County Reveals Plans for Boathouse Restaurant

Under a tent filled with more than 100 people, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. outlined plans Tuesday afternoon for a $4 million, 500-seat boathouse restaurant at the county's South Mountain Recreation Complex on Northfield Avenue in West Orange.

"This project will enhance our residents' quality of life, create jobs and positively contribute to the economic development of Essex County," he said to the crowd, which included Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and the county freeholder board. DiVincenzo said the money for the boathouse restaurant will come from the county's capital dollars and open space dollars.

"The restaurant brings people here to stay here to play golf … to go to the zoo," he said. DiVincenzo estimated the restaurant would bring in at least $225,000 in revenue a year.

The 36-acre South Mountain Recreation Complex includes Turtle Back Zoo, Richard J. Codey Arena, a three-story Park N Ride facility, a 300-space surface parking lot, miniGOLF Safari and the soon-to-be-built boathouse.

McLoone's Restaurants, a New Jersey Shore-based business, has partnered with Essex County as the vendor.

"We're pretty glad to be here," said Tim McLoone, owner of the restaurant group that currently operates six eateries, including five in New Jersey and one in Maryland. "We find a way that the price points we offer is something that everyone can find a place in our restaurant we can enjoy."

McLoone said the restaurant will be a casual, family-friendly eatery, "I really hope the community will embrace this."

Guadagno, who is friends with McLoone, said DiVincenzo contacted her a week ago about the groundbreaking.

"Essex County is pretty lucky to get Tim McLoone and the McLoone's Restaurant people here," she said to the audience. "He's going to be a great community leader to you all. I want to congratulate you on the match. It's a perfect one."

Gregory Comito, of Comito Associates in Newark, who is the architectural firm on the project, said the 12,000-square-foot restaurant will have a wilderness theme and include a 6,000-square-foot deck.

Dr. Jeremy Goodman, Turtle Back Zoo's director, said the restaurant will help boost traffic and, ultimately, revenue for the zoo.

"We're hoping it's a win-win because not only can they get a bite to eat at the zoo or miniGOLF, but families can have a great experience by getting an affordable after hitting one of the recreational locations."

The restaurant will overlook the Orange Reservoir, which DiVincenzo said the county is looking to purchase from the city to expand the recreation complex.

"We want to purchase it and they want to lease it," he said. "We're at a standstill right now, but we're going to continue to build the boathouse and hopefully we will come to an agreement that will benefit Essex County and Orange."

The city of Orange rejected a $700,000 offer from the county for the reservoir property in March. DiVincenzo said the reservoir property is appraised for $660,000.

He said the county has made a second offer for the reservoir, but he declined to discuss specifics.

"I want to take that offer and put in $3 million into it so it can be utilized not just by residents in Orange, but people throughout the county and the state," he said. "We want to bring everyone here to bring in revenue so that they can utilize this entire complex and spend their dollars here in Essex County."

The restaurant is set to open in October.