The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music (BSACAM) at Monmouth University recently opened a pop-up exhibit and shop located in Convention Hall on the boardwalk in Asbury Park, New Jersey. This shop will sell merchandise (in support of the BSACAM, a registered 501c3) while also showcasing rotating exhibits relating to Bruce Springsteen, the local music scene, and other important historic events that shaped American music.
BSACAM is joining a community of other shops also located within Convention Hall, building on the structure’s history of being a cultural meeting place where locals and visitors alike can shop, dine, and enjoy the rich history of Asbury. Built between 1928 and 1930, New York City architectural firm Warren and Wetmore, the same firm that designed Grand Central Terminal, helped shape Asbury into the destination beach town it is today. Lead architects of this project included a “theatre, exhibition hall, and an arcade lined with shops and amusements…” with architects and local officials hopeful that the structure would become a fixture along the Jersey Shore while stimulating the local economy (nj.gov). However, the project’s completion was immediately followed by the Great Depression. While the structure certainly represented the visual brilliance of the Jersey Shore, Asbury Park was quickly nearing bankruptcy and Convention Hall was failing to maintain entertainment acts that would attract visitors throughout the 1930s. Following this period of instability and the United States entry into World War II, Convention Hall was used by the U.S. Army Signal Corps and the U.S. Navy for “wartime training purposes” between 1942 and 1946. (National Register of Historic places).
Much like the rest of the United States following the war’s end, Convention Hall enjoyed a boost in visitors and entertainment acts that helped shape the structure into what it is known for today. Convention Hall hosted Big Band Dances, sporting events, and concerts including acts like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Today, the structure is home to various dining and shopping options that showcase the local artistry Asbury Park is recognized for.
Over time, Convention Hall fell into disrepair due to its age. Paramount Theatre, located adjacent to Convention Hall as part of the structure, was closed to visitors in 2021 after concerns of its structural integrity impacting the safety of the public. Asbury Park hopes to further restore Convention Hall and the Paramount Theatre while maintaining its historical integrity. Convention hall and the Paramount theatre are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music joins a group of businesses in Convention Hall that represent a rich history. Visitors can expect merchandise relating to the archives and Bruce Springsteen, a musician with deep ties to Asbury Park helping to shape the town’s distinct music history. The shop will also include an exhibit space that will help tell the story of music throughout the shore, New Jersey, and the United States at large. The shop is a great place for visitors to explore their love of local music and how it contributed to American music. The shop and the archive’s mission are strengthened by Convention Hall’s robust historical significance along the Shore as well as its role in the local music scene.
Shannon Whartnaby is currently a graduate student at Monmouth University and student archivist for the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music. She is working toward a degree in history.
Bibliography
United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Asbury Park Convention Hall National Register for Historic Places Nomination Form.
New Jersey Historic Trust. “Asbury Park Convention Hall & Paramount Theatre”
Asbury Park Historical Society “History of Asbury Park”
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