NY Times reports on Asbury and shore post-Sandy
Schlossbach, Augustin and Jacobson on WNYC radio this morning
The New York Times published an article today reporting that while many places on the Jersey Shore suffered devastation from Hurricane Sandy, others — such as Asbury Park, which the Times highlighted — largely escaped the destruction.
“When you first revisit the Jersey Shore, the damage is shocking,” wrote Times reporter Helene Stapinski. “But amid the demolished boardwalks and toppled buildings…it’s also a shock to see how much is still standing.”
As part of her research, Stapinski visited Asbury Park during last month’s tree lighting ceremony [above] before a capacity crowd at Convention Hall. [Click here for today’s Times story. Click here for the Sun photo album of the tree lighting and here for the tree lighting video.]
Meanwhile, triCityNews and Asbury Park Sun publisher Dan Jacobson appeared this morning on the Brian Lehrer radio show on WNYC to discuss the condition of Asbury Park. Also on the show were Asbury Park restaurant owner Marilyn Schlossbach and community activist Rev. Sony Augustin. [Click here for the audio from the show.]
Schlossbach’s Langosta Lounge and Pop’s Garage on the boardwalk remain closed for repairs, as do restaurants Stella Marina and Cubacan. Gary Mottola, president of investments for boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette, told the Sun that repairs will be completed to allow those businesses to reopen next month. Until then, Schlossbach moved her restaurant operations across the street on Ocean Avenue to her existing Dauphin Grille restaurant in the Berkeley Hotel.
Two other boardwalk businesses — McLoone’s Asbury Grille and Supper Club, along with Watermark cocktail lounge — reopened about two weeks ago.
From Stapinski’s Times article this morning:
I’m riding down Kingsley, looking for a place to park. With the crowds at Convention Hall, the Stone Pony and the Wonder Bar, there are no spots left on this oceanfront stretch. I’m here to see the roller-derby championship, three weeks after Hurricane Sandy ripped through and devoured the boardwalk. It’s night, and a waxing moon barely lights the culprit — the churning Atlantic, which both gives this place its life and threatens its existence.
Inside Convention Hall it’s almost easy to forget what’s happened. The cast of “Scrooge” is dressed in period costume, handing out fliers. The winter bazaar stalls are doing a swift business. And the cover band playing at the tree-lighting ceremony is loud enough to drown out thoughts of FEMA and insurance agents.
“Everybody’s here tonight, checking in with each other,” said Tom Gilmour, the city’s director of commerce and economic development, gesturing to his exhausted but smiling neighbors. It seems the whole city — including the mayor — is in this one enormous room. Some have even brought their dogs. “People think the whole shore is just washed away,” Mr. Gilmour said. “But we’re here.”
