Asbury Park's Porta looks to expand kitchen and add an outdoor event space

ASBURY PARK — The City Council heard plans for a proposed expansion of Porta — the pizzeria, restaurant and bar that hosts live music and doubles as a nightclub — at its Feb. 28 meeting.

The redevelopment plan for Porta, which opened at 911 Kingsley St. in 2011, is being called the Porta National Park project, said Matt Hockenjos, development manager at Smith, the city-based group that owns the restaurant.

The plan includes a kitchen expansion; the installation of a semi-permanent outdoor tented space for special events; an increase in outdoor dining; the conversion of an existing structure into a spot for grab-and-go items; and landscaping improvements such as pergolas and seating areas.

"The Porta National Park project, also known as Portaland, has been in discussion at Smith since the early years," Hockenjos said. "As a group of longtime locals and event organizers in the city, we believe a large, welcoming space with separate but connected outdoor areas will be a great addition to the oceanfront. ... The intention is for Porta to host more events, private and public, and partner with like-minded local people, groups and businesses."

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The project was designed by Watt Architects in Asbury Park, and Bowman Consulting Group in Freehold Township.

The kitchen expansion

Porta's plans include a 3,600-square-foot addition on the west side of the building to expand the restaurant's kitchen, "which will be necessary to cater to the increase in Porta’s capacity," Hockenjos said.

The addition would encroach upon an area that currently contains parking spaces; to compensate, valet parking was proposed. The valet kiosk would be located alongside the restaurant's south end on First Avenue, and valet traffic would travel west on First Avenue, south on Heck Street, then east on Asbury Avenue to a parking lot at First Avenue and Kingsley Street.

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The event space

The most ambitious component of the proposed project is a 50-by-80-foot tented outdoor space on the building's west side. According to the application, "the tent is intended to be utilized for special events such as weddings, with live music and is not intended to be erected year round."

"What we're envisioning ... as we all are enjoying the successes, the growth of Asbury Park, there's more and more demand for private events here," said architect Jim Watt, a co-owner of Porta. "People want to be here."

The light beige tent, proposed with a dance floor, seating, bars, and air-conditioning and heating capabilities, would not be used for regular restaurant and bar service or public music events.

Aside from weddings, other uses could include private parties, ticketed live music events and film screenings, per the presentation.

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As proposed, the tent — made of pre-fabricated, insulated panels — could be used between 10 a.m. and midnight, and would include noise-controlling elements.

"The last thing I want to do is annoy the neighbors … so I will make sure the tent is designed in a way that the sound is attenuated and that we conform to all of the (noise ordinance) regulations, just like The Stone Pony does, just like we do," Watt said in response to questions from council members regarding the project's impact on neighboring properties. "We will go to a significant expense to make sure the tent is soundproof."

Synthetic turf would be installed beneath the tent, and when the tent is not in place, the space would become the "Porta Play Area" with group seating around firepits, movable tables and chairs, a pizza trailer and bocce courts.

A front porch area on the tent's footprint would remain year-round. When the tent is not in use, it would be utilized for outdoor dining.

The grab-and-go concept

Porta's plans include the conversion of an existing structure at the property's corner at First Avenue and Kingsley Street into a takeout-only location.

"The cottage on the corner ... will serve food, a potential grab-and-go concept, but the menu has yet to be finalized," Hockenjos said.

This would be "a space for patrons of the Asbury Park beaches and boardwalk to receive walk-up, counter service as an alternative to a sit-down restaurant experience in Asbury Park," reads the application.

Customers who order food here would not be permitted to utilize the proposed outdoor seating.

What's next

Hockenjos said the project's next steps include additional discussion with the council and an appearance before the Planning Board.

"We look forward to continue working with the city to address any of their concerns and to refine the plan," he said.

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore restaurants: Porta to expand kitchen, add outdoor space