• Report of Natural Gas Leak on 5/14/13 in the area of Harvard Way. Residents were evacuated and surrounding area was secured by Police and Fire Department. New Jersey Natural Gas responded for repairs. No reported injuries. Ptl. Tracy Polk investigating.

• Report of Motor Vehicle Theft on 5/14/13 in the area of Shrewsbury Avenue. Victim reports a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee, color green was taken by unknown subject(s). Damages totaling $6,000.00. Ptl. Mary Ellen Jennings investigating.

• Report of Theft by Deception on 5/17/13 in the area of Broad Street. Victim reports business funds taken for personal use by employee. Damages totaling $9,215.81. Ptl. Mary Ellen Jennings investigating.

Arrests

• John D. Ryan, male age 19 of Keansburg was arrested on 5/12/13 for Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance in the area of Shrewsbury Avenue by Ptl. Derek Myers.

•  Glenworth Guiste, male age 35 of Toms River was arrested on 5/15/13 for Contempt of Court in the area of Newman Springs Road by Ptl. Ryan Cullinane.

• Walter Chameroy, male age 53 of Red Bank was arrested on 5/16/13 for Contempt of Court in the area of Broad Street by Ptl. Derek Myers.

By JOHN T. WARD

[UPDATE: See Cindy Burham comments below]

Red Bank borough council candidate Suzanne Viscomi had not in fact dropped out of the race last week, as reported by the Asbury Park Press, she says in a web posting that tees up her former running mate, Cindy Burnham, for running on a “a personal vendetta and to appease her ego.”

But whether Viscomi is still running, well, you’ll have to wait until Wednesday to find out, she tells redbankgreen.

In a dirty-laundry posting to her campaign website last Thursday and noticed Monday, Viscomi said she was not contacted for the Press story, later picked up by redbankgreen, that reported she’d dropped out of the race.

The Press attributed the news to local GOP chairman Jack Minton, reporting that Minton “confirmed that Viscomi told the committee she was withdrawing from the race.”

But on her website, Viscomi writes:

On 5/15/2013, I was unaware of any www.app.com article. I was never contacted by any reporter for a confirmation. No official resignation was ever signed. At the time I had no intentions except to represent the citizens of Red Bank. Cindy B, once again acted erratically and contacted the reporter on her own accord. Truthfully, we have very different points of view on how to win this election.

I stated from day one, regardless of the party, anyone who runs for any office should do it with the right intentions. Cindy did not like that I wanted this campaign to have a positive message, one about the voters and address the issue of rising taxes. She is making it a personal vendetta and to appease her ego. She still can’t even find a treasurer because that someone will be responsible and liable for her campaign, which puts that person at risk.

For my own best interest and the betterment of the overall Republican Party, I will now step aside.

Asked Monday whether she was in the race or not, Viscomi declined to answer, except to tell redbankgreen that she had not withdrawn at the time of the Press story and would make an announcement about her candidacy at Wednesday night’s council meeting.

“I’ll be finalizing my plans for going forward” between now and then, she said, adding that although she still “likes and respects” the local GOP, she may run as an independent. She has until June 4 to decide.

She declined to expand on her published comments about Burnham.

Burnham, in turn, tells redbankgreen that Viscomi “did make her decision not to run, and it had nothing to do with me,” citing an email from Viscomi to that effect. She also said the GOP is looking for a replacement candidate.

“I wish Suzanne all the best,” Burnham said. “It’s time to now move forward. I plan to have a positive campaign.”

Viscomi and Burnham were vying for seats held by incumbents Sharon Lee and Kathy Horgan, who are seeking re-election to the all-Democrat governing body.

Criminal Mischief reported on 5-10-13 occurring at Branch Ave. vacant residence. Last time property was checked was in February 2013. Unknown subject(s) pried open the apartment door. Ptl. Michael Zadlock.

Criminal Mischief occurring on 5-12-13 at Riverview Plaza. Report of spray-painted graffiti on garbage cans, lamppost, garage and side of building. Ptl. George Travostino

Criminal Mischief occurring on 5-13-13 at Monmouth Street. Victim reported that unknown person(s) threw small stones inside and on top of air conditioning units in rear of business. Also scattered stones in driveway and parking lot. Ptl. Nicholas Maletto.

