See inside Pier Pins, new entertainment lounge at Pier Village in Long Branch
LONG BRANCH - Two white bowling pins with red stripes on the outside façade lead the way to a new entertainment venue called Pier Pins which just opened at Pier Village's new retail section below The Lofts condos on Melrose Terrace.
The 8,000-square-foot upscale entertainment lounge has four full-sized bowling lanes and several popular table games such as air hockey, ping pong and pool tables. Guests can also immerse themselves in an array of simulated sports experiences ranging from golf to lacrosse to soccer, to name some, within the lounge's three sports simulator bays.
Beyond the games, guests can take a seat at Pier Pins’ full-service bar surrounded by high-top chairs and lounge seating and enjoy handcrafted cocktails and a range of beers and wines. Complementing the beverages is a curated menu of bar bites overseen by the Salt Steakhouse, also located at Pier Village.
“We knew that a high-end entertainment concept would be the ideal complement to the diverse slate of food and beverage and shopping experiences available to visitors at Pier Village,” said Nicole Kushner Meyer, a principal in Kushner Cos., in a prepared statement.
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Kushner Cos., which owns Pier Village, has teamed up with Salt Steakhouse and operations veteran Ernie Blundell to managed the Pier Pins. Blundell brings over 30 years of management experience at attractions including the Empire State Building, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, the Seattle Space Needle and Six Flags Great Adventure, Kushner Cos. said.
“Every single detail from the décor to the thoughtfully crafted menu to the selection of games has been meticulously orchestrated to ensure an unparalleled experience for each and every guest who walks through our doors,” Blundell said in a prepared statement.
Pier Pins is part of Kushner Cos.' goal to make Pier Village a year-round oceanfront residential, retail and recreational destination.
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Between the new addition and the original construction completed in 2006, Pier Village, which was at the center of a city-led initiative that began 25 years ago to redevelop the beachfront, now has over 140,000 square feet of retail, 493 rental apartments, 245 condos and 91 hotel rooms.
The first two phases of Pier Village were built by Ironstate Development. Kushner Cos. purchased the site in 2014 and completed the build out with phase three, a mix of luxury oceanfront condos, a resort hotel and retail.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Pier Pins bowling lounge opens in Long Branch Pier Village
