Pier Village
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pier Village is a multi-use "lifestyle center" located in Long Branch, New Jersey along the Atlantic Ocean. It opened in 2005.
Contents |
[edit] History
The land that Pier Village now sits on was originally that of the Long Branch Pier and the Kid's World amusement park.
On June 8, 1987, at around 3 pm, a fire broke out at the McDonald's at the end of the pier. The fire quickly spread throughout the pier, despite efforts by the Long Branch Fire Department to save it. After the fire, all that remained of the pier complex were the water attractions across the street from the pier. However, after the fire, business had slowed down, so the rest of remaining Kid's World closed down for good at the end of that summer.
The owner, Pat Cicalese, planned on rebuilding the pier. However, his insurance didn't cover the cost to rebuild what was destroyed, and the town would not fund the project, so the plans were abandoned. What was left of Kid's World remained abandoned for 17 years after the fire.
What was left of the pier was demolished in the late 1990s. The rest of Kid's World across the street met the wrecking ball in 2002.
Soon after that, construction of Pier Village began, starting with the rebuilding of the boardwalk.
[edit] Features
There are two buildings built around a semi-circle of parallel parking around a grassy area and gazebo. In the winter months, an ice skating rink is brought out to the grassy area. The first story is filled with shops and restaurants, while the upper floors are filled with ocean-view Apartments. During the summer, local bands play at the gazebo on Friday nights.
The tenants are mostly local businesses, most from Monmouth County, but there are national brands, such as Stewart's Root Beer and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.
There is also a shopper's club, which club members can receive special benefits.
[edit] Expansions
New Pier
In 2005, plans for a new pier were unveiled.
The new plans would include:
- A ferry terminal
- An area for fishing
- A 30,000 sq ft. area for exhibitions that would include a restaurant
- A beach-side stage
- An amphitheater
- A 3,500 to 5,000 sq ft. area offshore that will be used for oceanographic and marine science educational classes
Pier Village Phase II
A second expansion broke ground in Fall 2006.
Buildings three and seven will be constructed on the corner of Chelsea Avenue and Ocean Boulevard and will both stand four-stories high with retail stores at street level.
Building three will contain 124 units and a four-story parking deck. building seven will have 47 units, a pool, locker room and public gathering space.
Building eight will be constructed on the corner of Melrose and Ocean Boulevard and will contain residential units above a parking garage.
Buildings three, seven and eight will be rental units and building two will be for-sale units
Pier Village Phase III
In February 2007, a third phase was announced. No details have been revealed yet.
[edit] In popular culture
- In a March 2008 episode of the ABC primetime hidden-camera show, titled "What Would You Do?", which has actors do abnormal things (such get into verbal fights, rob stores, etc.), showed an actor, who was significantly overweight, sitting on a bench in Pier Village while three other actors verbally insulted her.[1]
