Surf and Turf in Asbury Park
Asbury Park is a legendary Jersey Shore destination, but the city has gone through extreme hardships throughout its life . Over the last several years though, Asbury Park has experienced a renaissance. Marrying its roots in music, artistry, and uniqueness with a new vision and life that creates an incredible experience every time you visit. Part of that renaissance is a restaurant nestled right on the boardwalk and owned by restaurant industry mogul Tim McLoone, Iron Whale.
Segment 1
Tim McLoone owns 11 restaurants throughout the state, but his background prior to the restaurant industry was in music. We learned all about Tim's background getting involved in restaurants starting with purchasing the Rum Runner in Sea Bright in 1986. After that he started opening other restaurants in Long Branch and eventually saw an opportunity in Asbury Park. Even though it was not a success at the beginning, they stuck it out and Tim's love of Asbury Park shines through.
Today in New Jersey History: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie dedicated a statue of Althea Gibson at the Althea Gibson Tennis Court Complex in Newark, New Jersey on March 28, 2012. Althea Gibson was a professional tennis player and the first African-American to cross the color line in international tennis. She was the first African-American to win a Grand Slam title, as well at Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals.
Segment 2
We discuss Iron Whale's menu and how it is such a unique experience from the other restaurants Tim owns. We learned about how they landed on the name and how they decided what the decor was going to look like. Tim and Mike also discuss some of their personal favorites on the menu and how Iron Whale has become one of the flagship restaurants of the McLoone restaurant group.
New Jersey Fun Fact: New Jersey known as the "Garden State" is a leading grower of produce. In the United states, New Jersey ranks 5th in blueberry production, 3rd in cranberry production, 3rd in spinach, 3rd in bell peppers, and 4th in peach production.
Segment 3
McLoone's Restaurant Group is constantly trying to be a part of the community, hiring local students, and ingratiating themselves with the communities they find themselves in. We also learned about Tim's charity, Holiday Express, where he and other musicians travel to places that need some holiday cheer and play holiday songs at places that normally do not get any attention.
Iron Whale: ironwhalenj.com
Address: 1200 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ
Instagram: @ironwhale_asburypark
Holiday Express: holidayexpress.org
Thank you to our sponsors:
Albert & Whitney CPAs: awcpasllc.com
Contact the show: greetingsfromthegardenstate@gmail.com
Website: greetingsfromthegardenstate.com
Follow us on Instagram: @greetingsfromthegardenstate
