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The long-awaited new hotel at the former Salvation Army building called The Asbury opens today in anticipation of Memorial Day weekend.

The hotel, owned by waterfront redeveloper iStar, features 110 rooms, roof-top lounges, pool area and a beer garden with food trucks. There is also an indoor-outdoor event space. Room rates range from $125 to $325 per night.

There is no restaurant at the hotel, although there is a grab-and-go food counter. The concept is for guests to get out in the city and experience Asbury Park’s restaurants and other attractions for themselves.

The Asbury is the first new hotel to open in the city in 50 years. It is located at 210 Fifth Avenue, one block away from the Asbury Park boardwalk and beaches.

Overall design and creative development of the hotel was handled by Anda Andrei of the firm Anda Andrei Design in Manhattan. Andrei is well-known in the hospitality industry for her work with hotelier Ian Schrager to design hotels such as the Delano in Miami and the Royalton in New York. Two years ago she left Schrager’s organization to start her own design firm.

“I never did a place that’s as down to earth and playful,” Andrei told the triCityNews newspaper [which owns this website]. “I don’t believe in following trends. I believe in style that’s classic. There’s a look that’s timeless.”

Architect on the project is Paul Taylor of Stonewall and Taylor, New York, who designed the Ace, Paramount and Nomad hotels in Manhattan. David Bowd and his hotel management company SALT hotels is the hotel operator. Bowd formerly worked with hoteliers Schrager and Andre Balazs in opening and managing hotels such as the Standard in Manhattan.

Bowd also gave a six week seminar to residents in Asbury Park and the immediate areas on the hotel industry. From the graduates of “SALT school,” he was able to fill 90 percent of the positions at the hotel with Asbury residents, and a few others living close by.

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