Criminal Mischief occurring between 5-15-13 and 5-16-13 at Monmouth St. Victim reported that unknown person(s) slashed his front right tire on parked vehicle. Sgt. Frank Bitsko.

Criminal Mischief occurring between 5-15-13 and 5-16-13. Additional reports of damage to 4 vehicles reported, that being tires slashed in other locations on Bridge Ave. and Herbert Street. Ptl. Paul Perez.

ARRESTS:
Joyce Jeffers, age 39 female of Beachwood was arrested on 5-16-13 in the area of Branch Ave. for DWI by Ptl. John Camarca.

Josiah Stepney, age 27 male of Red Bank was arrested on 5-14-13 in the area of N. Bridge Ave. for Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia by Ptl. Jhonatan Quispe.

Miguel Garcia-Romero, age 27 male of Red Bank was arrested on 5-14-13 in the area of Locust Ave. for Simple Assault by Ptl. James DePonte.

Sakeenah Whitley, age 34 female of Asbury Park was arrested on 5-13-13 in the area of Riverside Ave. for Fraudulent Use of Credit Card by Det. Juan Sardo

James Burns, age 19 male of Middletown was arrested on 5-12-13 in the area of Broad St. for Criminal Mischief by Ptl. David Smith.

Patrick Dwyer, age 19 male of Old Bridge was arrested on 5-12-13 in the area of Broad St. for Criminal Trespass by Ptl. Jorge Torres.

Jamie Ortiz, age 29 male of Red Bank was arrested on 5-12-13 in the area of E. Sunset Ave for COC [Contempt of Court] by Ptl. Paul Perez.

Andrew Tusbarsky, age 24 male of Red Bank was arrested on 5-11-13 in the area of E. Front St. for DWI by Capt. Darren McConnell.

Caleb Ramos, age 30 male of Keansburg was arrested on 5-11-13 in the area of E. Newman Springs Rd. for COC [Contempt of Court] by Ptl. Heather Pubylski.

Pedro Estrada-Castaneda, age 28 male of Red Bank was arrested on 5-10-13 in the area of Monmouth St. for Hindering Apprehension and COC [Contempt of Court] by Ptl. Garrett Falco.

Rebekah Reilly, age 35 female of Keansburg was arrested on 5-10-13 in the area of Coopers Bridge for DWI by Ptl. Ashon Lovick.

Jay Bennett, age 26 male of Asbury Park was arrested on 5-9-13 in the area of Monmouth St. for COC [Contempt of Court] by Ptl. Jhonatan Quispe.

By ALEXIS ORLACCHIO

After a rough off-season that included severe damage from Hurricane Sandy, the owners of Sea Bright’s Angler’s Marina & Beach Boutique, Fred Leonardis and his wife, Elizabeth, worked hard to reopen their Ocean Avenue shop.

“My husband has always believed that we are in a service business, a seasonal business, and that we need to be here for our customers,” said Elizabeth. “So we take that very seriously.”

Perhaps unnoticed by many motorists passing by, however, Leonardis has been developing a side project within the marina store to go along with the boating hardware: a beach-themed accessory shop selling everything from chairs, towels, tote bags and more. Her experience in retail sparked the idea for the accessory shop.

“I said ‘We should have beautiful beach bags, and we should have shoes,’” she tells Window Shopping the Green. “Last year, I brought in jewelry, and it just evolved.”

During the storm, the riverfront marina took on four-and-a-half feet of water; the tide lines can still be seen on outer parts of the building. Leonardis said the shop lost 75 percent of its inventory.

“It became a giant whirlpool. Things stayed, but everything was displaced,” she said. Some of the beach items on the top shelves and second floor of the building were salvageable, however.

The accessory shop is going into its third season, and among the new items that Leonardis has brought in are straw, nautical- medallion clutches by Mud Pie.

“These are great,” she said. “Think about the person coming from north Jersey or even inland. They’re packing for the day,” she said. “So if you’re going to the beach club you have a big, straw satchel, you put this inside. And if you’re going out in the evening, you have a nice evening bag.”

