There’s been new businesses and new facades of late on the first block of Cookman Avenue off Main Street. Our parent publication triCityNews refers to the block as the “Cookman Avenue Arts Block” because of its eclectic mix of businesses, business owners and architecture. For an Asbury Park Sun photo album of the businesses and […]

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 […]

A record store selling vintage clothing, jewelry and collectable LPs is moving a few doors up the street on Cookman Avenue. Hold Fast records — owned by husband-and-wife team Joe Koukos [above] and Meghan Scott — will reopen on Saturday morning at 611 Cookman Ave. next to the Twisted Tree natural foods cafe. “It’s more […]

Synaxis restaurant, which served Greek cuisine from its location on Cookman Avenue, has closed and its owners are seeking a new spot outside of Asbury Park. “It’s time for us to look for another location,” said Savas Tsivicos, who owned the restaurant with his wife Maria. “Definitely not in the city. We are looking somewhere […]

Demolition of two buildings located in the former stump yard on Cookman Avenue began today. Crews started to demolish the two structures, located on a block between the Wesley Grove condominiums and Kennedy Park, at about 9 a.m. this morning. The larger structure with white awnings has functioned as both a bank and the local […]

For the first time in 30 years, downtown Asbury Park is set for its own three-screen movie theatre with a marquee, which was installed earlier today. The ShowRoom is set to move from 707 Cookman Ave. to a larger space across the street in early November, said Mike Sodano, who co-owns the theatre with his […]

Asbury Park’s seafood festival is setting up shop in a new location this year. Oysterfest will take place in the triangular plot of land across the street from the Wesley Grove condominiums this year, according to Passion Group logistics director Mike Hollemans. The three-day festival kicks off Sept. 7. Previously, Oysterfest was held on Lake […]

The new streetlights on Cookman Avenue between the downtown business district and the waterfront are now installed and operational. The lighting is part of a streetscape program designed to make this barren stretch of Cookman more pedestrian-friendly. There are now eight new streetlights, along with new sidewalks, in the vacant stretch of Cookman where dilapidated […]

Workers are installing new street lights on Cookman Avenue as part of a streetscape program designed to better link the waterfront and downtown business district. The streetscape project started in the spring. Waterfront redeveloper Asbury Partners is paying for the improvements, with the goal of making this barren stretch of Cookman more pedestrian-friendly. Installing the […]

Novice glass-blowers and curious passersby can now create colorful glass art in Asbury Park’s downtown. Hot Sand Glass Studio recently opened its doors at 550 Cookman Ave. For the past seven years, the half-gallery-half-workspace operated out of a storefront on the boardwalk. Hot Sand is likely the only place in the country where patrons can […]