Home Care In Fort Monmouth, NJ

Boujee Foodie Con is returning to the grounds of Fort Monmouth in Oceanport on June 1-2. In year two, this outdoor, one-of-a-kind, elevated food festival, mixed with music, games, experiences and more, will be bigger and “boujee-er.”

New and improved this year will be a larger number of food vendors bringing more food to meet the high demand of hungry attendees.

Additionally, there will be a Boujee VIP tented area, limited complimentary samples, a larger bar area and more activities to experience. Live music performances and entertainment will also be on hand throughout the day, including an appearance by Thunder 106 DJs and a country line dancing experience.

The tented area on the grounds surrounding Russel Hall of historic Fort Monmouth will feature some the hottest local restaurants, independent eateries and unique food and beverage providers in the area. Attendees can purchase and taste a variety of samplings from local and regional establishments. The list of participants continues to grow and with a wide variety of offerings there will be something to satisfy every palate.

The event will feature some of the hottest restaurants and food trucks from the Jersey Shore, including:

“We’re thrilled to be back this year and excited to bring an even bigger and better event to the community,” CW Events founder, Renee Lam-Whiteman said. “We had close to 5,000 attendees last year and have been working hard to top last year’s experience. A lot more restaurants and vendors are interested in participating this year, based on the success of our first event.”

Co-organizer, Melanie Carpenter adds: “The response to Boujee Foodie last year was beyond our dreams. The success was a true testament to the extraordinary and diverse food scene in this area and the growing demand of residents from near and far for events like these.”

Other exciting additions this year include the Red Bank Exotic Car Club, Nicol Squash pickleball and squash court experience and new carnival games. On the main stage will be musical performances by RUBIX KUBE: The ‘80s Strike Back Show, So Watt, Earth Monkeys and Tess Cameron.

Once again, as one of the event’s main sponsors and owner of the event location, TetherView CEO Michael Abboud is donating 100% of the rent proceeds to Oceanport first responders. Additional sponsors include Atlantis Mortgage and Nicol Rackets, featuring everything squash and pickleball opening soon on the grounds of Fort Monmouth.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $15 here or $20 on the day of the event at the gate. Price of admission covers security, shuttle service to free parking lots, access to the car show, line dancing class, entry to win free concert tickets from Thunder 106, carnival games, face painting, photo ops, limited samples from the food vendors and live music all day. Children under 10 are admitted free.

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The forward momentum of the planned Netflix production hub at Fort Monmouth continued during a Nov. 3 signing ceremony in Oceanport.

Flanked by lawmakers and officials from the state, county and local levels as well as labor representatives and Netflix officials, including co-CEO Ted Sarandos, Gov. Phil Murphy approved the recent Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) meeting minutes, which allows the Netflix project to continue moving forward, while also paving the way for a new affordable housing component at Fort Monmouth.

NJBIZ reported about that meeting Oct. 31, in which FMERA’s board approved the transmittal of proposed Plan Amendment #20 – sending the amendment to host municipalities for consideration and public comment and paving the way for the development by moving the process to the public comment and review phase.

Nearly one year ago, Netflix was selected as the winning bidder for Fort Monmouth’s “Mega Parcel.” The streaming giant will pay $55 million for the land, along with plans to commit nearly $850 million in capital investments to develop a state-of-the-art production facility on a 292-acre parcel that spans Oceanport and Eatontown.

This East Coast production hub will include 12 soundstages – comprised of over 500,000 square feet of new development – that will lead to the creation of thousands of largely union jobs.

Since FMERA authorized the redevelopment agreement in December 2022, officials say Netflix has continued working to obtain the additional approvals necessary to make the project a reality.

On Friday, Murphy said the approval of the FMERA meeting minutes was another important step in the process.

Murphy opened his remarks by shouting out the efforts of FMERA for breathing life into and spearheading redevelopment at the shuttered fort, pointing to a slew of new businesses that have opened.

“We are gathered to celebrate a truly revolutionary investment in – not only Fort Monmouth’s future – but our entire state’s future,” said Murphy. “Over the next several years, in partnership with our friends at Netflix, we are going to transform this historic campus into a state-of-the-art film and television production hub.”

When complete, Murphy said that the project will mark the state’s largest production facility in its history.