The line also includes a series of bangle bracelets coordinated to the clutches and sold separately. “It’s nice because you can put your really personal belongings in there: your keys, your money, your phone and you’re able to find it easily, too,” she said.

The clutches retail for $36, and the bracelets are $22.

“I don’t want to carry exactly what the mall has,” Leonardis said. “People are always looking for unusual beach-y items. I generally shop vendors that you won’t see at the mall for that reason.”

The idea for the accessory shop came about when the marina business was slowing down, which she attributed to the economy and high price of fuel.  She previously worked as an assistant buyer, department manager, and window display decorator at Sealfons in Summit.

The introduction of the boutique has “actually changed our customer base,” she said.

When Window Shopping visited, Leonardis was awaiting delivery of beach towels designed by local artist Jane McNiff and featuring images of beach badges from all over the Jersey Shore. Some of the sale proceeds will go towards helping Hurricane Sandy victims.

The beach boutique also carries typical beach-day items such as sunscreen and sunglasses, as well as beach-themed jewelry, candles, picture frames and more.

By JIM WILLIS

Rumson’s Debra Levy Picard thinks men and women cook differently.

“A woman might cook because she wants to prepare something to look beautiful and perfect and impressive,” she says. “A guy just wants to eat – he’s hungry, and is happy to eat out of the pot without a bouquet garni,”

A 52-year-old north Jersey native and lifetime foodie, Picarrd has traveled extensively in Europe, Israel, the United Kingdom – she’s lived in both England and Switzerland – and the United States, enriching her understanding off cooking and culture. She recently published a cookbook, Tastosterone: The Best Cookbook For Men, to help men “just get food from the grocery store to the plate.”

redbankgreen sat down with Picard to talk about why women are turned on by a man behind the stove, how come guys always seem to get stuck at the grill and learn what local celeb doesn’t know his way around a kitchen.

Where did Tastosterone come from?

I was always the chef in my house, and started cooking when I was 14 for my family. I was always cooking and entertaining. And my daughter actually came to me one day and said, “Mommy, I want you to write down all your recipes for me so I’ll have them when I’m older.”  So I started writing down recipes, and told a friend of mine [in the food industry in NY] that I was writing them down and thinking about putting together a cookbook. He said, ‘don’t write a cookbook for women, because [the market is] super-saturated,’ and suggested that I channel it towards men.

So we started developing recipes and doing research, and discovered a tremendous amount of need out there. I found that there was a niche in the market for men to be in the kitchen. I found that roles are changing. There are dual [earner] households where both the man and the woman are full-time employees and both work.

At each stage of a guy’s life, they’ll need to find cooking. And cooking is a skill that will take them through many different places in their life. Boys can start learning the basic skills at the age of five or six and cooking will be a valuable skill  when they’re single and then married.

You note you’ve found that roles are changing.  Why haven’t men had more of a presence in the kitchen? How is that changing?

I’d call it the Leave it to Beaver theory. When June Cleaver was in the kitchen, she showed us that it was the woman’s role to run the household while men went out to earn a living.  Later though, in the 1960‘s, we had women like Gloria [Steinem] help get women out into the workplace, where women discovered that they needed to do it all. They had to work. They had to do the household chores. They had to raise the children.

After that, we had what we call the “diaper effect.” Men started changing diapers. Men were getting up in the middle of the night to feed their children and sharing in some of the household [chores]. But men were still not involved in the kitchen. We were surprised to learn that there are more men changing diapers than cooking.

I don’t think in the U.S. men really ever had a place in the kitchen. But as we become more understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities, the newer generation is sharing these roles. What Tastosterone is trying to do is educate the older generation and help raise the younger generation to be independent in the kitchen and share responsibilities in the household.

You say that historically there hasn’t been a place in the kitchen for American men.  You’ve done some extensive traveling and lived overseas, did you observe mens’ roles in the kitchen changing from country to country?

It really depends on the culture. The men in Italy, for example, always shared the kitchen. They were always cooking. They were always in the kitchen; it’s cultural. It’s not something you see in all of Europe or all of Latin America. But [different countries] have a different kind of upbringing. It starts from the household, and is based on what their tradition is. If the parents bring the boys into the kitchen, they’ll develop the skills.

