Funtime America Moving From Aberdeen to Eatontown

By Christopher Sheldon

Eatontown is getting a new addition to its Route 35 corridor as the owners of Funtime America have decided to move their business from Aberdeen to the borough.

The Eatontown Zoning Board of Adjustment granted use and parking variances to the Funtime America/NLF Holdings during its Sept. 9 meeting that will allow the move to happen.

General Manager Luigi Falco said his indoor amusement park's lease at its Aberdeen location is "about to expire" and that the former home of Avalon Flooring at 269 Route 35 was an ideal new location.

"We think it's a great opportunity for us," Falco said. "We think it will be very successful."

Owner Nate Franco said he hopes to move into the Eatontown location by Dec. 1.

Every Eatontown Zoning Board member, with the exception of Ben Caviglia, voted to give Funtime America the use variances it needs to operate in Eatontown. Caviglia said he did not believe the use should be permitted in the area and was concerned with the hours of the facility and that it would not attract an older age group during those late hours.

Falco said most of his customers are 4 to 12-year-olds and that Funtime America stays open to as late as 9 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends.

He said schools often hold "project graduation" events at his business. Project graduation is where schools allow students to come to a controlled environment after a graduation and stay there until the early morning hours.

Franco said although his new location does not have enough parking spaces to satisfy the borough's parking ordinance, that his lot in Aberdeen is rarely full and that the 113 spaces at the Eatontown location is "adequate."