Asbury Park’s Iconic Casino Landmark Closed Until Further Notice
Asbury Park’s iconic casino landmark is closed until further notice, as of Monday (May 8) following an inspection. Madison Marquette, the company responsible for the redevelopment of the site, sent a notice regarding the closing per NJ.com.
“After a scheduled inspection of the Casino Building arcade, we have made the difficult decision to close that pass through temporarily,” the notice said. Pedestrians on the boardwalk were previously able to walk through the Casino, which links Asbury Park to Ocean Grove.
“At the moment, access between Asbury Park and Ocean Grove will be along the Wesley Lake promenade and the Wesley Lake bridge,” the notice said.
Asbury Park Mayor John Moor agrees with the decision to close the landmark for the time being. “They’re doing the right thing by closing it. Better safe than sorry,” Moor said. But with the warm weather here and the summer approaching, the mayor hopes the problem is fixed soon. “I’m hoping there’s a quick, short fix,” he said.
With the closing of the casino building, late-night walkers will have to walk all the way down Main Street to crossover to the next town. Both footbridges over Wesley Lake are locked by Ocean Grove at midnight, Moor said.
The Casino goes from one end of the boardwalk and provides a way for beachgoers to pass to and from Ocean Grove. The building was originally built in 1929. It used to be an arcade with several activities but has remained vacant for decades.
While Moor wishes for a “quick fix” for the beloved casino landmark, there is no targeted repair date for the building.
