A neighborhood bistro and bar, “where the tide meets the table,” is set to open in the heart of downtown Spring Lake.
Maree, which means “tide” in French, will be owned by Marilyn Schlossbach and entrepreneur Bret Morgan and located at 1123 3rd Ave., in the former Wells Fargo space.
Schlossbach, a chef and longtime restaurateur, nearly hung up her hat before being drawn in by Spring Lake’s growing downtown scene.
“I’ve had restaurants along the Jersey Shore for many decades. When I got off the boardwalk and went into Whitechapel Projects, I thought that might be the last foray into the Jersey Shore restaurants. Then I took a consulting job with Faherty Clothing Company, helping them open their Sun & Waves cafe in Spring Lake, and got the bug back in my system,” Schlossbach told What Now Philadelphia.
She continued, “I grew up in Belmar, so I spent a lot of time in Spring Lake. The town was very sleepy when I was growing up. When I started working for Faherty, I saw changes that have happened. I’ve never felt this downtown vibrancy. People are walking around, they’re spending sometimes hours or a day downtown.”
The bistro and bar will be the first concept of its kind in the area.
“The RFP [Request for Proposal] came up for the bank location, and two reasons it appealed to me. One, having a bar and restaurant in Spring Lake is something really new. They’ve never done it before. And the apartments above are affordable housing, and they’re being done by an affordable housing nonprofit. I love that Spring Lake was taking this on.”
Schlossbach’s trip to France and her love for simple cuisine also inspired her desire to open Maree.
“We [she and her husband] started in Bordeaux. We spent a couple days at a winery, and then we drove the whole southern coast. We had dinner at this restaurant in a little town south of Biarritz, and it was the most amazing meal I’ve ever had, and so simple. It was just grilled fish with garlic, a baked potato, and a bottle of rose. I can taste it when I talk about it,” Schlossbach said.
She continued, “There’s a lost art of simplicity with food in our area. I thought if I ever did another restaurant, to do this kind of bistro style. Just pure ingredients that are really good beginnings to any dish.”
With that idea in mind, Schlossbach reached out to Morgan, whom she had known through the industry, and he was on board with the concept.
Inspired by the rhythm of the ocean and the character of the coast, the menu, still in development, will likely feature a French influence.
“I love experimenting because we, as Americans, you hear beef bourguignon and you think it’s just going to be this one thing. But in the countries these cuisines come from, it’s always different by how their grandmother made it, or their father made it. France has influence over so many countries. There’s a lot of different French input to food around the world,” Schlossbach said.
She continued, “We started compiling in our mind things we would put on a menu and in a bistro. We just want to lead with kindness and good intention, good ingredients, and sustainable local vendors and products.”
Schlossbach is excited not only about Spring Lake’s new era but also about the new chapter she is beginning as a seasoned restaurateur.
“I think Spring Lake has been missing this kind of community spot for dining that has this kind of Cheers feeling–you know everybody and the staff knows you,” she said. “You thrive when your neighbor thrives. I look forward to having these relationships with fellow business owners in downtown Spring Lake.”
Maree plans to open by Memorial Day. Visit the website and follow on Instagram and Facebook for updates.
