Categorized | Carousel, News

Rebirth of Front Street, Perth Amboy Barge Restaurant Bounces Back

PERTH AMBOY – Barge owner Alex Vosinas holds a $5000 check presented to him by the BID. Alex is flanked by his wife, Callie and father-in-law and co-owner, George Nickolas, Mayor Diaz, representatives from the City, BID and close friends who helped him get the Barge up and running. *Photo by Paul W. Wang

By Katherine Massopust—

PERTH AMBOY — Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc on Perth Amboy’s Waterfront and the Barge Restaurant at 201 Front St. was no exception. Over the past two and a half months the Barge has been undergoing repairs getting ready to reopen.

In the interior, luckily the murals and paintings by local artist Tom Ward have remained intact. The old photographs of prominent Perth Amboy Citizens, and lithographs by Francis McGinley also remain intact. Some decorations have been moved. The sharks that were in the main dining room are now in the bar area. One shark enclosed in a fishing net proudly hangs over the bar.

According to Callie Vosinas (wife of Alex Vosinas and the daughter of George Nickolas who are the co-owners of The Barge), repairs to the Barge included: new tinted windows; the bay window in the bar has been replaced by a large tinted window. Both the dining room and bar have new carpeting (a pleasant shade of blue with beige flowers). The entire Barge’s electrical system was rewired. The old heating and air-conditioning ducts have been replaced with central air. The bar stools have been reupholstered. “In the spring, the patio will be redone,” Callie Vosinas proudly states.

On Friday, January 18, Mayor Wilda Diaz and members of the Business Improvement District (BID) presented Barge owner and BID member, Alex Vosinas, a $5,000 check to The Barge Restaurant for a Façade Grant to assist in construction and reopening.

BID member Barry Rosengarten offered some remarks, “When Sandy was over, Alex (Vosinas) and a crew of very close friends who are like family went through the debris and worked eighteen to twenty-two hours a day. The result was a long time for Alex, but a short time for the Barge, which is able to reopen thanks to close friends and family.”

Barge owner Alex Vosinas said, “ You {my friends and family} gave me the courage to get up and fight another day.”

The interior will be completed by the ribbon cutting for the Barge on Tuesday, January 22 at 4:30 p.m. The Barge will reopen to the public on Wednesday, January 23, 2013. Almost all of the Barge’s employees will return.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Browse Current Issue - Click Here

Safety Announcement

We are taking safety precautions in the City of Perth Amboy, and emphasize that it is important: IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!!
Report Suspicious Activity – Be Vigilant – STAY ALERT! Do not think that any call or report is too small. Don’t allow the actions of a few dictate your quality of life.
FOR ALL EMERGENCIES, DIAL: 9-1-1
FOR ALL NON-EMERGENCIES, DIAL: 732-442-4400