Food, Music and Beer on the Pier

The piers of Hoboken that once housed shipping and industry now host a new beer garden. Pier 13, an outdoor bar and event space off Sinatra Drive near 13th Street, held its inaugural bash Wednesday to celebrate the 4th of July. Several hundred people passed through during the day, and many stayed to watch the Macy's fireworks show at night.

Overall the space covers the entire length of the privately owned pier, with room for food trucks, a boathouse, a beer truck and lawn extending into the Hudson River.

Darren Conway and Rebecca Tarantino of the Chandelier Room nightclub at the W Hotel organized Pier 13 along with the Barry family, who own the Applied Development Company that built the hotel and several dozen residential buildings in Hoboken, and who own also the pier. Conway said he had first pitched the idea of opening something like a crabshack on the pier to Applied president David Barry, who Conway said loved it. After they talked more the idea grew.

“We're trying to bring something different to Hoboken, something that's never been done before,” Conway said. “People go to Pier A, they read a book, they get a tan, but there's no food there. We thought why not make a place where they can be out here with food and music and everything else.”

Conway said that while the rear of the space will have more of a club vibe with a DJ booth, he wants families to feel welcome, especially at the picnic tables in the front near the food trucks. “We want you to feel like you're in someone's backyard,” he said.

There is no kitchen on the pier, but the bar will rent parking near the street to a rotating list of food trucks, which could offer a compromise for truck owners who fought the city's recent .

“This is a pretty good break for us,” said Pablo Dominguez, an employee with the , which also operates a storefront downtown. Eat at Crisp, Luke's Lobster, and Shorty's, which serves cheesesteaks, are other food trucks involved.

The space also includes a fully functional beer truck, which offers over two dozen craft beers, plus mixed drinks like margaritas and coladas.

Conway said he wants to keep Pier 13 open from April to October, weather permitting. The hours of operation will be Monday through Friday 2pm-10pm, Saturday 12pm-10pm, and Sunday 12pm to 8pm. Conway said that aside from its everyday business he wants the pier to host wedding receptions and other parties.

Coming soon: An old-school pharmacy opens; plus, Luxe retools

The Business Beat covers businesses opening, closing, renovating, relocating and celebrating anniversaries in the Mile Square. Have a Hoboken related business tip? Send an email to alanskontra@hotmail.com.