs on the deck that we were promised we could sit on?
Hey, that’s our beach!
Merri-Makers is wasting no time promoting their new acquisition. They are having a bridal show there tomorrow as we are told in this infomercial.
I guarantee that place is going to be booked solid. All the civic groups that Taylor was supposedly built for are going to be frozen out on summer weekends.
Speaking of freeze outs…halfway through summer 10th Avenue Freeze Out is still frozen out, along with our “safety”, due to construction problems at the 10th Avenue safety building.
61 Comments
The drinks could have been soda?
Doesn’t matter. It’s supposed to be champagne or something.
Another scam pulled on the taxpayers of Belmar. It’s time to look around and add up all the damage that this mayor has done with all his amateurish wheeling and dealing. Maybe a top 10 list.
In the catering industry weddings are known to cause more wear and damage on facilities then any other type of events. Reach deep taxpayers because we will be paying heavily to maintain this new wedding palace.
You forgot to mention and I am sure you could find out – their hoods for cooking were installed the day after their bid was approved which shows it was an inside deal. I don’t care how good the sheet metal guy is – no one is fabricating a hood in 24 hours and installing. Another inside deal.
How does eating a veggie burger make you a tree hugger?
Seniors being duped for their votes Again and Again and Again.
I am sure the State DEP would have something to say about the off limits area behind the Taylor Pavilion. Years ago the area was used for beach grass and dune testing, but now it will become a private catering area? Nonsense! Stop this misguided council now. I would say vote them all out, but who the heck is running to replace any of them?
Anyone concerned needs to call the NJDEP and complain about the closed beach area. Do it people, they’ll listen.
I don’t know for sure the reason that area is fenced off.
Admin, it doesn’t matter why the area is fenced off. Call the state and let them find out why.
Don’t forget dirty Dougherty only allowed catering at the FSOH.
don’t forget to add “Helicopter Transportation” to the list of available amenities.
#9 They will listen and not act. I think they are part of the giveaway of Belmar to satisfy the mayor. Where is the enforcement; many complaints go into a deep circular file. Parking for these fabulous events? But, wait for it, everything is fine.
This is disgusting use of OUR PUBLIC BUILDING. NO ALCOHOL ON THE BEACH. Open the beach behind Taylor for those of us, who need shade from the sun in the afternoon.
Public use, where is Mr. Pringle We need you.
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07eea9qeok80369ebe&llr=s6anhzn6
WAKE THE TOWN AND TELL THE PEOPLE.
So let’s add this all up.
A nightmare at the Marina
NO outflow pipe at Lake Como
Tenth Ave Safty building a mess
A police blotter of total chaos
10 lost lawsuits ( or maybe more,I’ve lost count)
Millions of dollars in bond debt ( of course no one can really find out how much with all the smoke and mirrors)
Main Street reconstruction with electrical issues
And now Taylor sold off for a lousy 100 grand a year!
All of you who voted yes to rebuild the Taylor at a staggering 5 mill plus, I ask you, is that what you wanted? When Mayor Dorehty brought in the elderly widow of former Mayor Taylor to encourage you to vote yes, did you think the pavilion was going to become a large scale wedding venue? That local residents were going to be unable to sit on the the back porch out the sun? That Colleen Connolly was going to be in control of who utilizes the pavilion space and that she had been employed by the ONLY bidder in the concession? ( that’s not too strange right?)
Think long and hard about the Taylor Pavillion. Mayor Dorehty has sold off our town. But by bit, piece by piece.
Thanks 16 – This is truly INSANE that the borough council has allowed this to happen. Lets realize the fact that weddings are planned events, with most being planned up to a year in advance. So this private company is going to be booking up OUR pavilion a year in advance blocking US out of any of our uses, which I would venture to say are planned 1-3 months in advance? Who does our borough council represent?
To quote Merri-Makers own advertising “… this venue is surely to become one of the most popular wedding spots on the Jersey Shores.[sic]” Is this some type of a joke??
God Bless America! FEMA and the good people of the United States of America just paid for 90% of the cost to built the Jersey Shores newest wedding venue!
According to the state anything that is on the beach is there because the mayor wants it there. Re:plants fences toys
fires volley ball movies concerts sand castles large blow ups of beer bottles to inform the guests what beverages are available and unless they have changed
the laws there is no way the state will
get involved. Try calling and see if anything has changed I do not think so.
The only way to fight is through the court system.
The residents of BELMAR are paying for the majority of the Jersey Shores newest wedding venue!!
This just in The August Town Council meeting has been canceled.
No it’s not….yet.
Hey Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office … are you watching this? Time for a full scale investigation into the corrupt dealings in this town. The Matt Doherty and Colleen Connelly horror show! The next mayor is going to have his/her hands full for sure. It seems all the new vendors in town were hand picked by the Doherty administration and given free reign of municipal properties at the expense of long time borough businesses and taxpayers. Enough is enough.
#26 – Not to get off topic, but include the give-away of the Belmar Plaza parking lot and also extending the leases for the businesses to use the rear roadway to build walk-in coolers and storage sheds. The rear of that plaza looks like a junk yard.
