Iconic Long Branch, NJ Bar and Music Mecca Has Suddenly Closed

The slogan of this legendary Jersey Shore bar was "The Home of Original Live Music." After 34 years, the music has been silenced.

The Asbury Park Press is reporting that The Brighton Bar in Long Branch has shut its doors. The last post on Brighton Bar's Facebook page was on March 20 promoting its well-known pasta dinner special.

According to those in the know, the last live performance was on March 21.

While there hasn't been any official comment from the owners or management of Brighton Bar, Steve Ferrigno of the band Quiet Ones told The Asbury Park Press that all of the Brighton Bar shows have been canceled with no postponement dates. Various other bands and promoters are confirming this report.

The Brighton Bar has been bringing the Jersey shore, live, original music for over 34 years. Its Wall of Fame is a who's who of artists including Fountains of Wayne ("Stacy's Mom"), Three Doors Down ("Kryptonite," "Here Without You," "Let Me Go"), and even Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi.

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While Brighton Bar specialized in punk rock bands over the year, they also shined the spotlight on jazz bands, country artists, blues acts, even poetry, and artists.

Many comedians honed their craft on the stage at Brighton Bar as well.

This is just pure speculation on my part, but right at the height of the pandemic when life as we knew it was shut down, the owner of Brighton Bar opened a restaurant called Peasant's Pasta. The eatery never had a chance to be successful with restaurants getting hit the hardest with COVID restrictions.

I imagine a lot of money was invested into the new venture. And keep in mind, Brighton Bar itself had many restrictions when it came to capacity and operations.

When you couple those two scenarios, it seems nearly impossible for Brighton Bar to even have a chance.

Hopefully, in the coming days, we'll get more clarification on what exactly has happened.