But it’s not just America where men don’t cook.  We’re not behind other countries.  But there are other cultures who have been cooking, like Greece and Italy and Latin American countries, where  they’ve found a sex appeal in the kitchen and they’ve been sharing  that for years and years and years, and  passing down recipes for years and years. Men sharing recipes with their mother or their spouse.

But in America, traditionally, the man has basically been stuck out at the grill.

Why do American men get stuck out at the grill?

I don’t know exactly but it could be a simple as the wife probably wants them out of the house. “Here, take some raw meet and go hang out with your friends and some beer and come back with some cooked food.”  I don’t know for certain.

So let’s say instead of throwing her man outside with a hunk of raw meat, a woman wants to get on board and help get her guy in the kitchen. What does she do?

I talk about that in the book. If you want your guy to cook, no matter what age – from a five-year-old to a 12-year-old to your boyfriend or your husband – you can’t coach from the sidelines.  You can’t fire out orders and sit there and say, “no, honey, I would have done it this way” or “that’s too much salt!” or stop your child from over mixing the batter. They will know by the results if they did it right or wrong. Women should let men learn from their own mistakes in the kitchen. If they’re going to sit there and criticize, then the guy is  going to throw up his hands wand walk out.

How are the recipes in Tastosterone geared towards men? How are men different in the kitchen than women?

We tried to not be overperfectionist. Things don’t need to be perfect.  I don’t think a guy cares how his recipe looks. A guy will finish the recipe and eat it right out of the pot.

They don’t care as much [as a woman about] how it looks. They’re happy to eat it out of the pot without a bouquet garni.

We’re just trying to get the food from the grocery  store to the plate.  A guy cooks because he wants to eat. He’s hungry. The reason a woman might want to cook may be because she’s  want to prepare something to look beautify and perfect and impressive. A guy just wants to eat. Most of my recipes you don’t even need to take out of the pot. Just go for it.

 You said you’d like to see five-year-olds in the kitchen. How does that happen?

I want five-year-old boys in the kitchen, and that comes from parenting. A five-year-old is not going to come and say, “Mommy, I want to cook.”  There are some.  But what happened in the past was the boy went outside to play with his trucks while the girl sat on the counter to help bake a cake with Mommy. What I want is for mom or dad to pop up the kid on the counter  and just give him a spoon when they’re making eggs. Homemade pizza is another good kid food. As long as you give a child a little tasting of what’s going on in the kitchen, they’re going to be interested.

First of all, they’re going to eat better food. They’re not going to be a mac-and-cheese, chicken finger and McDonald’s kind of kid because they’re going to be exposed to new things. And it’s proven that a child will eat what they cook because they want to try it. So I think it starts with the parenting.

[Parents can] start with scrambled eggs on Saturday morning.  Or bring them food shopping. And don’t for whatever reason in the supermarket say, “no, you can’t have that!”   If they want to buy mustard greens and you don’t know how to make it,  just buy it and try it. They’ll teach you things just the same way as you’ll teach them things. And don’t sideline coach. Encouragement, encouragement is the only way you’ll get them in the kitchen.

Tell me about cooking and sex appeal.

First of all, there’s nothing sexier than a girl watching a guy cook. I don’t care if he’s making scrambled eggs. What’s sexy about it is your sharing your roles. You’re taking on another role that normally is dominated by women.  The same way as men find it sexy, I think,  if a woman walks into a board room and she has control of the board room. A guy taking on the kitchen, he’s relieving someone else of that duty or showing another skills or dimension of his personality.

The whole hookup culture that the kids have today, they don’t go out. They just hook up.  We’re trying to get these kids – the 20 somethings – to have some kind of relationship, and get them talking with each other. When they’re in the kitchen, there are all these opportunities for conversation. It’s not just about food. It’s about sharing, [and] different kinds of personalities. Food is a labor of love, you’re giving love to other people. That’s the sex appeal. It’s not the cooking, it’s the giving. The food is just an added benefit.

Any tips for guys looking to bring more sex appeal to the kitchen?

