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McLoone’s Asbury Grille will be the first business to reopen on the boardwalk after Hurricane Sandy when its doors open at 4 p.m. for dinner on Thursday, according to Tim McMahon, vice president for operations at McLoone Enterprises.

The restaurant will resume normal operations on Friday. It will then be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, with brunch on Sundays, McMahon said.

“We appreciate all the support from [boardwalk redeveloper] Madison Marquette and the city of Asbury Park, and we’re excited to get back to business,” he said.

Owner Tim McLoone, a pianist and vocalist, will reopen the second-floor Supper Club on Saturday night with his band “The Shirleys”, McMahon said. The Supper Club will then resume normal off-season operations with performances Thursday through Saturday nights, with other entertainment at times on Wednesdays and Sundays, McMahon said.

McLoone’s is located in the Fifth Avenue pavilion, where power was restored on Monday. [Photo at top is McLoone’s on Monday night after power was turned back on.]

Meanwhile, Watermark lounge in the First Avenue pavilion will reopen Friday at 5 p.m. and on Saturday at the same time, said owner Russell Lewis. Sundays are reserved in the off-season for private parties, which will now resume, he said.

After this weekend, Watermark will continue to be open Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m., which is similar to the usual off-season schedule, Lewis said. The only difference is that Watermark will not open Thursday nights as it’s done in past years.

Thursday nights will be added depending on what happens in the rest of the pavilion, which is still closed for repairs, Lewis said. Stella Marina and Cubacan restaurants are in the First Avenue pavilion. Watermark is on the second floor.

“It depends on momentum when we will reopen on Thursdays,” said Lewis.

Gary Mottola, president of investments for Madison Marquette, had previously told the Sun that the boardwalk restaurants which sustained heavier damage could be open by the end of December.

Meanwhile, in an effort to help those impacted from Hurricane Sandy, Lewis is setting aside Watermark on Saturday afternoons from 2-5 p.m. for fundraisers held by groups or individuals that are hurricane-related. Watermark will be made available at no-profit for the fundraising activities, he said.

Already, the county Democratic and Republican parties expressed interest in holding a joint fundraiser, Lewis said. “It can be anyone from the American Red Cross to a benefit for Joe and Jo Anne who lost their home in Sea Bright, although I want to keep it as local as possible,” he said.

Convention Hall had an official reopening on Saturday with a capacity crowd attending the tree lighting ceremony. For a photo album of the event click here. For video, click here.

A “Holiday Bazaar” with 18 boardwalk retailers and a full-service bar in Convention Hall’s Grand Arcade will be open until Christmas every Friday 4 p.m.-10 p.m., Saturday noon-10 p.m. and Sunday noon-6 p.m.

 

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