I should weigh in and I will.
Any speculation that there was a master plan beyond acquiring the
development rights to the 200 and 100 blocks of 4th ave is wrong.
From the start, the whole idea behind buying the Fast Lane and Baronet,
along with 3 other properties still in private hands, was for the sole
purpose of
aligning ourselves to buy the development rights from Asbury Partners
for 4th ave along the Ocean. That the Partners demanded 17+million
dollars per parcel with the Partners retaining 100% of all retail space
built was and is the reason that only 3 sub-developers are working the
waterfront. It is no coincidence that the three projects that are moving
along nicely and looking good are leftover from Messrs. Carabretta and
Vacarro should not surprise anyone.
Here is a quote from Dan...."A huge let down that people were sold on a
crusade to Save the Baronet.
I thought it was courageous of Pat et al to embark on it in the first
place. But people, including myself, got hyped for apparently nothing.
What ever happened to the letter from Fishman promising to save it?
Will these be more demolitions"
I have to clarify something. Pat had zero to do with the successful Save
The Baronet "crusade". That was a grassroots movement that was the
result of one phone call
by me(to Pam Lamburton), and one email to my list I have been compiling
since working The Wonder Bar 2 summers ago. The phone call and email was
my response to being let down by the people that Pat and I both expected
to run with the Baronet as a grand consolation prize to the ridiculous
and failed Savoy Theatre pipe dream. So, all you who believe Pat bought
any properties in the Zone to jack up the price and zero in on profit
are way off. If we, and that is a collective we, if we who run these
establishments in Asbury Park, especially on the waterfront felt we
could make the rent, let alone a living, running these clubs and
businesses, we would do so with zeal.
I am sure that most readers have spent their fair share of hard earned
cash in the Wonderbar, it's those long X-Pensive nights when no one
shows up that kills the bottom line. It is the same thing at the
theatre. We ran 2 dollar movies and other than the first few weeks, no
one showed up. Dinner and a Movie, promoted in-house by a couple top
restaurants, was the ultimate failure, no one showed up.
But that is less than half the story. It is obvious to many of us that
the WB, the Baronet, et al will do more than enough business given the
opportunity. And we are being offered and given the opportunity to do
just that. The letter Dan is referring to spurred our deal with the
partners and thankfully, the NEW waterfront developer has been active in
negotiations.
It is my fervent belief that The Baronet will continue to run for many
years; that the Baronet will be given it's fair shot a new and fruitful
future. In the next few months The Baronet will have no less than 3
stage presentations, an orchestra, concerts and at the very least,
partnering in 3 film festivals. The schedule for the fast lane is also
filling up with shows that will appeal to everyone from teenagers to
rockers to country music high steppers those into the NYC groove.
Here is another quote, I think from "fred", you owe me a hand shake, Fred.
"Are you thsat naive, Pat pulled off the same thing as Over my dead
body Santanna did. It was a scam from the beginning. They used the
Save Baronet People. Just like Dominic. They used traderdude also.
They fill their pockets and the save the Baronet People look like
asses."
I believe that if last night the council would have voted;NO would have
been the eminent domain answer on the 4th ave properties. I believe
that Bruno and Lofreddo would have led the no votes.
There was no scam and Dominic Santana deserved what he got; he was
smart. Eventually, and rightfully, the unsafe firetrap that is the Pony
will come tumbling down and a new and extreme Stone Pony will be built,
all the while Dominic will be enjoying his pony bucks. . Here is to the
fervent hope that the current owners of the license realize they have no
idea how to operate a night club and allow someone else to take the
reins of the Pony and run with it. I feel much the same about the fast
lane, I pushed hard to have a pro operator run the place, but it fell on
my lap. same as the baronet. The baronet also needs real operators, a
team like those that built the Carlton Theater into the Count Basie
would be nice, but for the time being, we have a solid handle on The
Baronet and it will be a happening spot in the very near future. Hedwig
is going to be big, get your tickets early!!!!
I am not sure about the fats lane, it is so expensive to open it up and
things like what happened at the deep make running a club a risky business.
From the waves on the beach to the west side of Asbury Park, from Deal
To Wesley Lake, I don't think that Asbury has looked as good as it does
in 30 years. Many projects, 4 I am involved with, are all finishing at
the same basic time. The new waterfront is being laid out, and the 2-way
traffic on Ocean Ave rules out the return of the circuit. Ya' know it
funny that after change upon change things are more or less the same,
I'll bet that 2007 is not the 1st time cars have gone both ways on the
original Ocean Avenue.
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