State Quietly Launches New Tiki Bar And Grill At Island Beach State Park

It's definitely not a problem finding a place to buy a beer or cocktail at the Jersey Shore in the summer.

There's a myriad of establishments along the coast where you can eat, drink and listen to live music.

But Island Beach State Park was never one of them. Until now.

The Red Fox Tiki Bar And Grill for-profit quietly opened for business at the park on Sept. 8.

And the director of the New Jersey Sierra Club is worried the move could lead to even more commercial development at the state park, often referred to the "jewel" of the state park system.

“There may be nothing wrong with a tiki bar at Island Beach State Park, but it may be a sign of something more to come to our state parks," said Tittel. "The Christie administration has a long history of trying to bring privatization and commercial development on our state parks. So is this really just a burger and beer bar or is it this the beginning of something much bigger?"

The Red Fox Tiki Bar and Grill is a 100-seat establishment will sell typical bar food, beer and alcoholic drinks. It will be open from 11 a.m. to until the park closes, only during the summer season, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection website.

"Our park system, like many around the country, are looking for additional revenue streams to help make the parks more sustainable," DEP spokesman Bob Considine said. "Running parks is expensive. Upkeep of parks is expensive. It’s efforts like these that we attempt to bring in more revenue to make our parks more sustainable and hopefully avoid things like park closures or raising fees."

Considine scoffs at Tittel's suggestion that the Red Fox could lead to possible large-scale commercial development at the park.

“We’d recommend Jeff Tittel try decaf," Considine said. "The sky is not falling. The world is not ending. There are no attempts to disrupt the character of the park with this addition. We’re trying to bring some revenue streams to the park and other parks where we can make the park system more sustainable. If he wants to go set himself on fire and go through his daily Chicken Little routine to get himself through the night, by all means. But we’re not concerned about his concerns.””

The current food vendor at Island Beach is PPCF, which also operates Chippy's Fresh French Fries in Point Pleasant and Jimmy's Cucina in Brielle. The vendor agreed to build and operate the facility. Any alcohol sold at the Red Fox must be consumed at the facility, according to the DEP website.

"Adding adult alcohol beverage service in a controlled environment is another opportunity for visitors of legal age to enjoy an adult beverage while visiting the beach for a day," the website states. "This service is no different that what is being offered along most of the Jersey Shore at our boardwalks and elsewhere. Providing enhanced amenities within the New Jersey State Park System has been a goal of the Christie Administration."

The bar is located in the fenced-in area on the west side of Bathing Area Pavilion 1. Patrons will not be allowed to bring alcohol into the beach area or into the park.

"If they continue with putting bars and restaurants inside the park. it may hurt tourism outside the park because local businesses are still struggling," Tittel said. "Parks have been the one thing that government does right and that people have enjoyed for years being above politics and commercialization "

The bid proposal set the cost of upgrading the kitchen, food court, food service area, a Dunkin Donuts, which still has to be installed. The vendor will pay the costs, which are estimated between $230,000 and #280,000.

What do you think about the new establishment? Tell us in the comments section below.

by Patricia A. Miller

Image: Red Fox Tiki Bar and Grill Facebook page.