Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.


Our community pillars help us carry out our 100-Year Vision

Check it out

Non-profit Organization

Red Bank River Center

The Red Bank River Center promotes local merchants, recruits new businesses, stages vibrant downtown events, and beautifies our streetscapes.

Learn More
organization-banner
organization-banner
10k

ITALIAN EATERY TO SET UP AT GATEWAY SITE

myitalian032410A take-out and sit down restaurant called My Italian Kitchen will set up shop in the former Key Motors garage at Broad Street and Maple Avenue.

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

Looks like a new restaurant is coming to Red Bank. And, no, it’s not a pizza place.

Still, by this time next year, foodies should be able to add My Italian Kitchen to the list of Italian joints saturating Red Bank.

To members of the planning board, which gladly approved the restaurant’s application Monday night, the transformation of one of the most prominent pieces of real estate in town — at its southern gateway, at the corner of Broad Street and Maple Avenue — is a positive move.

my-italian-kitchen-elevationArchitectural plans for the proposed business. (Click to enlarge)

The restaurant will break a long chain of car-oriented venues at the location, which over the decades have included filling stations, a high-end used-car dealer and a scooter seller. A  Cash For Gold business is essentially keeping the spot warm, representatives of the developer say.

“It’s been a problematic site, even since I was a kid. It’s always been affiliated with some sort of vehicle or another,” said Mayor Pasquale Menna, adding that  a new direction at the corner should be something taken seriously. “It would set a new visage for the town and the entrance.”

One of the conditions of the board’s approval is the installation of a “Welcome To Red Bank” sign at the southern corner of the property where there’s now a patch of dying grass.

 

Other than that, not much is going to change at 368 Broad St.

In what are now garage bays will be a small dining room to accommodate about ten tables. The bay doors are staying, a la Jamian’s Food and Drink. Project architect Michael Monroe said the only other noticeable changes to the exterior will be charcoal-gray awnings over the remaining windows.

Everything else will involve outfitting the inside for a morning-’til-night specialty stop.

The prospective operator of My Italian Kitchen, Victor Battista, said the restaurant will offer a variety of Italian foods, many pre-made for people on the run. In the morning there’ll be coffee and bakery items, and from lunch until close customers  can either sit down to eat, grab something to go or bring home an oven-ready dinner option.

The property will have nine parking spaces, though 13 are required. The board granted a variance for the difference and required a contribution to the borough parking fund. Under ordinance, deficiencies cost $2,500 per space.

Monroe said the targeted opening is set for spring 2011. The business is owned by BROMDP BROMAP LLC, whose principals are Battista, Danny Lazzara, Ron Mas and Vincent Sciortino, according to a filing with the borough.

In more restaurant-related business, Zebu Forno got the board’s OK to expand in Red Bank.

Saying the coffee chain is an asset to the borough, Menna and the board quickly approved owner Andrew Gennusa‘s request for a parking variance to add about 600 square-feet to its existing Broad Street space by expanding into adjoining space to the rear of the restaurant.

Gennusa said the space, formerly occupied by Red Bank Red Hot magazine, has been dormant since publisher Claudia Ansorge pulled up stakes to a new home base on the opposite side of English Plaza. Gennusa will also have to pay into the borough’s parking fund for three spots.

With the addition of tables and chairs to the space, it’ll essentially be an extension of Zebu’s current lounge atmosphere, Menna said.

Menna pushed along the application, saying that Zebu is a place that everyone is familiar with and it’s “what makes Red Bank special.”

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank business owner happier than to hear "I saw your ad on Red Bank Green!"
Partyline
RFH CAROLERS BRING HOLIDAY SPIRIT
The Rumson-Fair Haven High School Tower Singers sing Jingle Bells and other favorites in front of the former Chase bank on Broad Street in R ...
RED BANK: YES, IT’S STILL COMING
Four years after winning borough approval, Jack Manousos still plans to open a restaurant at 3-5 Broad Street. When? Not ready to disclose, ...
RED BANK: AMID THE BLUE
A rack of small vessels at the Navesink Riverside Residences and Marina added colors to the river’s deep blue, as seen from the Red Ba ...
[GIF] COUNTDOWN TO TREE LIGHTING
The final countown and lighting of Broad Street toward the end of the Holiday Express Concert. GIF below and video right after.
PANORAMA: HOLIDAY EXPRESS CONCERT
Tim McLoone and his Holiday Express band light up the crowd on Broad Street before the annual tree lighting.
THANKSGIVING EVE: WHAT WAS GOING ON
Nothing marks the arrival of Thanksgiving weekend like reacquainting with someone from high school that you hoped to never see again in your ...
RED BANK: YES, RED BANK
Kayaker Carla Fiscella shared this lovely autumn vignette along the Swimming River at Chapin Avenue from last week.
RED BANK BUCKS GIVEAWAY
Red Bank RiverCenter will host a $5,000 Red Bank Bucks Giveaway at Toast City Diner this Saturday. It’s essentially free money, and who do ...
RED BANK: TREE TIME!
This year’s Christmas tree arrived at Riverside Gardens Park in Red Bank Saturday. It will be lit (along with the rest of the downtown) as ...
RED BANK LIBRARY HOLIDAY HOURS
RED BANK CLASSIC 5K RUNNING A DEAL
Red Bank 5K Classic sets 2024 date, with discount registrations starting Friday.
PBA TOY DRIVE BRINGS JOY TO LOCAL KIDS
Help make a kid’s Christmas a bit nicer with a toy donation to the annual Red Bank PBA toy drive.
FUNDRAISERS SUPPORT GLOBAL REFUGEE RELIEF
Fundraisers with the United Nations Refugee agency on Broad Street collecting donations for refugees worldwide, and killing time between cha ...
“PUT IT IN THE WINDOW!”
The King of Rock and Roll was seen hanging in the window of Jack’s Music Shoppe. When asked if there was any reason behind it apart fr ...
RED BANK: WATCH YOUR STEP
The painted sidewalk at 205 Broad Street (featured in a recent Where Have I Seen This) getting a new look today.
HOLIDAY DECORATIONS GOING UP
Jim Bruno of Powerhouse Signworks takes a minute for a photo and a thumbs up while hanging the wreaths and lights in advance of the annual t ...