Local Mayors React to Point Beach Bar Ordinance

The mayors of Manasquan and Belmar said the Point Pleasant Beach ordinance from serving drinks after midnight, which goes into effect July 1, could negatively impact surrounding towns including theirs. 

Manasquan Mayor George Dempsey said the midnight bar closings would likely cause traffic problems in Brielle and Manasquan as late-night patrons leave Point Beach for greener, or more drinkable, pastures.

Belmar's Matt Doherty said he was going to "wait and see" how the ordinance impacted his town, but added that towns in closer proximity to Point Beach such as Manasquan and Seaside are more likely to absorb the surge from Jenkinson's Night Club and Martell's Tiki Bar, two popular destinations in Point Beach. 

Doherty also said Belmar needed no help in the Summer hitting its bar capacity. 

"Belmar is an institution when it comes to nightlife at the Jersey Shore," Doherty said. 

Doherty added that bar owners, in the offseason, have complained they were losing business to Asbury Park. 

Belmar will gain another bar this summer when the tiki bar opens sometime in July, officials have said. 

Dempsey said he was worried about drunk driving risks as party-goers left Point Beach and traveled to and through Manasquan, Wall and Brick. 

"It's not a good scene," Dempsey said.

Dempsey said he'd yet spoken to Police Chief Elliott Correia regarding a plan for the expected influx of traffic, adding that he planned to have a meeting later this month. 

Correia was not immediately available for comment Thursday. 

Doherty said that if Belmar should get overrun with more nightlife visitors, the borough police force was up to the task. 

"Our outstanding police are monitoring the situation and they have the resources to handle an influx," Doherty said.