Don’t impress. Be yourself.  Find out what her likes are. Don’t make a vegetarian a steak. Make it simple. You just cooking is sexy enough.

Whatever you make out of my cookbook is sexy enough and she’s just going to be impressed by your certain swagger in the kitchen, and by you putting up the effort in order to cook, not just one time.  Not for that one time. Not just once. It can’t be a onetime deal.

You’ve got a chapter called “Guess Which Celebrity Men Cook”  Any surprises on that list?

Hugh Jackman, would you think he cooks or doesn’t cook?

Jackman? He cooks.

Yes, he does. Elton John, would you say he cooks?

I don’t know. Yes, he cooks.

Elton John doesn’t cook. I was surprised by that.

Any local surprises on the list?

Jon Bon Jovi doesn’t cook. He’s got the restaurant [Soul Kitchen in Red Bank.] Doesn’t cook.

Last question. Who does the dishes?

I think the worst thing is someone who’s left alone to do the dishes by themselves. There’s a lot of opportunity for conversation when doing the dishes.

Debra Picard will be signing her cookbook and offering samples of her recipes at River Road Books in Fair Haven on Wednesday, May 22, from 7 to 9 p.m.. The event is a fundraiser for Move for Hunger. The book is also available locally at the Cheese Cave in Red Bank, and can be purchased on Amazon.

By ALEXIS ORLACCHIO

Friday, May 17:

LITTLE SILVER: Come shop the annual Little Silver Springtime Sidewalk Sale hosted by the Little Silver Business & Professional Association. The sale runs through Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Locations vary.

RED BANK: Stores, restaurants and some unexpected places combine to create a townwide art exhibit for Art Walk. Make your own self-guided tour or shadow docents as they guide the crowd through town. The exhibit runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Here’s the map: artwalk_map_only-1

RED BANK: The Galleria Red Bank hosts children’s book author Dorothy A. Whitehouse for a signing of the Rumson native’s children’s book “Monique’s Boutique,” a touch-and-feel children’s book that follows the fabulous Monique and her dog Fifi thorough a fashion boutique, with tangible samples of silk, satin and other fabrics. The signing begins at 6 p.m. 2 Bridge Avenue at West Front Street.

RUMSON: Rock out with live music by Gone Under, the Stone Bullets, ArdVark SmiLe and special guest Pat Guadagno at the Hurricane Sandy Benefit Concert, hosted at the Rumson Country Day School gymnasium. Food, drinks, and Sandy merchandise will be available for purchase. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for kids and the concert runs from 6 to 9 p.m. 35 Bellevue Avenue.

SEA BRIGHT: The Firemen’s Fair continues through the weekend with rides, games, live music, and carnival food. The 50/50 raffle drawing benefit’s the borough fire department and recreation committee. Located in the municipal lot, the fair runs from 6 to 11 p.m. 1099 Ocean Avenue.

LINCROFT: Guest speaker Amir Mane discusses the change of perception and beliefs that followed the recent death of his wife, who lost her battle with cancer, and his own double lung transplant, hosted by the Unitarian Universalist congregation of Monmouth County.

RED BANK: Songwriter Paul Anka brings nostalgia to Count Basie with his high-energy performances of famous hits. The concert begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45, $65, $75, $85 and $125. 99 Monmouth Street.

RED BANK: Craig Daniel & the Distractions star in Friday night sets at the Walt Street Pub, featuring styles like rock, pop, rap, country, oldies, alternative, and new wave. The show begins at 8 p.m. 180 Monmouth Street.

Saturday, May 18:

RED BANK: Row, row, row your boat gently down the Navesink at the Navesink River Rowing 30^th anniversary open house, featuring a hands-on demonstration of how to row skinny boats. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Maple Avenue.

SHREWSBURY: The Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library hosts its annual Spring Book Sale during normal library hours; the book sale runs through May 25. 1001 Route 35 N.

FAIR HAVEN: Learn about local plants, flowers and history on the Nature Walk/Talk through Fair Haven Fields, hosted by Jeff Dement from the American Littoral Society. The American Littoral Society studies and strives to conserve nature and marine life and encourages others to do the same. The walk starts 10 a.m., no pets allowed. Fair Haven Fields.

