Eat at Joe's: New Restaurant Proposed for the Monmouth Mall

Ahoy, mateys! Joe's Crab Shack, the funky national seafood chain in over 100 locations, is looking to make landfall at the Monmouth Mall pending approval from Eatontown's zoning and planning boards.

Designs presented Monday night by the restaurant's project manager, Ryan Oyster, for the 8,000 square-foot building included an nine-foot-tall pirate sign and an open-air eating area, which would be built in a remote parking area in the southeast area of the lot across from the AMC Loews Theatres. The Eatontown location would be the third Joe's Crab Shack in the state, with restaurants operating in Lawrenceville and South Plainfield.

While the planning board didn't seem to take issue with the proposed neon "Eat at Joe's" sign over the main entrance or the three-seasons patio dining area, what did cause concern among members at the April 25 meeting was the planned outdoor play area.

The roughly 35' by 20' "pirate playground" would be situated not far off Route 35 and surrounded by a three-foot tall, galvanized steel and post fence. Board members not only questioned whether the fence would be able to withstand the impact of a car, but also whether the height of the fence would keep kids in the play area and strangers out.

Planning board member Mark Woloshin and council liason Jennifer Piazza questioned the safety of the playground, but board member Cathy Silva pointed out that children would play in the lot for short periods of time and, hopefully, under adult supervision.

"You can't design for every situation," said Oyster, who pointed out that the building was not designed to withstand the 60 mph impact from a car.

One suggestion made by the board was to create a berm as a buffer between the restarurant and the highway.

At 11:30 p.m., representatives for Joe's Crab Shack agreed to resume their presentation to the planning board at its May 9 meeting given the late hour.