An iconic spot for Black music culture in New Jersey is making a comeback.

The Turf Club in Asbury Park is the last remnant of Springwood Avenues' once booming music and entertainment scene. The Asbury Park African American Music Project is working to bring music back to the long-shuttered entertainment venue in the seaside city.

During its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s, the Turf Club was just one of the many venues that African Americans could go to enjoy music. It originally opened back in 1940 at 1125 Springwood Avenue before moving to 1200 Springwood Avenue in 1956 where the building still stands today.

A fire in the 1990s and years of neglect forced the club to close its doors.

To ensure future generations know the importance of the Turf Club, the Asbury Park African American Music Project purchased the venue in 2022 and began renovating it to its former glory. The plan is to make it a community music and cultural venue.