News & Press Releases

November 30, 2007
REPRINTED COURTESY OF THE ASBURY PARK PRESS, A GANNETT CO. NEWSPAPER

Asbury Park’s holiday bazaar

Unconventional shopping at Convention Hall

By NANCY SHIELDS
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU

Shopkeepers and restaurateurs opened up Thursday afternoon in the historic Convention Hall-Paramount Theatre boardwalk arcade, which this year has been transformed into a holiday bazaar. Sixteen businesses — some from the city boardwalk’s summer days, and others from Cookman Avenue and Ocean Grove — are set up in the old-fashioned, wood and glass concession shops that have been closed for years, and in many cases decades.

At the center of the arcade is a 30-foot holiday tree, trimmed in red ribbons, with dozens of smaller trees and large wreaths decorating the 1929-era hall. The lighting of the tree will take place tonight at 7, and will be followed by a fireworks display on the boardwalk.

Madison Marquette, the national retail and entertainment developer, is restoring boardwalk icons and rebuilding the pavilions.

Many of the businesses inside are part of the mix planned for next summer, when the company hopes to open all of the boardwalk pavilions. The excitement at the arcade Thursday reflected that Madison Marquette has brought money to town for retail and for entertainment.

“That’s what we needed, some serious interest, some serious money,” said Kathy Ragackas, owner with her partner Donna Harrison of Wish You Were Here on Cookman, who has opened Wish You Were Here Too in the arcade. The shop has baked goods, specialty candies, music boxes, tin signs, jewelry and postcards.

Ali Locke and Brianne Jones, who were making hot-pressed sandwiches at Casa DiFormaggio, said having the Premiere Theatre Company’s “Scrooge” being performed this weekend at the Paramount was a draw to participate in the arcade adventure.

Rachel Littman, owner with Julia Murphy of the Motif gift store that focuses on contemporary designs on Cookman Avenue, agreed.

“We heard they were doing a holiday bazaar and that there would be a lot of wonderful performances at the Paramount and thought this would be fun,” Littman said.

Kay Harris, owner of Asbury Galleria, displayed her popular photographs and Sandra Sutherland’s holiday ornaments, at a kiosk near the holiday tree. Harris said she will be with Madison Marquette on the boardwalk again next summer.

Nearby, Debbie DeLisa readied her own kiosk selling Wonder Bar merchandise and ornaments. The popular bar and music hangout she and singer Lance Larson operated on Ocean Avenue has closed — at least for the time being.

The stores and restaurants will be open Thursdays through Sundays until New Year’s Eve. Some may stay open on through the winter, said Michael Walker, Madison Marquette’s creative director on the Asbury Park boardwalk.

Other shops and restaurants in the arcade include Brielle Cyclery, Trillium Antiques & Art, Greg LaPlaca Pottery, the Man Store, the Experience Asbury Shop, Market in the Middle’s Arcade Soup Kitchen, A Different Twist, the Baker Boys and the new winter beach bar Shiver.

Arcade shopping hours are from 2 to 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Live entertainment is scheduled each day at 3 and 6 p.m.

On Saturday, a trolley will run from the arcade to the downtown business district’s First Saturday event, this month called the “Festival of Lights,” when stores and restaurants will stay open late. The event is sponsored by Jersey Central Power & Light Co. and organized by the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce.

Unwrapped toys and gifts for children ages 1 to 12 can be dropped off at The Shoppes at the Arcade through Dec. 17 as part of a toy drive with Interfaith Neighbors, the Westside Community Center and The Center in Asbury Park.