By Laura D.C. Kolnoski
OCEANPORT – The Marina at Oceanport restaurant, owned by Mario Criscione and his daughters, Deanna Queenan and Jessica Sarnack, is open and operating under management company Manzo Collective, headed by brothers Albie and Chris Manzo of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” fame.
Both parties dispelled rumors that the site, formerly part of Fort Monmouth, was sold to Netflix, the entertainment firm bid- ding to purchase 292 acres of remaining fort property known as the Mega Parcel to create a production facility. Netflix is one of four potential purchasers that submitted bids for the parcel in June. The top-ranked bidder is not expected to be announced for weeks, perhaps months.
“We still own it,” Deanna Queenan told The Two River Times last week. She explained that the delay in opening the restaurant this summer emerged from pandemic-related challenges including staffing shortages and supply chain issues. A soft opening began in late June.
Additionally, the family decided to reduce their involvement in running the eatery off Riverside Avenue on Oceanport Creek opposite Old Wharf Park, which they purchased from the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA).
The Criscione family opened the Marina at Oceanport in 2015 following repairs, renovations and approvals after the building was severely damaged in Super Storm Sandy. They leased the property from FMERA until the closing took place in March 2021. The property is now on the Oceanport tax rolls.
“We were in talks with different parties to operate the restaurant,” Queenan said. “We met the Manzos through mutual connections. They presented us with the best offer and opportunity to get open the quickest. Now, we all collaborate on everything.”
“Manzo Collective is acting as creative consultants this summer,” said Albie Manzo, son of Real Housewife Caroline Manzo and nephew of another cast member, Dina Manzo. “We staffed it and made it operational and available. Our team is employed there.” A friend who formerly worked at the restaurant “and loved it” told him about it, then recommended Manzo Collective to open it for the season.
“The first thing that got us excited was the amount of people who came up and talked about wanting it to succeed,” Manzo said. “Everyone was so enthusiastic. The Criscione family are the nicest, kindest people. After two or three weeks, we realized they would be a dream as partners. We are taking a new approach and will experiment. We show up and listen, then build upon the feedback.”
Some of that feedback concerns use of the outdoor and parking lot areas. According to Oceanport Mayor Jay Coffey, an outdoor tent, loudspeakers and dance music last year elicited complaints from residential neighbors.
“More acoustic music conducive to dining is allowed,” Coffey said Monday, adding the operators have assured the borough there will be no outdoor tent this year and music will be confined to the deck as in previous years. He noted that outdoor activities including dining and lighting were allowed during the pandemic under state emergency edicts due to expire this November.
Coffey, council member Thomas Tvrdik and borough clerk Jeanne Smith recently met with the Crisciones and Manzos to discuss their plans for the restaurant’s future.
“We asked them about what we can do, and they were very helpful,” Queenan said. “We are in the process of getting a site plan finalized and must go through channels.”
Dispelling more rumors, Manzo said, “The outdoor area is not a beer garden, and there are no plans to bring food trucks onto the property. We look for the best, most exciting product, and are testing the entertainment. We take locals’ opinions very seriously and put a premium on being an asset to the community.”
The new menu features more seafood offerings and happy hours. “We are adding new items and taking suggestions on price points and selections,” said Manzo. Albie Manzo lives in Monmouth County while his brother Chris resides in North Jersey.
The brothers “grew up” at The Brownstone House, a Paterson restaurant owned by their family for over 40 years. Their Manzo Collective hospitality group also operates restaurants at the Berkeley Carteret Hotel in Asbury Park, and does consulting, partnerships, events, branding and marketing.
“We desperately need and want the restaurant to be successful,” Coffey said. “It’s in a very visible location at an entrance to the town on the water. It’s a restaurant first. If the food is good, people will come.”
He added that no formal applications have yet been submitted to the borough and that all plans must go through the regular local planning and zoning process.
Sarah Giberson, FMERA senior marketing and real estate development officer, explained the gap between when the restaurant opened in 2015 and today.
“When FMERA owns property, there is a Mandatory Conceptual Review process. However, the Army continued to own the proper ty while the improvements were made. By the time the Army officially sold the marina to FMERA, renovations were completed and, soon thereafter, FMERA issued a Certificate of Completion, which is our way of saying a project is complete and there are no outstanding obligations. Additional improvements would remain subject to FMERA’s Land Use Rules until FMERA’s mission is complete and we end our operations. At present, we’ve not requested anything from the developer of the Marina, nor have they approached us to review any second generation plans for their property.”
Regardless of which bidder purchases the Mega Parcel, FMERA will most likely continue to operate for several more years, Giberson said.
“The borough needs a site plan for the property and the owners must comply with FMERA and Oceanport strictures, and whatever else the state requires,” Coffey said.
“Good ideas don’t always make good decisions,” Albie Manzo said. “Oceanport is an extraordinary town. With the killer view, shore vibe and environment, the restaurant should feel like a vacation all year. It will be a family-friendly place for all. We want to get to know the customers and the town and be good neighbors.”
This article originally appeared in the Aug. 11, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
