Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty and 9th Ave. Pier operator Bob Cooper, president of Chef's International, will be on-hand 3 p.m. today for the marina bar and restaurant's official ribbon-cutting ceremony, organizers said. 

The list of invited guests include Senator Robert Singer, Assemblymen Sean Kean and David Rible, Monmouth County Freeholders, and members of the Belmar Harbor Commission and Friends of Belmar Harbor board members, organizers said. A surrogate for U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone is also expected. 

"The opening of the 9th Avenue Pier Restaurant marks the beginning of a 25 year public/private partnership between the borough and Chef’s International," organizers said in a release. 

Since opening last month the restaurant seemingly has been a major hit with locals and many others as the pier just off Route 35 can be seen packed with patrons on most, if not all, fair-weathered evenings. 

For additional information contact Leigh Kelsey O’Donnell at
732-759-5515 or leighkodonnell@gmail.com