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LOCH ARBOUR - Though it had changed hands many times over the years, Ocean Township natives Patti Englert and her son Phil Villapiano always loved the local restaurant/bar located on Main Street in their Loch Arbour community and had long dreamed of owning it someday.

So when that opportunity finally presented itself nearly three years ago, they, along with Villapiano’s business partners Andrea Pappas and Greg Bartz — now the owners of Deal Lake Bar + Co. in Loch Arbour — didn’t hesitate to seize the moment.

Growing up with a father who supplied steel and aluminum to contractors for the home-building process, “I enjoyed real estate, worked as a real estate agent for a period of time, and then began investing in homes and flipping them when my kids were in college,” said Englert, 67, an Interlaken resident. “Having gone to Loch Arbour Beach Club all the time as a kid, I knew the property our restaurant is on and had always loved it.”

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Her son echoed that sentiment. “I’d always wanted to own that location,” said Villapiano, 40, an Oceanport resident with a background in hospitality management. “It’s always been the local bar and hangout for Ocean Township residents, especially ourselves, so it just felt like a no-brainer for a group like ours to keep that tradition going.”

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Operating as everything from Harvey’s, Cats, Parkhill’s, and, most recently, McGillicuddy's Lakeside Taphouse, “we’d been keeping our eye on it,” Villapiano said of the business, which had turned over multiple times since the 1960s. “But in 2019, a colleague of mine informed me that it was up for sale and we knew that the time was right.”

“Phil and I had looked at a couple of other restaurant/bar investment opportunities, but nothing fit the bill — either the owner wasn’t committed to selling, there was a lot of red tape involved in the sale, or the property conditions weren’t ideal,” Englert said. “But with its location right on Deal Lake just blocks from the ocean, this was a local place that we knew and loved and it was really attractive to us.”

Englert purchased the property in March 2019 and Villapiano and his close friends of over 20 years, Pappas and Bartz, joined him as official owners of the new venture, which offers elevated pub food in a relaxed and casual setting.

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Situated just steps away from the more city-like ambiance of Asbury Park, “we wanted to retain the local feel that we’d all loved growing up but modernize the space and provide a great sports and entertainment venue that offered a fun bar scene while maintaining a family-friendly, inclusive atmosphere,” Villapiano said of their vision.

Following extensive renovations undertaken by Englert — including installation of a brand-new kitchen, floors, ceilings, electrical circuitry, restrooms, and an HVAC system with air purification capabilities as well as industrial chic new lighting, tables and chairs, bars, windows and doors that maximize the beautiful water views, and large-screen TVs — the team officially opened Deal Lake Bar + Co. on Sept. 4, 2020, to a positive response.

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In the bright and airy 5,300-square-foot establishment that seats over 250 people inside and out, “our burgers are our best seller and are second-to-none,” said Villapiano, who added that the restaurant’s ‘Burger on the DL,’ made in smash style, is one of their signature offerings.

“Our freshly-made rotisserie chicken, offered in full or half portions or shredded, and our tuna tacos and giant pretzel are also very popular,” he said. “Guests love our lightly pan-fried appetizer of Brussels sprouts with spiced balsamic seasoning as well as our entrées like crispy salmon, flat iron steak, pork chops and fish and chips. And for dessert, we bring in locally-sourced Igloo Ice Cream sandwiches and both our cookie skillet and brownie skillet dishes are made to order with ice cream.”

On the beverage side, “we’re lucky to have Colleen Nealon, one of the area’s top mixologists, working for us, so our drinks are super cool, creative and very fresh and unique,” Villapiano said. “One of our most popular — the ‘Juicy Lucy,’ which features a blend of orange and vanilla vodka, orange juice, and coconut cream — has become a staple at Deal Lake Bar + Co., and our variety of martinis and bourbon drinks (featuring logoed ice cubes made by Ocean Township-based Clear Cut Ice Co.) are big hits too.”

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He noted that the bar menu also includes an extensive list of local beers, including brews by Ocean Township-based Kane Brewing and Bradley Beach-based Bradley Brew Project. Additionally, the venue currently features live music on Thursdays and Saturdays (and every Thursday through Sunday in the warm weather months).

“Our motto at Deal Lake Bar + Co. is ‘good times at all times,’” Villapiano said. “That’s our culture and our friendly, professional and fun staff members truly embody that spirit.”

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Among challenges, Villapiano confirmed that staffing has been hard during the pandemic.

“We retain a really great staff of 50 employees who are incredibly dedicated and happy to be with us, but finding them can be difficult,” he said. “In addition, food prices are going up and it’s hard to sell certain items at prices that customers can get behind. For instance, the cost of basic menu items like chicken wings has gone up significantly, but people will only pay so much for an order of wings, so they’ve almost become a loss-leader for us,” he said.

Despite that, Englert and the Deal Lake Bar + Co. business team couldn’t be happier about the great reviews and tremendous support they’ve received from customers.

“Local people love and appreciate the investment we’ve made and the experience Deal Lake Bar + Co. offers and we’re thrilled to have created this destination for our community,” said Englert, who hopes it will feel like a home away from home for area residents. “Being on Deal Lake and having a great outdoor patio with a large bar has been a real draw.”

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“We hope to continue servicing the local scene and keeping everybody happy — everything we do is about enabling people to have a good time,” Villapiano agreed of their mission. “And based on our proximity to the most popular city on the Jersey Shore, we also want to continue offering a bit of a respite from the hustle and bustle of Asbury Park.”

As a mom, Englert couldn’t be prouder of the team’s accomplishments. “Seeing my son’s dream come true and the success that he, Andrea, and Greg are enjoying brings me the most happiness,” she said of her favorite part of her role as landlord.

“It’s hard to make it in the restaurant industry in the best of times, let alone during a pandemic” she confirmed, “and it’s exciting to see their business not only surviving but thriving.”

Location: 601 Main Street, Loch Arbour

Phone: 848-217-7049

Owners: Andrea Pappas, Greg Bartz and Phil Villapiano

Opened: September 2020

Website: www.deallakebarco.com