“So, now more than ever, New Jersey is ready for its closeup,” Murphy added.

He stressed that they are trying to move this process along and accelerate this project as quickly as possible.

“That simply is because our state’s families and businesses should not have to wait one more moment than they have to – to access the new jobs and opportunities that will come with this,” said Murphy. “That goes for every corner of New Jersey – but especially right here in Monmouth County.”

‘An absolute windfall’

Murphy stressed this campus will no longer be a painful reminder of economic decline and disinvestment.

“Instead, Fort Monmouth now stands as a symbol of renewal and revived hope,” said Murphy. “With this facility, many of our hard-working and talented residents will have the opportunity to participate in the film and television industry right here in our state while local businesses will benefit from an increase in customers.”

Sarandos noted that this was a coming-home moment, because he was born at Monmouth County Medical Center and has family roots in the Garden State.

The Netflix co-CEO thanked the governor and his team, as well as lawmakers and other officials, for their support in helping to move the project forward quickly — acknowledging there was still much to do.

“It really does take a village everywhere you go – and we definitely have found that here in New Jersey,” said Sarandos. “I’m extremely proud of our investment in New Jersey. I’m thrilled to deepen our relationship with this community through this project. Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth will drive significant economic growth and create meaningful job opportunities for people in New Jersey while boosting the vibrant production ecosystem here in the state where the modern film industry was born.”

Sarandos said that Netflix’s goal for the production hub was to benefit everyone in the area and to produce world-class, high-quality productions right here in the Garden State.

“I hope one day you will see ‘Filmed in New Jersey’ on your favorite Netflix show or film,” said Sarandos. “While we still have a whole lot of work to do, we’re excited to continue partnering with Gov. Murphy, local officials, and the community as we work to transform this historic space into a world-class production facility.”

Power 50

Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority Executive Director Kara Kopach was just named No. 10 on the 2023 Commercial Real Estate Power 50. Click here to see who else made this year’s list.

“A project of this scale has the potential not only to create thousands of jobs but will also result in significant investment on the Fort, and spur local development in support of the project,” said FMERA Executive Director Kara Kopach. “The magnitude of Netflix’s investment is an absolute windfall for our stakeholders and the State of New Jersey. We’re eager to see this come to fruition.”

“New Jersey is an ideal choice for studios looking to invest in large-scale production facilities,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Gov. Murphy’s holistic approach to nurturing the state’s film industry is helping to ensure our communities are poised to attract leading studios like Netflix, who will revitalize a long vacant area of the former Fort and create good-paying union jobs and opportunities for small businesses.”

“Today is a great day for the state of New Jersey and its residents, with the construction of the Netflix project at the former Fort Monmouth facility,” said Thomas De Bartolo, president of Monmouth & Ocean Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. “This project will create good-paying union jobs and help the surrounding communities with an influx of economic development.”

(NJBIA) President and CEO Michele Siekerka said that jobs and innovation are at the heart of this New Jersey-Netflix partnership.

“Just as they were throughout Fort Monmouth’s rich history,” she said. “Netflix’s capital investments will result in future-proof production industry jobs that will help bolster our state’s economy and enhance our identity as a national go-to for both small and large productions. Netflix’s presence will also bring positive results for neighboring small businesses. We look forward to the first ‘Action!’ to take place at Fort Monmouth.”

President and CEO Tom Bracken said that the film industry is one of the key components of the future economy of the state.

“And we applaud Netflix for choosing New Jersey for this very significant project that will create jobs and economic development,” said Bracken. “The Chamber has backed this project from the start, and it is exciting to see it come to fruition. This will be a foundational component of our growing film industry.”

At a gaggle with reporters following the announcement and signing ceremony, Murphy stressed that this was a huge day.

“I just signed the letter which blesses the minute of the FMERA board decision to go forward with Netflix for their investment here,” Murphy told reporters. “It is a big day for the economy in Monmouth County and surrounding communities.”

Once state and local approvals are secured, the project is estimated to be completed in two phases over the course of several years.

About a year after Netflix was selected as top bidder to redevelop roughly 300 acres in Monmouth County, the project has taken another step toward reality.

The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority has announced that the FMERA Board approved sending the proposed "Plan Amendment #20" to Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls for a 45-day public comment period.

