---

Any concerns that Food Network celebrity cook Guy Fieri will be opening an eatery at the former Cibo e Vino or Fish space can be laid to rest, according to Sackman Enterprises Executive Property Manager Tom Wilson.

“We have not received any inquires from Guy Fieri or any representative, to my knowledge, from his organization,” Wilson said. “He may have spoken to other realtors but they have not contacted my office.”

The two eateries, owned by restaurateurs Jim and Karen DeGiglio may have seemed to abruptly close Monday but Wilson said discussions with the couple had been ongoing for some time.

“Fish and Cibo [Karen and Jim] have been terrific tenants with us for some time,” Wilson said. “However, they made some financial commitments that affected their operations in Asbury Park so they could develop the new project in Ridgewood.”

Wilson said there is no truth in the rumor that Sackman Enterprises planned on raising the rents, in fact the lease for Cibo e Vino was in place through 2018, and Fish through Nov 2017. Both agreement had renewal options in place.

“They signed a mutual agreement to terminate and vacate the premise,” Wilson said. “We had negotiated it over a period of time, probably almost two months, and it was executed last week.

“We try to treat situations like this with great sensitivity,” he said. “We have a business and a personal relationship with Jim and Karen and we really treasure both. Our relationship with our tenants are very important and very long lasting.”

Fish opened on Mattison Avenue in 2010 and was followed by the neighboring Cibo e Vino in 2013. Attempts to reach the DeGiglios at their Asbury businesses Tuesday by voicemail and in person at their venues were unsuccessful. They were not immediately available Thursday via calls to the Ridgewood location.

Wilson also confirmed that there has been no discussions with Johnny Mac’s owner John McGillion about taking over the space but would speak to whether or not Barrio Costero [on Bangs] would be expanding into the space.

“I am not going to confirm or deny with regards to Barrio or anyone specifically because that is in negotiations,” Wilson said. “We’ve had many inquiries from some of our existing tenants expressing interest in one or both spaces.”

The liquor license for all three restaurants in the Post building are governed by 601-603 LLC, of which Carter Sackman is a member. Each venue is regarded as a concessionaire or member of the liquor license LLC, Wilson said.

“We are trying to be selective in making sure that any replacement is financially qualified,” he said. “We are not looking for something that is primarily considered a bar. We’re looking for something that, as a theme, compliments everything else we have in the downtown area. We are not looking for a restaurant that would compete with our existing tenants.”

——————————————————————-

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

---