Welcome to a new occasional series dedicated to New Jersey’s cities and towns — taking a closer look at the culture and history of these beloved places and analyzing why they matter so much to the Garden State at large. First up: Asbury Park, an iconic shore town with a checkered past, a conflicting present and an unclear future. In the 2000s, Asbury Park became the epicenter of a cultural revival. Twenty years later, gentrification and corporate influences have led to constant construction, an overabundance of high-rise apartments and absolute chaos on beach days. Yes, Asbury Park was reborn. But is its cultural renaissance already over? Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by Phil Fazio, a longtime city resident and veteran of Asbury Park’s dining industry. Listen as the guys dive into the city’s history (4:23), whether it has already peaked (10:26), the evolution of an iconic music club (17:10) and which Jersey Shore town will be the next Asbury Park (41:00). 

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