Belmar Auction Secures Concession Lease for Taylor Pavilion, Generating $198,000 in Revenue

BELMAR, NJ - At the Belmar Council meeting held on Tuesday, April 30th, the borough auctioned off a concession space at the Taylor Pavilion. The meeting saw the mayor and council members stepping off the dais as Clerk April Claudio and Borough Attorney George McGill conducted the auction.

The bidding started at $15,000, and with six contenders vying for the lease, it concluded with Ann Keane securing the space at $66,000 a year for three years, amounting to $198,000 in revenue for the Borough of Belmar over the term of the lease. However, details of Ms. Keane's business plans for the concession space remain unclear, as bidders were not required to disclose information about their businesses.

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In 2023, the Belmar Council passed an ordinance allowing Circle of Friends, a nonprofit that provides services for adults with intellectual disabilities and their families, to use the space free of charge, following unsuccessful proposals to secure a lease with a minimum bid of $30,000 per season. They operate a Café for 7 weeks from the middle of July to Labor Day, employing adults with special needs. Circle of Friends was also one of the five unsuccessful bidders at this year's auction.

The previous years had seen similar challenges, with 2021 and 2022 businesses, Jimmy's Place and La Playa, respectively, failing to meet their rental obligations in full, and not staying more than one season.  Their annual leases were less than the amount bid successfully by Ms. Keane.

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