Biergarten partners under contract to take over Baca
Baca would close in fall for major exterior and interior renovations
Two partners of the Asbury Festhalle and Biergarten are on their way to securing a second business in Asbury Park — Baca Sushi Bar and Sports Lounge.
Andrej Ivanov and Ladiflav Sebestyen, also business partners in Hoboken’s Pilsener House and Biergarten, have “fallen in love with the historic gateway location where Baca has been suffering from an identity crisis for years,” according to a statement issued by Ivanov’s business partner in the Asbury Biergarten, Jennifer Lampert, who is assisting with the Baca takeover.
The two will be closing on the purchase of the restaurant to take ownership within the next two weeks, she said.
Baca will continue to operate through the summer and close in the fall season to undergo complete exterior and interior renovations, transforming into “the perfect Jersey Shore identity,” Lampert said. There will be some immediate temporary changes to the food and beverage menu, she said.
The owners prefer not to release the new restaurant’s concept and the rest of the new team that will be operating in the location until after they close purchase, she said.
“I do believe that this concept is going to have as strong an impact on downtown Asbury Park as the opening of the biergarten,” Lampert said.
Baca is located in the Steinbach’s building, at the corner of Cookman and Bangs avenues. Baca and Old Man Rafferty’s currently operate out of the same kitchen in the Steinbach’s building, but new owners will build out their own kitchen, she said.
“It’s the gateway location to downtown,” said Lampert. “When you enter downtown, what is the first thing you see? Baca – but you don’t even know it’s there.”
The Festhalle and Biergarden, located at 527 Lake Ave., is currently under construction. Owners hope to have the location open by September.
With a second business venture in the city, Ivanov and Sebestyan join the ranks of business owners with multiple restaurants and bars in Asbury Park, such as John McGillion and Smith Group. McGillion’s Johnny Mac’s House of Spirits is expanding, and he recently took ownership of Cameo Bar and opened Kim Marie’s Eat and Drink Away on the Asbury Park waterfront. Smith Group owns Brickwall Tavern, Goldie’s, Porta, and Pascal and Sabine.
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