RED BANK: Lunch Break, a local nonprofit organization, hosts Foodstock 2013 at Red Bank Middle School in an effort to curb hunger in the community.  Enjoy food, music and friends while donating nonperishable items to ensure that the soup kitchen pantry shelves are stocked this summer. Foodstock runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 101 Harding Road.

RED BANK: The Blind Tellers, a Jersey folk-blues band, join host Anton Daub in a free performance for the season finale of Acoustic Saturdays at the Red Bank Library. The show runs from 2 to 4 p.m. 84 West Front Street.

RED BANK: The Avice Noblett Children’s Room at Red Bank Public Library invites kids ages 5 and older to learn about the art of Vincent Van Gogh, and create your own version of his painting ‘Sunflowers.’ Registration is required for this free program. 84 West Front Street. The lesson runs from 2 to 3 p.m.

RED BANK: The Monmouth Conservatory of Music presents the faculty concert featuring Vladislav Kovalsky, pianist, and executive and artistic Director of the MCM.    $20 suggested donation, under are 18 free.  The show starts of 4 p.m.  50 White Street.

RED BANK: The American Led Zeppelin returns to Basie for their “Get the Led Out” show.  The band embodies the feel of Led Zeppelin music.  Their two-hour show includes performances using studio tracks that Zeppelin never performed live and mellow acoustic tracks.  Tickets are $19.50, $29.50, and $39.50. The show begins at 8 p.m. 99 Monmouth Street.

Sunday, May 19: 

RED BANK: Test your endurance at the third Red Bank Olympic Distance Triathlon. Warm up with a 1.5K swim off Irwin Marina followed by a 25 mile bike ride through Marine Park and conclude with a 6.2 mile run along the Navesink River in Red Bank and Middletown. Sign up online or in person prior to the event. The triathlon begins at 7 a.m. Marine Park.

RED BANK: The Greater Red Bank Kiwanis hosts a Pancake Breakfast at Monmouth Day Care Center for The breakfast runs from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Buy tickets in advance or at the door, prices are $7 for adults, $5 for kids 14 and under. 9 Drs. James Parker Boulevard.

LINCROFT: The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County Youth Group leads a discussion about High School in the 21^st century as part of the May Speaker series at the UUCM. The discussion runs from 9 to 10 a.m. with coffee and bagels served prior. 1475 West Front Street.

RED BANK: Find your Latin roots “VISION: Latin American Film Festival 2013” comes to Two River Theater.  Presented by the Latin Coalition Foundation, the Day-long festival features three films, “Machuca,” “Aqui y alla,” and “Harvest of Empire.” Tickets are $5 and are required for each showing. The festival runs from 1 to 8 p.m. 21 Bridge Avenue.

MIDDLETOWN: Carla and Ian Rios of the Science, Engineering and Technology Club of Monmouth County 4-H present a free presentation on learning kills in engineering, design, and development to program robots, while developing critical thinking faculties at the Middletown Public Library. The presentation starts at 2 p.m. 55 New Monmouth Road.

By ALEXIS ORLACCHIO

Looking at it, shoppers at the Antique Center of Red Bank might not guess the glossy oak casing of the 117-year-old Regina Upright Nickelodeon was once caked with numerous layers of paint that had chipped and peeled over its lifetime. Standing near the front of the dimly lit emporium, light gleams off its intricate carvings.

The restored music box again flawlessly performs the task it was built for: insert a nickel into the side slot, and watch a music disc slowly rotate behind a glass pane, producing a melody of delicate chimes. Taped to its window is a small, handwritten note that reads, “Not for sale.”

“It’s too special,” said store owner Guy Johnson, who found the player at a garage sale in Shrewsbury. It had been sitting in the owners’ basement before they decided to sell it, “and thank God they did,” he said.

But while Johnson may have saved the Regina, whether Red Bank’s vaunted antiques district can be saved is an open question. About a year ago, the home of Monmouth Antiques Shoppes, across West Front Street from the Antique Center, was knocked down  to make room for the MW West Side Lofts, a residential and retail project now under construction. That left a huge hole not only in the space it had long occupied, but in an antiques district that vendors have struggled to keep going.

