Annex to reopen Saturday
'It's more of a refined take on the first version of The Annex'
A well-known Asbury Park bar is reopening Saturday morning with a new look and feel.
The Annex, sister bar to the Brickwall Tavern on Cookman Avenue, was closed Oct. 1 for remodeling. The Annex first opened in 2007.
Previously, it was connected to The Brickwall through a sliding wooden door. The Annex was darkly lit and full of couches and people could order food from The Brickwall. In the months before the remodel, The Annex had tables and chairs for more of a sit-down restaurant feel.
Now, the interior has been completely remodeled.
“We were inspired by Chris Craft boats,” said Mark Hinchliffe of Knockout, the branding and marketing firm that owns Brickwall, The Annex and Porta. “There’s a great history of craftsmanship with the Chris Craft brand, and we wanted to bring that high level of detail into The Annex.”
Designers incorporated gold leaf boat lettering and striped mahogany, as well as pleated booths and chrome foot rail.
“It’s a more refined take on the first version of The Annex, which makes it a natural complement to its sister bar, Brickwall,” Hinchliffe said. “Whereas the Brickwall utilizes more of a raw material look, The Annex is really meant to shine. It’s a beautiful bar. When you stand in there, you really feel like you’re in a city.”
The new Annex will have 24 beers on tap, like the Brickwall. Three televisions will sit above the bar, which is longer and closer to the front door than it used to be.
The Annex will open to the public tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 15, at 11 a.m. On weekends, it will open at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday, it will open at 4 p.m.