One of the landmarks of reality TV has a date with the wrecking ball as a club with a profile that was elevated by “Jersey Shore” on MTV is slated to be replaced with a condominium and retail project.
Bamboo Bar, situated at 201 Boulevard in Seaside Heights, will soon be torn down following years of being dark and fenced off. The nightclub, which features an attached restaurant, was operated by local businessman John Saddy before filing for bankruptcy along with its sister club, Karma.
The closure was a fall from grace for the club, which was frequented by the cast of MTV’s “Jersey Shore” on a regular basis. Bamboo Bar was the site of a memorable (is that the right description?) brawl during 2012 that involved cast members Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Pauly “Pauly D” Delvecchio, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino.
The club’s rowdy reputation allegedly created some issues. The former owner of Bamboo Bar had sued Seaside Heights at one point, claiming that local law enforcement was discriminatory and overaggressive towards guests. The bar ended up closing in 2019 before hitting the auction block and despite a few rumors that the cast of the show wanted to purchase the bar, no qualified buyers emerged.
The Bamboo Bar property, represented by real estate brokerage Daunno Realty Services was eventually purchased by a private investment group, which intends to tear down the existing building within the next two months. The club will be replaced by The Lofts at Bamboo, a mixed-use development designed by Asbury Park-based M.O.D.E. Architects set to rise five stories.
The Lofts at Bamboo is slated to include 48 condominium units, with many of the living spaces featuring balconies or larger patios. 74 parking spaces are included in the proposal, as is a 516-square-foot community room on the top floor that would sport ocean views.
The development would include a common area that faces the Boulevard complete with a pool, while the first floor of the project is set to feature a 1,425-square-foot gym for residents plus 1,160 square feet of retail for the public. Approvals from the township are still needed to move the project forward, but they are hoping the new building will be completed by 2023.
Per the Asbury Park Press, The Lofts at Bamboo is part of an effort by Seaside Heights to reinvent both the Boulevard and the borough as a more family-friendly destination after years of being known as a party town.
