The Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten was a beloved Austro-Hungarian-inspired beer hall and rooftop biergarten located at 527 Lake Avenue in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Established in February 2015, it quickly became a cornerstone of the city’s vibrant dining and social scene, offering an authentic European biergarten experience to the Jersey Shore. The venue was the brainchild of founder Andy Ivanov, a Czech Republic native with a passion for traditional beer halls, and Jennifer Lampert, a Jersey-born hospitality veteran who served as general manager and partner. Together, they aimed to create a communal gathering space that reflected the centuries-old tradition of European festhalles and biergartens—places where friends and strangers alike could mingle over beer, food, and music.
The establishment was housed in a renovated 1940s warehouse, originally built as Lerner’s department store, which later served as municipal offices and a marimba factory. The transformation, which began in 2012, resulted in a two-story venue featuring a 6,000-square-foot indoor beer hall with seating for over 250 and a 9,000-square-foot rooftop biergarten accommodating more than 460 guests. The design embraced an industrial-chic aesthetic, using reclaimed materials from European factories—such as doors, shutters, and wood—alongside distressed new materials to evoke an Old World feel. Long communal tables, eclectic stools, and retro decor fostered a lively, inclusive atmosphere, often energized by live Austro-Hungarian bands and rock music.
Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten was a beer lover’s paradise, boasting nearly 30 premium draft beers—many imported from Germany and the Czech Republic—alongside 50 to 60 bottled options and an exclusive house brew. Standout offerings included the German Köstritzer Schwarzbier and Pilsner Urquell, poured through a restored 130-year-old tap imported from the Czech Republic. The food, crafted by executive chef James Avery—a Spring Lake Heights native known for his work with Gordon Ramsay—complemented the brews with innovative takes on Austro-Hungarian classics like wursts, schnitzels, and sauerbraten, alongside creative dishes such as Oysters “Braten” with sauerkraut. Giant pretzels, par-baked in Germany and finished on-site, became a signature item.
Beyond its culinary and beverage offerings, the Biergarten embedded itself in the Asbury Park community. It hosted events like Charlie Chaplin film screenings with live jazz for the Asbury Park Music in Film Festival and a tutu-clad charity run for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monmouth County. Its role as a communal hub earned Lampert the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce Visionary Award in 2018. The rooftop, a rare downtown feature with ocean views, drew crowds year-round, enhanced by heated igloos in winter—a response to the COVID-19 pandemic that debuted earlier than usual in 2020.
Despite its success, the Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten faced insurmountable challenges that led to its permanent closure in late 2024. On September 29, 2023, unprecedented flooding from Tropical Storm Ophelia’s remnants caused Wesley Lake, located across the street, to overflow, inundating the venue’s first floor and basement with water. The damage was devastating, with equipment destroyed and operations halted indefinitely. The closure forced the cancellation of key revenue events like Oktoberfest 2023 and St. Patrick’s Day 2024. Compounding the issue, the owners reported that their insurance denied coverage for the flood damage, leaving repairs out of pocket. As the lease renewal approached in early 2025, landlord Sackman Enterprises reportedly proposed a significant rent increase—potentially tripling the cost to $50,000–$60,000 monthly—though the landlord countered that no formal renewal rate was offered due to the tenant’s intent to vacate. Unable to recover financially, the management, including then-general manager Nick Falco, announced the permanent closure in January 2025.
The loss of Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten was keenly felt in Asbury Park. Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn noted its negative impact on local businesses along Cookman Avenue, highlighting its role as an anchor that drew visitors to the area. From its opening in 2015 to its closure nearly a decade later, the venue left an indelible mark as a unique, community-driven destination that blended European tradition with Jersey Shore flair. Its future remains uncertain, with no clear plans for what will occupy the historic space next.
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• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz./yd.² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Side-seamed construction
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Blank product sourced from Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US
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Size guide
| |
LENGTH (inches) |
WIDTH (inches) |
CHEST (inches) |
| S |
28 |
18 |
34-37 |
| M |
29 |
20 |
38-41 |
| L |
30 |
22 |
42-45 |
| XL |
31 |
24 |
46-49 |
| 2XL |
32 |
26 |
50-53 |
| 3XL |
33 |
28 |
54-57 |
