Popular Waterfront Bar, Restaurant in Brick Looks to Expand and Upgrade

The exterior deck of the River Rock Marina Bar & Grill, Brick, N.J. (Credit: River Rock/ Facebook)

One of Brick Township’s most popular spots for food, drinks and dock-and-dine is seeking to make a portion of its waterfront setting available almost all-year-long, and add new entertainment infrastructure.

River Rock Restaurant & Marina Bar, located on the Manasquan River off Route 70, will appear before the township’s planning board this week to pitch a two-phase plan to expand what is currently an outdoor portion of the facility to a “three season” enclosed space, renovate the interior with new features, and add an outdoor stage.

According to plans submitted with the restaurant’s application, the most significant portion of the restaurant’s plan is to install what is described as a “three season enclosure” on top of the existing outdoor deck overlooking the river and the marina facility attached to the restaurant. The work will include adding a roof to this portion of the restaurant along with removal glass windows. The formal roof and windows will replace that is now a retractable awning installed over the deck, making the area suitable for guests on all but the coldest times of year.

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The new system would allow the restaurant to automatically open and close the deck to the elements, meaning it could continue to be used not only during chilly weather, but during rainy days any time of year.

“The proposed system is more substantially constructed and can withstand substantial wind loads,” a report from an engineering consulting firm stated.

The exterior deck of the River Rock Marina Bar & Grill, Brick, N.J. (Credit: River Rock/ Facebook)

The first phase of the project will also include a new outdoor stage and interior renovations to the restaurant as a whole. The renovations were referred to in the engineering report as a “complete remodel.”

As part of a second phase, the planning board is being asked to approve a plan that would reconfigure a portion of the business’s parking lot. Currently, there are 149 parking stalls reserved exclusively for the restaurant in its direct parking area, with about 10 stalls in the southeast corner within a dead-end lane. The loading zone and trash enclosure in this same area has been deemed by the restaurant to be too small, and delivery trucks often have a difficult time accessing the site. The dead-end parking would be eliminated and the easternmost portion of the lot would be reconfigured under the restaurant’s plan, with the addition of a pedestrian walkway between the restaurant and separate liquor store to the south. Two islands would be constructed with lighting in order to illuminate a pedestrian path and increase security, while also creating a safer traffic flow.

Finally, the trash and recycling enclosure would be replaced with a more substantial masonry structure which will be gated and have both truck and personal entrances.

While, at first glance, the plan may seem as if spaces might be eliminated, the overall number of parking stalls would increase from 149 to 171 due to the efficiencies of the design.

The proposal must be heard by the board since variance relief is required for setbacks and building coverage measurements that, largely, already exist and must be ratified. The additions also modify the existing site plan for the business as a whole, which is subject to board review.

The meeting will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 at the township municipal complex on Chambers Bridge Road.