Long Branch Council Hears Plans For Proposed Beer Garden

By Christopher Sheldon

Developers presented plans to build a beer garden in Long Branch Broadway Gateway redevelopment zone on Tuesday night.

The Long Branch Council viewed the plans for the beer garden for the first time and will now review the plan and suggest changes to developer, Second Avenue Warehouse, LCC, before potentially moving forward with the plan. The council is charged with reviewing the plans because it must approve anything that could be built in one of the city's redevelopment zones.

The Long Branch Zoning Board or Long Branch Planning Board would also also have to look at the plan if the council grants approval.

Project Principal Preston Casertano said he bought the warehouse at 15-17 Second Avenue a few years ago and wanted to build a beer garden, called WhiteChapel, similar to ones he has visited in Europe.

"WhiteChapel will be a unique offering of food, drink and creativity unlike anything seen on the Jersey Shore," Casertano said.

Casertano said WhiteChapel would be the first beer garden on the Jersey Shore, and the fourth in the state with others located in Hoboken and Jersey City.

"We're going to have a beer garden with sculptures in it, a beer hall, an actual brewery, entertainment and an event gallery space," Casertano said. "It will truly be a unique combination of commercial and art uses."

He said musical performances, yoga, weddings, book signings, small conventions and seminars could be held in the event space. He said there would also be "free scheduled space" for Long Branch community activities.

The building would also feature a "green roof" where fresh herbs and vegetables for the restaurant would be grown.

Casertano said the 3-story building on Second Avenue would be deconstructed to one floor and that a courtyard would be built in its place. He said the courtyard could host famers' markets, bake sales and "public art installations."

The council could review the plans again with the developer at its next meeting in August, but in the meantime, Council President Joy Bastelli said she had some concerns she would like to see addressed.

"We will continue to review this, I have some concerns but I would be happy to discuss them," Bastelli said. "Overall, I really like the concept."