New contractor and construction manager named as long-awaited boardwalk restoration advances

ASBURY PARK, NJ – The long-anticipated restoration of the Paramount Theater took a significant step forward this week, as the Mayor and City Council approved a resolution authorizing the next phase of construction on the historic boardwalk landmark.

The vote clears the way for Phase II of the $11.7 million project, funded through the City’s allocation of the state’s Boardwalk Preservation Fund. The approval comes just weeks after a setback in late March, when March Associates Construction, Inc., the contractor originally expected to complete the work, withdrew from the project.

City officials moved quickly to keep the project on track. Under the newly approved addendum to the sub-grant agreement with Madison Asbury Retail, LLC (MAR), Pullman SST, Inc. has been selected as the new contractor, with Michael Graves Architecture serving as construction manager.

The project focuses on stabilizing and restoring the exterior of the Paramount Theater, a key component of the Convention Hall Complex that has remained closed due to structural and safety concerns. The broader complex, which includes Convention Hall and the Arcade, has faced years of deterioration, prompting both state and local intervention.

The funding stems from a $20 million grant awarded to Asbury Park through New Jersey’s Boardwalk Preservation Fund, a program supported by federal American Rescue Plan dollars. Of that total, $13 million was designated for the Paramount Theater and Convention Hall restoration work, with the remainder supporting boardwalk infrastructure improvements elsewhere in the city.

Phase I of the Paramount project—focused on investigation, design, and pre-construction planning—has already been completed. The newly authorized Phase II will move the effort into full construction, with the goal of creating a structurally sound and watertight exterior while adhering to historic preservation requirements.

The work will be conducted in coordination with the New Jersey Office of Historic Preservation, reflecting the building’s protected status under a longstanding preservation easement.

As part of the agreement, a Project Labor Agreement is expected to be finalized with regional building trades unions, ensuring union labor participation throughout the construction process.

City officials have emphasized that the approval marks a critical milestone in addressing long-standing concerns about the condition of one of Asbury Park’s most iconic waterfront structures. Once completed, the project is expected to lay the groundwork for the eventual reopening and revitalization of the Paramount Theater as a centerpiece of the city’s boardwalk.