If Smith-Corona’s not your type, you’ll find something to like. Dozens more photos can be seen at redbankgreen‘s Flickr page. (Photos by Alexis Orlacchio. Click to enlarge)

“I was not happy” about the loss, Johnson said. Though Monmouth Antiques has since reopened in Asbury Park, “one third of [Red Bank's] antique district got torn down” for the MW project, he said. In addition, the antiquing business has suffered from general economic weakness.

“A lot of people that shop for antiques have spare money,” said vendor Peter Serrano. “With the economy the way it is, especially after Sandy hit, people need food, people need clothing and a roof over their head. Those are priorities.”

“It’s gone down quite a bit,” Johnson said of business activity.

But the Antiques Center soldiers on. Housed in a giant red building at the intersection of West Front Street and Bridge Avenue, it practically groans with atmosphere. Various crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling; bookshelves are cluttered with tiny figurines and boxes stuffed with vinyl records. With worn wood floors that creak with every step, the aisles provide a maze of history. Glass displays arrayed throughout center sit side-by-side, carefully stocked with old-fashioned cameras and tea sets. Necklaces and bracelets are draped closely together over jewelry stands.

“It’s recycling the old,” said Johnson.

The center operates as sort of collective, with dozens of vendors. If the owner of a booth is not present, neighboring vendors can take care of a sale. A recurring refrain among the vendors is that the lasting character of antiques separates them from modern items.

“It’s not like the stuff that you buy at IKEA that will break and you have to throw it away,” said Johnson. “You can pass it down to future generations.”

Johnson, who collects vintage toy motorcycles and tin wind-up toys in addition to music boxes, took ownership of the Antique Center in 1980, after the death of his mother, Nan Johnson, who started the business in 1964. Johnson said his mother kind of fell into the antiquing business by accident. She would frequent garage sales and auctions in the midst of decorating their Lincroft home. When she realized she had bought too much stuff, she started to sell it, Johnson recalls.

Along the way, the center grew into a second building, at 195 West Front Street, and now hosts about 100 vendors between the two locations.

Serrano said antiquing takes a lot of work. He suggests conducting research or investing in an appraiser before selling an ‘antique.’ “Something might be old, but that doesn’t mean it’s an antique,” he said.

“It’s a learning process,” he said. “Guy inherited the business from his mother, and he’s still learning stuff. There’s so much to know about the items.”

Serrano, a vendor who also designs the front display window of the shop when not at his full-time job at the post office, has numerous vintage clothing stands, which he has neatly organized like his own personal boutique. Luxurious furs have been pressed or dry-cleaned before being put on display, hanging neatly in their designated slots.

“Most dealers will bring in one new piece every week,” said Serrano, “So no matter where you’re walking you’ll see something new. And then you’ll see stuff that’s been sitting here forever.”

Peggy L (she withheld her last name) has rented a booth at the center for the past five years, but has been collecting antiques for twice as long.

“It started out as a hobby, but then I got too much stuff,” she laughed. “And you want to know something? It’s the same with everybody here. That’s how the whole thing starts out.”

Among the items in Peggy’s booth are figural brass bells, which she said are her specialty, and lamp fixtures that her husband has rewired and restored. In a few weeks, she plans to bring in cuckoo clocks that her husband is currently repairing.

Among the center’s regular shoppers is a woman Johnson said comes in a couple times a year to buy costume jewelry. “She remodels the jewelry into her own designs and sells them.” Johnson said one couple flies in from Japan twice a year.

Antique shopper Dana Notarnicola, who collects kitchenware, home décor and jewelry, said she enjoys antiquing because she does not like things to look too modern or uniform.

“I received a lot of Swarovski crystal as wedding gifts,” said Notarnicola, of Atlantic Highlands. “But when Sandy hit, I didn’t care about them. I was worried about my antiques, the one-of-a-kind things that I can’t replace.”

Although Johnson realizes antiquing may not be at its peak popularity, he said he does not believe it will ever die.

“People like to collect stuff, it’s part of human nature,” said Johnson. “As long as there are things out there that sparkle, we’ll collect it.”