Since Boardwalk opened in 1996, Big River Brewing operated a brewery/restaurant there. This was a second wave of craft beer, the first after the 1980s and deregulation under Carter (don't say that all the time!), and leaned into a TGI Fridays-like vibe where the brewery itself was more of an accent to the restaurant itself. Big River closed at the beginning of 2024 with no replacement announced, likely because the cake shop restaurant has taken forever to open. So here's my suggestion.
Stern Brewing
Theme: Architecture warehouse turned brewery
Market: Older families, young couples, older couples, singles
Atmosphere: Bright with large open spaces that highlight the brewing equipment and TVs in the space for entertainment or sports
Food: appetizers and shareable focus, think F&W festival vibes of sharing and sampling. entrees of salads and sandwiches.
Stern Brewing is named after Robert AM Stern, the lead architect of the Boardwalk. The current Big River space will be demolished and repurposed - the bar is now on the right hand side of the restaurant that wraps around and outside, providing outside walk-up beer sales and a large outdoor space for seating and acoustic acts. The former bar area is now the entry lobby and brewing space, there will be less beer overall brewed here but the beers will be small batched based on the freshest ingredients. The rest of the bar menu will comprise local craft and domestics plus a modern cocktail list with a specialization in a single liquor - I suggest bourbon to complement La Cava and Barcelona Lounge. The left side of the restaurant is for lounge and restaurant seating, with a large garage door that can open for al fresco dining during cooler periods. The space will embrace the low ceilings of the former restaurant and bring a lot of the art decoration and set pieces down to the dining level - think old plans for the boardwalk that cover the bar space, wall art of famous buildings designed by Mr Stern, and even tables and chairs designed by the firm. The idea would be to create a harmonious experience between the 90s design Boardwalk, modern design, and a nod towards history into a new restaurant.