Asbury Park Lives

Read about the stories and characters of Asbury Park during its down years and the events and people that led to its resurgence.By the 1980s, Asbury Park was left for dead. The once vaunted beach town had emptied out. Redevelopment efforts were derailed by economic upheaval, incompetence, or the slow workings of the judicial system. The city seemed destined to be a cautionary tale. But not everyone left, just as not everyone stayed away.Henry Vaccaro made his best effort, Domenic Santana resurrected the Stone Pony, and even Tillie remains thanks to Debbie DeLisa, Lance Larson and Kevin Feehan bringing back Wonder Bar at the right time. The counterculture that drew bohemians and artists made for the perfect atmosphere that allowed Jenn Hampton to turn a bowling alley into a music venue.William Clark recounts how Asbury Park came back to life through the stories of the people who helped its resurgence.