Nearly two years to the day when a devastating flood sent Wesley Lake pouring into the Asbury Park Festhalle and Biergarten, the future of the since-closed popular gathering spot is now known.  

Asbury Festhalle and Biergarten welcomed giant crowds from 2015 until September 2023,

That all changed when this storm dumped 6 inches of rain in just hours, overwhelming Lake Avenue and sending a torrent of water into the Biergarten.  

Following the flood, the general manager could not get insurance to cover the loss and earlier this year announced he was done.   

Fast forward two years since the flood and the doors swung open once again, this time for construction crews. The plan is to convert the once-thriving beer garden into its new name “Asbury Social,” under the same ownership partners who run House of Independents.  

Kathy Kelly owns the Paranormal Museum, a short walk away on Cookman Avenue.  This hammering is music to her ears.  

“It’s always great to see new things coming into place, seeing new dreams being born here, love that,” Kelly said. “It marked a big turn in downtown Asbury Park because we finally had a venue that was large enough for people to take notice.” 

Asbury Social will feature open space dining downstairs, and seasonal roof top dining upstairs, from casual to high-end specialties. The new owners promise an across-the-board appeal to all visitors. 

“So exciting. It’s been vacant for a little while being someone who lives here, I am super excited to have a restaurant in town and have a great space so yeah looking forward to it,” said Ann Glover, an Asbury Park local who lives a few steps from the restaurant.  

The ownership partners tell News 12 they’re not quite yet ready to announce anything specific like an opening date or menu items, but they will maintain a large beer selection to carry on tradition.