There needs to be a limit to the # of times an organization/person can rent out the pavilion per year. This is ridiculous. If a person wants to rent it out on their own and have Merri-Makers cater the event, then so be it. But Merri-makers should not be allowed to rent out the pavilion on behalf of its clients and then add a huge fee on top of what it actually costs to rent out the pavilion.
No one should be allowed to book the building more than a year in adavance, the booking schedule should be public on the town website, and the booking party names should not be changeable. Town should also say that anyone renting the town building can use any monmouth county health code approved vendor they want.Ricco
What are the financial terms of the Merri-Makers lease? How much square footage?
Is there a provision in their lease which allows them to lease the balance of the space in Taylor Pavilion and a portion of the beach? If so, how much per hour?
Will alcohol be permitted in the Taylor Pavilion and beach at their catered affairs?
Do they have the right of first refusal to host an affair at the Taylor Pavilion over any other local organizations?
Has anyone seen the lease?
Relax people of Belmar…. Matt’s puppet, Mayor Brian Wilton will hand over Lake Como in a few years to help (bailout) with all your debt.
“Nothing to see here, all is well”
They don’t have a liquor license how can they advertise a Rum bar in the beach? Violation of ABC LAW.Did side deal Matt give them a license?
Wasn’t there more than 200 people at the Mayor’s fundraiser ball?
Brian Magovern! You were born and raised in this town. Why are you allowing this to happen?
And the best part is that Colleen is the one who ok’s who can rent the Pavilion. This is great !
Duped. The voters were duped again by what 17 illegal votes?
So, what is needed is one strong person to speak clearly and campaign for a council seat, pointing out the outrages, and present a dissident voice of opposition – who could that be? Katrina? (Sorry, I am not available.) Enough is enough. The silent residents who remain complacently ignorant must be informed.
Any pray that the racketeering charges are proven and there are serious consequences for the parties named in the Harmon lawsuit. What is this, Deadwood?
I don’t believe hard liquor is allowed. Only beer and wine per lease agreement.
Let’s hope that the rent covers our debt payments. Basically, the residents of Belmar bought Merri Makers a new beautiful venue by the sea,on the residents’ credit card. Another great deal!
When the liquor/ Beer / Wine is being served at the pavilion who is responsible for having liquor liability insurance ? The town already has enough law suits can you imagine someone leaving the pavilion and getting in an accident. Is there anything in the lease agreement covering this issue ?
#39 – Hard liquor found its way into the Mayors Ball and a few other previously held events there.
so when someone decided to have a wedding reception there in the middle of the summer, where does that person expect all the guests to park???
#43 – Valet in a public lot of course.
So the town is now in competition with the Riverview and Waterview.
Chris B, was told not to bid on Taylor Pavilion, notice how the winning 10th ave bidder has not moved in.That is what I heard.
Chris B benefited by the largess of the Council by increasing Chris B’s restaurant space for “FREE” on public properties because he is a good doo bee friend of the matt madhouse.
the 10th Avenue Pavilion is delayed until a photo-op with Phil Murphy is staged.
Mr.Pringle, you brought Matt Doherty man to Belmar, the least you can do is defend the town from Matt’s crazy ideas.
48 you may not be far off there. Good catch!
It will be Ambassador Murphysboro of Belmar soon and the Taylor will receive rental fees for the political use of that wedding venue. Big circle of friends.
#37 Hanging Chad….will you be the campaign manager??? Do you have an idea how to run a campaign? Lots of good people, including the ‘owner’ of this blog, have stepped up and run for council. It’s not as easy as you think! And it’s really hard to fight Frank Sementra!
“It’s not as easy as you think!”
I hope that means you’re running!
Now that I have been put in my place by one much wiser, I will heap ashes upon my head and cry, “woe is me,” give up and let the corrupt forces continue to run the town. Anyone have 6-10 grand to waste on a campaign?
#55 start a go fund me campaign..get national help.
Why would anyone want the hassle of a wedding at beach when Belmar is jammed with traffic? It is not right if wedding company monopolized the venue. And every one in town should be able to use the back deck of the Pavillion.
Belmar needs more places to sit outside for fresh air and to socialize
Weren’t rear drawings of the building presented to the public, and did they depict the rear deck area being blocked off? This really is starting to have the feel of somebody’s private clubhouse.
the railing is built with Trex DECK board … one side is finished …. the other side is unfinished composite.
Trex does manufacture nice railing components for people …. the railing around the pavilions looks better for cattle.
We should not allow the boro or the wedding company, to steal our public building.Mr. Magovern where is the public access, and where are our rocking chairs as promised. We were told, rocking chairs would return to the back deck.We did not vote for a wedding hall.
The back deck should be available to all Belmar residents. And where is a schedule of upcoming events at Taylor that are open to public?
There is no Belmar event calendar for the Belmar 5th Avenue Pavilion.
Oops, another oversight because no splashy Menendez, Booker, Pallone or Murphy event is scheduled there YET. Public access is not political in nature so don’t hold your breath waiting to use the ocean view Public deck.
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