A rendering of a proposed restaurant and condominium complex to replace Hooks in Seaside Heights. (Courtesy: Mike Loundy/ MODE Architects)
The owner of Hook’s, a long-time staple of Seaside Heights known for its old-style nautical bar atmosphere, ample ping-pong tables and video gaming machines, has proposed demolishing the watering hole and replacing it with a large mixed-use complex that would include a new restaurant and bar below a parking deck and 22 condominium units.
The owner of the property, William Morrissey, pitched the idea to the borough planning board this week by way of his representatives, including an attorney and architect. The new building will encompass the entire property, which is now developed with the bar to the north and an outdoor parking lot to the south. It runs along the Boulevard between Kearney and Carteret avenues. The new building, renderings of which are included with this article, was designed by MODE Architects, a prominent firm that has been behind dozens of high-end redevelopment projects along the Jersey Shore, including several pending in Seaside Heights.
A rendering of a proposed restaurant and condominium complex to replace Hooks in Seaside Heights. (Courtesy: Mike Loundy/ MODE Architects)
A rendering of a proposed restaurant and condominium complex to replace Hooks in Seaside Heights. (Courtesy: Mike Loundy/ MODE Architects)
The sprawling building will be bordered by a streetscape that is aesthetically pleasing on the outside, and is characterized by gables and terraces that incorporate modern coastal design aspects into the structure itself in order to fit in with the character of a seaside city.
“Hooks will have a small outdoor patio area, a generous size kitchen, and all of the utilities are self-contained,” explained architect Jason Hanrahan. “The entrance to the Hooks’ restaurant will be off of the Boulevard.”
The restaurant is planned be located at ground level alongside a parking deck that would be blended into the building’s design behind a tilted facade that hides its more utilitarian purpose. The upper two levels would consist of living space, including nine condominiums on the first residential level and 13 on the upper level. The lower-level units will each have two or three bedrooms, while the upper units will come complete with a second-floor loft.
“We are going to have some potential amenities in this building including a gym and a lounge that overlooks the pool terrace area,” said Hanrahan, adding that units with lofts will also come with access to balconies and terraces on the exterior.
A rendering of a proposed restaurant and condominium complex to replace Hooks in Seaside Heights. (Courtesy: Mike Loundy/ MODE Architects)
A rendering of a proposed restaurant and condominium complex to replace Hooks in Seaside Heights. (Courtesy: Mike Loundy/ MODE Architects)
The building has yet to be formally proposed to the board for a hearing, however it was the subject of a work session meeting this week, at which the developers and board members displayed the renderings to the public for the first time. Two nearby residents voiced some concern over the size of the building, however the developer said it is comparable to several nearby condominium complexes and, ironically, reducing its size would force architectural changes that would make it appear more “boxy.”
“It is a coastal design, and some of the design features are the rooflines themselves,” said Hanrahan. “We could make the building more massive, more boxy, and bring the sizes down, but as of now this is something you’d more likely see in Bay Head or Cape Cod. There are a lot of residential coastal details in the design scheme; bringing the size down would minimize the design intent.”
The building would stand 59-feet in height, requiring a variance since the normal limit in the zone is 41-feet. Unlike some other areas in town, the Hooks property is not a designated redevelopment area, meaning the underlying zoning code applies rather than a custom carve-out for a specific project. Variances are also required for density – 1,200 feet square feet per unit is required while 955 square feet is proposed – as well as for more mundane issues such as curb cuts. There will be two, two-way entrances and exits from the premises, both with 42-foot driveways. The parking deck would contain 40 spaces that would be reserved for residents, while restaurant customers would utilize street parking.
A plan to replace Hooks was floated in 2020, but stalled until the newly-unveiled plan was presented this week.
The new development is proposed across the street from the office of real estate broker Mike Loundy of Seaside Realty, who would be handling sales for the new building. He touted a construction value of $35 million for the project, “right on our doorstep.”
“These units will be two to four bedrooms in a state of the art building with ocean-views, a pool and two level inside parking,” said Loundy. “It will also contain a new amazing bar and restaurant facility that can handle all types of events.”
Touting the project as “Hooks 2.0,” Loundy said the new venture will be “a continuation of the well run business that is there presently.”
“Our area has a great need to service the hundreds of new construction buyers and thousands of seasonal visitors that want to enjoy all that Seaside Heights has to offer,” he said, “including our amazing new beaches, boardwalk and amusement pier.”
Hooks has been a landmark along the northern portion of the Boulevard in Seaside Heights for decades, historically having served as a more laid-back, local alternative to the flashy nightclubs that once dotted the business district. It was known for a dark-wood interior, a main bar in the shape of a ship’s hull, life-sized pirate statues, and a plethora of games, from ping-pong, to air hockey, to video games and basketball hoops. Hooks also played host to many local events, being a central gathering spot during activities such as the annual Polar Plunge and St. Patrick’s Day Parade. After new owners purchased the property six years ago, improvements were made to the building’s exterior and, for the first time, food was served inside.
The bar remains open, along with its live event schedule, bands performing, and a full menu.
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