THE OFFICIAL SITE FOR ASBURY PARK REDEVELOPMENT, NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT.
   
   

April 25, 2005

LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF ASBURY PARK LEASES SPACE ON THE BOARDWALK TO SPOTLIGHT FEMALE AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES

This summer, Kay Harris, pictured, a long-time resident of Asbury Park who currently resides in Neptune, will open the Asbury Galleria in 2,600 square feet of space within the Fifth Avenue Pavilion on Asbury Park’s newly renovated boardwalk. The Asbury Galleria will be comprised of three businesses: Asbury Shutterbugs, a photo gallery selling photos of Asbury Park taken by Harris and her partner Laura Soltesz, as well as a display of historic photos of the City; Kathy’s Beach House, selling sun tan lotion, sun glasses, beach chairs and other beach accessories; and Carla’s Cookies, featuring sweets, smoothies, natural juices and sodas, and country craft items. Harris is taking advantage of a special offer made by Asbury Partners, LLC, master developer of the Oceanfront Asbury 56-acre waterfront redevelopment, which is attracting seasonal retailers to this newly refurbished area with flexible lease terms and reasonable rents.
Kay Harris, a long-time resident of Asbury Park who currently resides in Neptune, has always had a dual vision of how she would help her beloved city: create a business that would bridge the past and the present of this historic area and provide an opportunity for minority business-owners to participate in the re-birth of Asbury Park as a destination resort town.

This summer, both those visions become reality as Harris opens the Asbury Galleria in 2,600 square feet of space within the Fifth Avenue Pavilion on Asbury Park's newly renovated boardwalk.

Harris is taking advantage of a special offer made by Asbury Partners, LLC, master developer of the Oceanfront Asbury 56-acre waterfront redevelopment, which is attracting seasonal retailers to this newly refurbished area with flexible lease terms and reasonable rents.

"After attending a waterfront business opportunity meeting with Asbury Partners, the torch was lit," said Harris. "Uri Kahanow of Asbury Partners provided an overview of the vision they have for the City." As a result, she added, "I could see the opportunities."

The Asbury Galleria will be comprised of three businesses: Asbury Shutterbugs, a photo gallery selling photos of Asbury Park taken by Harris and her partner Laura Soltesz, as well as a display of historic photos of the City; Kathy's Beach House, selling sun tan lotion, sun glasses, beach chairs and other beach accessories; and Carla's

Cookies, featuring sweets, smoothies, natural juices and sodas, and country craft items.

"Harris grew up in Asbury Park, and we are thrilled to have her join with her neighbors in the City's rebirth," noted Kahanow. "She is sub-leasing part of her space to local and minority-owned businesses, thereby paving the way for those who may not have otherwise had the opportunity."

Harris and Soltesz have been taking photos of Asbury Park for the past several years, capturing images of the changing city. Kathy's Beach House, which has a location on Cookman Avenue, began selling some of these photos in addition to Christmas ornaments, magnets and key chains bearing Harris' and Solteszs' well-known photo of the famed Tillie the Clown image. It seemed a logical next step to expand this relationship to the boardwalk setting and invite others to join.

"The Asbury Shutterbug photo gallery within the Asbury Galleria is intended to help keep the fond memories and nostalgia of Asbury Park alive and allow it to continue to live, side-by-side, with the present," said Harris. In addition to the photos, the gallery will include reading material on Asbury's history. Harris also intends to set up café tables and chairs where visitors can leisurely sit and read, and enjoy a cup of coffee or other refreshments offered at Carla's Cookies.

"Of course, our visitors also get to enjoy the ocean view as they take a break from the sun or their stroll on the boardwalk," she noted.

Third Generation Asbury Park Resident Follows Tradition

Harris' family has been in Asbury Park for generations. Her grandfather, Lorenzo W. Harris, Sr., was known as "The Sand Man," creating grand sand sculptures on the beach and challenging the segregated society of the time. Her father and sister have both been members of the City Council, and her mother and sister have served as prominent members of the Asbury Park school system.

"They were all a driving force in my decision to take on this new business challenge," she said.

As the City's redevelopment begins to come into its own, the demand for retail space in the First and Fifth Avenue pavilions for this summer has escalated. "I look forward to being neighbors with Ed Gasper's The Beach Place restaurant and Art's Ices, both tenants of the same pavilion as well as The Mayfair Boardwalk Grill, a long-time boardwalk favorite eatery," said Harris. Other summer tenants include Gertrude Hawke Chocolates; Asbury Peddlers bicycle rental; Confetti's Italian Ices and Ice Cream; the Asbury Amusement Factory arcade; a French-American bistro, a pizzeria; and Just Beachy - a souvenir and sundries boutique, all of whom have leased space on the boardwalk. In addition, the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce Visitor's Center will be located in the First Avenue pavilion.

"The boardwalk renovations, coupled with the full lineup of beachfront entertainment slated for the summer, will draw thousands of visitors and families," said Larry Fishman, chief operating officer for Asbury Partners. "That means thousands of potential customers for those seasonal retailers, who have had the foresight to get in on the ground floor of Asbury Park's re-emergence as a prime summer destination."