Taka restaurant began serving customers at their new Cookman Avenue location Thursday. The official move from their Mattison Avenue space to a prominent corner space at the intersection of Cookman and Bond streets came shortly after members of the Asbury Park City Council Wednesday approved a request to transfer the restaurant’s liquor license from the […]

The Asbury Park City Council is expected to vote Wednesday on whether to refer another amendment of the city’s Central Business District redevelopment plan to the Planning Board. The change is requested by owners of the Lakehouse building, as they seek to expand into a neighboring structure. Sound recording studios and classrooms are not permitted […]

The Cameo Bar has closed after nearly 50 years operating on Main Street. Asbury Park entrepreneur John McGillion, owner of Johnny Mac House of Spirits on Main Street, confirmed the landmark art deco structure on Main Street between Fourth and Fifth avenues [shown at right] saw its last night of service Tuesday. Within the weeks ahead, McGillion […]

Downtown Asbury Park could be the home of the state’s first gin and whiskey distillery since prohibition. Asbury Park Distilling, LLC. submitted plans Friday to open a 4,000 square foot craft distillery at 527 Lake Ave., on the corner of Lake Avenue and Press Plaza. The distillery would be located within the same building as the […]

Public testimony at a previous planning board meeting has prompted owners of Taka restaurant to rethink the facade renovations at their new Cookman Avenue location. Rather than the cultured stone facade planning board members granted preliminary approvals on [shown below], owners will attempt to restore the existing brick facade currently hidden by a stucco finish […]

Another new business has opened up on downtown Bangs Avenue. Evaporate Lounge caters to the growing subculture of e-cigarette users, or “vapers,” since what they inhale is a vaporized mixture of food-grade flavorings combined with propylene glycol or vegetable glycerine rather than the combustible ingredients traditional tobacco products. Many vapers, including store owners Chris Cook […]

Tao Massage has moved into a space on Bangs Avenue in Asbury Park. Owner Vivian Taormina put most of the the finishing touches on the interior this weekend. A June 11 grand opening celebration is planned. With the new location comes a stripped down name, just “Tao,” since the location now offers facials, a hot […]

An established Bradley Beach tattoo shop is making a move to Asbury Park. Electric Tattoo owners Mike Schweigert [shown above], Tom Yak and Robert Ryan have signed a 5-year lease at 605 Lake Avenue and already have zoning approval from the city to operate at the location. Demolition is underway at the site and a mid-summer […]

Bank on Mattison claimed the spot as the first new downtown bar and restaurant in Asbury Park  to open in 2014 earlier this month. Thomas McInerney, 43, his wife Jodi, 40, and his twin brother James partnered with former Baca manager Bryan Grant and former Old Man Rafferty’s manager Chase Moriarty, both 28, to bring […]

Vaporizers have quickly risen in use as an alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes in recent years, and two business owners will soon open a store that seeks to embrace the culture of “vaping” in Asbury Park. Irene Gasparyan and Chris Cook [at right] have signed a lease at 611 Bangs Avenue, between Bond and Emory streets, where […]