Donovan’s Reef To Cease Live Music

Donovan’s Reef, the popular beach side bar in Sea Bright, announced today that they are pausing live music at their venue and further limiting the number of customers they admit.

“Effective immediately, we are pausing live music at our venue and further limiting our occupancy, said owner Christine Carducci. “We will also continue to mandate masks in indoor areas, and strongly encourage customers to wear masks on the beach. “

The bar’s management has taken a great deal of heat this week following a NJ.com article that was republished by MMM,with license through NJNewsCommons , that reported a bar fight, a large crowd and a lack of social distancing at the bar last Saturday night.

“Like countless businesses throughout New Jersey, we too are experiencing the unprecedented difficulties that the restaurant and bar industry across the nation is facing,” Carducci said. “As we continue to navigate this time of immense challenges and enter a new month of our ever-changing new normal, we are working hard to maintain the new CDC health and safety measures.

“Before opening in June we hired a public health consultant and spent thousands of dollars to retrofit our facilities to comply with the CDC health guidelines — including requiring our staff to wear masks, take temperatures before each shift, and conduct daily deep cleaning protocols. Face masks are required for ALL patrons to enter.We are also cooperating and communicating with the local Sea Bright Department of Emergency Management and Police, who visit our facilities on a near daily basis. Our outdoor occupancy levels have been well-below the required state-mandated levels. We have security on staff at all times, and there remains zero tolerance for dangerous and unruly behavior.

“Recently, some have raised issues about social distancing measures in outdoor venues such as ours. We hear the concerns of our community and elected officials, and we will continue to put the health and safety of our patrons first. So, effective immediately, we are pausing live music at our venue and further limiting our occupancy. We will also continue to mandate masks in indoor areas, and strongly encourage customers to wear masks on the beach.

“As one of America’s Top 21 Beach Bars, Donovan’s Reef has been a Jersey Shore landmark since 1976, having recently rebuilt its facilities after Superstorm Sandy. With these common-sense safety measures, we can all enjoy another summer at Donovon’s, as we have for 44 years.”

Marilou Halverson, President and CEO, New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association, said that Donovan’s had been unclear about some social distancing guidelines and that they are making corrections with the help of the association.

“I spoke with the owner and management of Donovan’s,” Halverson said. “We had a long discussion about some of the guidelines that were unclear to them. Their commitment to providing a safety and health environment was evident during our conversation. They’ve invested thousands of dollars to upgrade their facility to meet high levels of sanitation, and they’ve spent countless hours training their staff on COVID-19 safety protocols. And now they are willing to do even more to ensure social distancing in their outdoor beach bar location. These are unprecedented times, and businesses are learning and adapting as they go.”

Sea Bright Mayor Brian Kelly expressed his support for Donovan’s.

“Since their opening in June, the owners of Donovan’s Reef have been in close communication and coordination with local Sea Bright officials, the Police Department and the Department of Emergency Management,” said Mayor Kelly. “They are keeping their occupancies well-below state-mandated levels and complying with all CDC guidelines. Donovan’s has been an outstanding neighbor and employer in Sea Bright for 44 years. We are working closely with them to adjust their operations to keep their customers and our community safe.”

Senator Declan O’Scanlon said, “This is the type of dynamic cooperation we need between businesses and state and local government. Education and open-minded willingness to adapt practices and occupancy levels will enable us to safely keep businesses open. Every business should be given the chance to figure out what works and what doesn’t before enforcement action is taken. I’ve been in touch with many business owners. Every single one is concerned about the safety of their patrons and is willing to do what it takes to keep us all safe. “