BERKELEY – A family restaurant offering Mexican fare is expected to open in the building that used to be CB Huntington’s.
That family restaurant closed a number of years ago, and was replaced by Bill’s BBQ Shack, which was operated by the daughter of one of the original Blackbeard’s Cave owners. After Bill’s closed, it remained vacant. Some of Blackbeard’s land now has the storage facility on it.
The restauranteur told The Berkeley Times that the new restaurant will be called Agave and is going to serve Mexican cuisine.
He owns a few other restaurants in Ocean County. He envisions a catering hall and perhaps a mariachi band performing inside on weekends.
This month, the Township Council heard the plan to re-open the building.
Attorney Robert Shea spoke on behalf of the contract purchaser of the 270-seat restaurant.
Shea said there will be no significant changes to the footprint of the building, and no changes in the number of parking spaces – 97. There will be slight modifications to bring the restaurant up to the current regulations of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
“We’re not really doing much to the site except for ADA compliance,” said Chris Rosati, an engineer on the project. Additionally, there will be some safety changes to the parking area, including restriping.
He said the property is 2.7 acres and is adjacent to the storage facility. Open space is nearby.
“Let’s clean this site up and get it active,” he said. “This could be the start of something good in the area.”
Councilman James Byrnes asked if the abandoned building nearby is part of the project.
He was referring to what was most recently a second hand store.
Shea said that it is not part of this plan.
Answering another of Byrnes’ questions, Shea said that the restaurant will have a liquor license.
Normally, when construction changes – such as the steps and porch – are proposed, they have to go before the town’s Planning Board. However, the restaurant is within a redevelopment zone. “Redevelopment” is when there is already something on a property, but it is not being used to its fullest extent.
When property is determined to be in need of redevelopment, it changes the process. For one, a redevelopment entity has to be named. In this case, the Township Council is the redevelopment entity, so they have a measure of control over what goes there.
The half-hour meeting discussing the restaurant was because the redeveloper was asking the redevelopment entity for a letter of no interest, basically making sure that the council has no problem with the plan. The council, acting as the redevelopment entity, said they have no issues with it.
The restaurant still has to come before the Planning Board for approval.
The property is located at 140 and 150 Atlantic City Boulevard, Block 837, Lots 4 and 5.
Outside Parties
Officials discussed whether there will be outside entertainment. A previous owner had opened a bar and small concert venue called FUBAR behind the restaurant. Some residents were upset about noise. Someone complained at a Township Council meeting 11 years ago that drunk people were walking across Route 9 to get to their cars because there wasn’t enough parking for all the people who came out to see Hoobastank, a rock band performing there.
Shea said there will be no outdoor facility.
Township Planner James Oris said that FUBAR never got approvals to open.