Municipal-level clearance is needed for the plans that Netflix unveiled last December at Fort Monmouth, which was decommissioned over a decade ago.

It amounts to the next major milestone for redevelopment of the mega parcel, currently under contract with Netflix,” according to FMERA.

What does Netflix have planned in NJ?

Last winter, the Netflix vision involved 12 sound stages at an East Coast production facility offering more than 1,500 permanent jobs

Additional improvements on the roughly 328 acres could include office space, production services buildings, mill space and studio backlots, “among other film industry needs,” the original plans added.

Read More: Netflix unveils NJ plan for $848M studio on Fort Monmouth land

Proposed changes would allow the building of affordable housing residential units for low- and moderate-income households as required by the state Fair Housing Act.

If the film studio does not get built, those residential units could be part of a larger residential development at the "Mega Parcel" or elsewhere in the former Fort Monmouth areas in both Eatontown and Oceanport under the amended plan.

Latest in a long line of changes at Fort Monmouth

Fort Monmouth’s Reuse and Redevelopment Plan has already been formally amended 19 times since it was first adopted in 2008.

It serves as the master plan for the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth.

An additional Plan Amendment might also be required once developers are identified for affordable housing projects in Eatontown and Oceanport.

Following the 45-day public comment period, FMERA staff must review and respond to all comments before moving the plan amendment forward for final adoption by the board.

Board action also remains subject to the governor’s veto period.

Once that happens, Netflix would move into a 36-month approval period, which would involve extensive reviews by a significant number of local, county, and state agencies and authorities.

FMERA has estimated those next major steps to start sometime in the first quarter of 2024.

The Fort had 5 million square feet of building area, 70% of which is targeted for demolition.

To date, FMERA has sold 34 parcels, with 86% percent of the Fort’s 1,126 acres either sold, under contract, in negotiations or entering the request for proposals process.

Time to rev up those appetites! For the first time ever there will be a Boujee Foodie Con taking place at Fort Monmouth.

Renee Lam-Whiteman, co-organizer of this all-day outdoor food convention, says there will be all kinds of food to try and music to enjoy.

"We're going to have live music, we have a band lineup, we even have the Daly Irish Dancers to start off the day," Lam-Whiteman said.

Melanie Carpenter, co-organizer of this all-day outdoor food convention says there will be a lot of great food trucks and vendors on site for you to check out.

"We have over 25 vendors that are food, drinks, and also, different kinds of services," Carpenter said.

Some of those services include wine tasting, massage sessions, a charcuterie board workshop, and something to help you with your social media game.

"We're going to have a free 360-degree photo booth from timeless impressions that people can use for their social media posts," Carpenter said.

There will be traditional food trucks at the event and make-shift set ups for those who don't have a food truck.

"The restaurants that don't necessarily have a food truck, we are going to provide tents and space for them and they'll be cooking under tents and giving out samples and then people can purchase whatever food they're offering," Carpenter said.

Renee and Melanie have formed a new business they're running with for this event called CW events.

The idea for this Boujee Foodie Con came to light following a trip Renee went on to Japan.

"I actually saw a street vendor fair in Japan and it just kind of changed my outlook of street food," Lam-Whiteman said. "I never thought of the elevated levels of food that could be served or should be served -- I hadn't seen anything like that in America and kind of brought it over here."

You'll be able to take part in eating contests, watch chef throw downs and other culinary contests take shape, enjoy live music, and watch the kids have fun with some carnival games.

Carpenter says that Tether View CEO Michael Abboud is donating the rental proceeds from the event to Oceanport First Aid who will also receive 100 tickets via donation to the event along with Eatontown First Responders thanks to Riverwalkcenter.com.

As for the food you'll be able to sample and buy, there's a bunch of great local vendors that will be there.

Some of the local artists that will be performing include So Watt, The Earth Monkeys, Laura G. Music, Damian and the DCQ, Kül d’Sack, and Lakehouse Music Academy Bands.

You can purchase tickets in advance for $15 at www.eventbrite.com or $20 day of event at the gate and children under 10 are free.

The event takes place on June 3 from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm and on June 4 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm and you can get updates at @boujee_foodie_con on Instagram and on Facebook @boujeefoodiecon.