Asbury Park: Johnny Mac's decor must go

ASBURY PARK – The decor that adorns the facade and northern exterior wall of Johnny Mac has been the popular bar's trademark since it opened in 2010.

The rusted instruments, wooden street signs and colorful wording create an Irish village theme and brings nostalgia for many patrons and passersby, owner John McGillion said.

But McGillion's dream of expanding his bar into a beer garden is being halted by city officials who are demanding that he remove the accessories from Johnny Mac and the neighboring building that McGillion purchased three years ago, McGillion said.

The city's planning board said last week Johnny Mac could only begin the next three phases of expansion if the decorations on the two buildings came down.

McGillion said he refuses and will fight the board's request.

"We are not taking (the decorations) down," McGillion said. "We are taking them to court."

How much cover?

McGillion contends the city initially granted him approval to cover 20 percent of the bar's front windows with decor. By his count, the wording that is currently on the windows covers 17 percent.

He said the city has never compelled him to take down the decorations on the facade, the north side of John Mac or the former Bistro Ole building next door until now.

Planning Board secretary and zoning officer Barbara Van Wagner said the board reserves the authority to place conditions on its approvals.

The objectionable items on the two buildings include common road signs – "DO NOT ENTER," "No Right Turn," etc.; hubcaps; musical instruments; license plates; a frying pan; and children's toys.

"They don't want it visible from the street at this point," Van Wagner said. "If he doesn't take those things down, he can't get permits (to expand)."

Project delayed

McGillion is looking to convert the bar's north parking lot into an enclosed beer garden, add a U-shaped mezzanine level that connects it to a neighboring bar and construct a rear building for a banquet hall.

The 28,000-square-foot project would have an Irish village-theme that attracts tourists, McGillion said. Contractors began the first phase this summer, which includes two bars in the north parking lot.

McGillion said the $2 million project was set to be completed in two years, but will likely be delayed because of litigation.

A board resolution that outlines McGillion's expansion project notes that it includes additional facades facing Main Street.

As a condition of the board's approval, it requires McGillion to agree "not to festoon those windows or the facades with items such as paper signs, pictures, mannequins or novelty items." The resolution said the goal was to "avoid any clutter on those facades."

McGillion said he was in shock that the city's planning board would attempt to take away what gives the bar its character.

"We think it's outrageous that (Planning Board members) can challenge us subject to (their) personal whims about whether it's in taste or not when we should be determining our own taste," McGillion said. "Where do they get the audacity?"

Nicquel Terry; nterry@gannettnj.com; 732-643-4023