Here's Who The New Owner Of Moonstruck In Asbury Park Is

ASBURY PARK, NJ — Moonstruck restaurant in Asbury Park will be sold to the same company that owns Beacon 70, a waterfront restaurant/bar off Rt. 70 in Brick. Beacon 70 is owned by a real estate holding company.

Beacon 70, which also has boat slips and a marina next door, bills itself as an upscale waterfront eatery. Located on the Metedeconk River and with the marina next door, it caters to boaters looking for a weekend lunch, dinner or cocktails.

Patch reported in April that Moonstruck would remain open, but be sold to a mystery new owner, as Moonstruck's founders and longtime owners Luke Magliaro and Howard Raczkiewicz say it's time to retire.

But the Asbury Park Press was the first to unveil that it would indeed be the owners of Beacon 70 who are buying Moonstruck.

The new owners officially took over operations April 30, Magliaro said.

"My partner and I are staying on to help with the transition until the end of May," he said May 13. "So far, it has gone quite smoothly and everything is running the same way it has been."

On Yelp, diners described Beacon as a waterfront sports bar, with actually two bars, but say "the music isn't too loud;" it has "the best happy hour in New Jersey" and "a great view of the marina/water." They win rave reviews for their oysters, in particular.

"Beacon is a classic bar to bring friends, family or just go in after work for a quick bite to eat," one customer wrote in January. "The service is always friendly, always quick and attentive. The bar gets loud during games but that is expected! Food is delicious, love their happy hour oysters."

Some may fear that Moonstruck will lose that romantic, coupl-y atmosphere that made it so popular in the first place. But the owners of Beacon 70 say they plan to keep the Moonstruck name, menu and staff. It will be a different vibe than the Ocean County waterfront sports bar.

"Their intention, they claim, is to keep it as much the same as possible," Magliaro told NJ.com when news first broke that Moonstruck would be sold.

"We are passing the torch to new owners who plan to continue and expand the operation while ensuring its legacy lives on. As seasoned restaurateurs themselves, they are enthusiastic about pleasing our loyal clients and committed to working with our dedicated staff," Magliaro and Raczkiewicz said when news first broke that they would be selling. "We’ve agreed to extend our stay for a few weeks to aid in the transition and hope to share our insights on what makes Moonstruck tick."

Moonstruck is widely credited with causing the rebirth of Asbury Park's nightlife scene.

Iconic Jersey Shore Eatery Sold To Mystery Owner (April 17)