Convention Hall officially reopens Saturday at noon
Eighteen retailers in Grand Arcade as storm repairs substantially complete
With storm-related repairs substantially complete, Convention Hall’s Grand Arcade officially reopens to the public on Saturday [Nov. 24] with a “Holiday Bazaar” featuring 18 boardwalk retailers.
The official opening coincides with “Small Business Saturday,” as well as the arcade’s Christmas tree lighting scheduled for 6 p.m. Live music leading up to the tree lighting begins at 5:15 p.m.
“Because of the significance of the [tree lighting] event and the reopening of Convention Hall, we’re anticipating a larger than normal crowd. There is a limited capacity so we’re urging people to come early,” said Carrie Turner, director of retail for boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette.
“This is significant because [Saturday] is the originally scheduled date for the tree lighting before Hurricane Sandy hit,” Turner said. “And despite the damage, we were able to move forward on schedule.”
All the existing Grand Arcade retail tenants will be open, Turner said. Also open will be retailers from the boardwalk pavilions that are still undergoing storm repair. Those retailers are Style Rocket, Lightly Salted Surf Mercado, Posh Den, 3rd and Ocean, and La Placa Pottery Works.
A pop-up full service bar called “Harth” will be open featuring beer, wine and mixed drinks, as well as hot holiday beverages, Turner said. Asbury Park Roastery will also have a coffee station, she said.
“I think it’s amazing what they’re doing up here, from where it was a few weeks ago to where it is now,” said Gene Mignola of Shelter Home [above], with locations in the Grand Arcade and on Cookman Ave. in downtown Asbury Park. “It’s exciting that all the tenants are going to be back together again.”
Between now and Christmas, hours for the Convention Hall retailers will be Friday 4 p.m.-10 p.m., Saturday noon-10 p.m. and Sunday noon-6 p.m.
The Convention Hall arena space will reopen for its first post-storm event with the Jersey Shore Roller Girls Roller Derby. The first bout is at 8:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., Turner said.
As for the boardwalk pavilions, electric power is expected to be restored to the structures this week. “We’ve installed the necessary parts and at this time we’re coordinating with JCP&L,” Turner said.
Officials from boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette have said that the pavilion restaurants could all be reopened by Christmas.
Other businesses plan to be open much earlier. McLoone’s Asbury Grille and Watermark Lounge could be open within the next week. (Click here and here for stories on the reopening of those two businesses.)
