Marilyn Schlossbach Group to run Long Branch's Whitechapel Projects restaurant

LONG BRANCH - Preston Casertano had grand plans for the three-story building at Broadway and Second Avenue in Long Branch.

He saw potential in the crumbling warehouse, built in 1900, and spent years transforming it into a brewery, restaurant, beer hall and performance space in a part of town targeted for revitalization.

"The warehouse was in bad shape, but rather than tear it down completely, I thought I'd let it be reborn as something else," Casertano told The Asbury Park Press in 2017, when the project was nearing completion.

The Whitechapel Projects, named for a part of East London the Manalapan resident had visited for its beer halls, opened in December 2018. (See the space in the video above.) It was the first such business for Casertano, a retired software executive, and last year, he connected with Shore restaurateur Marilyn Schlossbach for help finding an operating partner.

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As it turned out, she was the woman for the job.

The Whitechapel Projects now falls under the umbrella of The Marilyn Schlossbach Group, which also includes Langosta Lounge, Asbury Park Yacht Club and Pop's Garage, all in Asbury Park. Schlossbach is executive chef, and members of her current staff will help guide the team in Long Branch.

"Preston created a beautiful space," she said, "and now we've connected to really grow it."

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The arrangement is a win for Schlossbach, recently named chairwoman of the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association. She had been searching for space for another of her businesses, Two River Gourmet Mushrooms, and The Whitechapel Projects property includes 8,000 square feet of outdoor space.

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She plans to farm mushrooms there, as well as organic herbs and vegetables for the restaurant. It will become "a true sustainably sourced yard where you can dine, you can drink, you can come off the beach, but you can also experience education classes around the farming concept."

The restaurant will be called The Sparrow at White Chapel Projects.

As of press time, the restaurant's menu was under development; Schlossbach plans to launch near the end of the month. It will be small and seasonal, "really focused on where the product is coming from and not only how it is grown, but how the animals are treated, how we are eating," she said.

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The brewery aspect will remain, though on a smaller scale. "I have them really concentrating on a few really great beers," Schlossbach said. "I'm trying to keep everyone focused that less is more."

Casertano, she said, is present and involved in the changes.

"We're not doing it abruptly," she said, "I don't believe in that."

Go: The Whitechapel Projects is at 15 Second Ave.; 732-963-9218, whitechapelprojects.com.

A lifelong Jersey girl, Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey more than 15 years ago and has held a variety of positions since, but writing about the Shore's mom and pop restaurants is her favorite. Write her at sgriesemer@gannettnj.com and follow @jersey.shore.eats.