Inspired by Somerset Development has broken ground on a 22-unit apartment building at 665 Second Ave. in Long Branch, where it’s redeveloping the former site of the famed Inkwell Coffee House. — Rendering by Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners/Courtesy: Inspired
By Joshua Burd
Inspired by Somerset Development has started construction on a project that will bring new apartments and retail space to the former site of a famed coffee house in Long Branch.
In a news release, the firm said the project at 665 Second Ave. will rise three stories and include 22 market-rate rentals one block from Ocean Avenue. Plans also call for 800 square feet of street-level retail, an indoor parking garage with electric vehicle charging stations and a private roof deck for residents, while a separate parking lot across the street will provide additional parking for residents and retail customers.
The project is repurposing the longtime home of Inkwell Coffee House, a local institution and a frequent stop for the likes of Bruce Springsteen, which closed in May 2022. Inspired acquired the property after being approached by the shop’s longtime owner, Anthony Esposito, and went on to secure approvals from Long Branch’s planning board last December.
“We recognize this site’s storied history as a local landmark for Long Branch and the Jersey Shore and are working carefully with the township and community members to ensure we honor its past while we work toward a new and successful future,” said Ralph Zucker, CEO and founder of Inspired by Somerset Development. “We are excited to begin construction on this new building, which will help meet the significant demand for high-quality housing in the area while fitting seamlessly into the existing fabric of Long Branch’s West End and adding a new sense of vibrancy to this already dynamic area.”
Designed by Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners, the property will have a mix of one- and two-bedroom homes with private balconies, the news release said. Construction of the new 46,550-square-foot mixed-use building is expected to be complete by summer 2024.
“While we are sad to say goodbye to such a beloved building, we are nonetheless heartened that it will begin a new chapter as an integral part of downtown Long Branch,” Esposito said. “We are happy to partner with a highly respected and accomplished local developer in Inspired by Somerset Development, which understands not just how to create a successful building, but a property that will complement the area’s existing character and add to its status as one of the most vibrant and desirable destinations on the Jersey Shore.”
