Jean Bredin Casino photo. Blogfinger staff. This 2019 photo by Jean was re- posted in 2023 when the Casino was closed to walk-through traffic due to structural concerns.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net. 1/29/26. Ocean Grove, NJ, USA. The story is also covered in the current Coaster and Tri City News. Both view it from the Asbury side, but Blogfinger will feature its life style photos from the Ocean Grove perspective. The entire Casino is owned by the A. Parkers.
The Asbury Park Casino is familiar to Ocean Grovers as a “walkway” connecting the OG side to the south end of the Asbury boards. The Casino part was demolished in 2006 leaving the walkway portion which continued to be enjoyed by walkers and bikers heading in both directions. Musicians would perform, and art was painted on the walls. Photographers like me found fascinating subjects, and the NJ Marathon came running through.
The Casino had character as well as a comfortable atmosphere as folks passed through. At Blogfinger we photographed all sorts of characters and events there.
Since 2006, the walkway was neglected and was subject to the elements. It deteriorated and was found to be unsafe recently. Now the boardwalk developers want to demolish it. There was a chance years ago to rehab the structure, but that opportunity was missed.
The Tri City News calls the Casino “the one that got away in Asbury Park.” Their current issue refers to the story of the Casino as “a bitter memory of the failure to save the Casino three decades ago.”
Eileen and I and other Grovers loved to visit the Casino; it was mostly in motion, in contrast to our usual quiet lives. Inside the walkway one could see and feel the vibe of families, teenagers, children, seniors, artists, music lovers, and athletes. And in season, girls and boys in their summer clothes paraded through.
Although it was not formally a place to visit, nor was it part of the Grove, it felt good to visit there. Blogfinger documented the life at the Casino, and we will be posting some of our Casino imagery. We have quite a bit. See some posts below
And its roll as a vibrant link for the folks in the true Twin-Cities– OG and AP, will be missed by we-the-people, as it still is–to probably be replaced by some fancy-shmancy, phony-baloney, artsy -shmartsy extension of Asbury the Magnificent.
There was talk of a huge rock and roll venue on the AP side. As it is, the planners have their eyes on Convention Hall at the AP north end where there will be a big deal concert hall and a large movie venue. It would be like the Jersey branch of the Upper West side.
BILLIE HOLIDAY
Dave: Thanks for the memories. I guess we are about the same vintage.
For me, during the ’50’s, my dad would take us to Coney island even though we lived in Jersey. That’s because the family met there, on the beach.
We changed in the car and joined the throng on the beach. We body surfed all day. I saw people with numbers on their forearms. After we would dry off and change in the car again. There were no coats and ties there.
Then it was hot dogs and fries at Nathans, knishes at Shatzkins, corn on the cob from a big vat of boiling water, and Good Humor ice cream. Up on the boardwalk we watched fireworks off shore, and on the side streets we hung around by the freak shows.
We were too young to go in, but the tattooed lady came out to say hello.
Now we have tattooed ladies all over the place. —Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net
In the 1950s, my parents would drive us to Asbury Park for the day from Yardley, PA. I would have to wear a coat and tie to walk on the boardwalk.
After walking from one end and back, we would have dinner in the spiffy Howard Johnson’s.
The Casino was used to display a car that was raffled off on Labor Day by the VFW. We were not allowed to use the phone that evening as my father was expecting a call which never came.