FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Puglisi s2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Puglisi

October 19, 2011 973-621-2542

Dottie Cooper

732-380-0800

ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO AND MCLOONE’S RESTAURANTS ANNOUNCE OPENING OF MCLOONE’S BOATHOUSE RESTAURANT

AT ESSEX COUNTY SOUTH MOUNTAIN RECREATION COMPLEX

Family-Friendly Restaurant Complements Recreation Activities

at Turtle Back Zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, miniGOLF Safari and Codey Arena

West Orange, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and McLoone’s Restaurants owner Tim McLoone announced that McLoone’s Boathouse Restaurant in the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex will open to the public on Friday, October 21st. The rustically-designed restaurant offers a family-friendly atmosphere that complements the recreation attractions at Turtle Back Zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, miniGOLF Safari and Codey Arena.

“ Our South Mountain Recreation Complex is a premiere destination that offers recreation opportunities for people of all ages, and the addition of McLoone’s Boathouse will enable even more people to enjoy our parks. The restaurant is an attraction itself because of its inviting atmosphere and the breathtaking views of South Mountain Reservation and the Orange Reservoir,” DiVincenzo said. “We are pleased to be partnering with McLoone’s Restaurants to present this unique dining and recreation experience to the public as well as creating jobs and contributing to the economic development of Essex County,” he added.

“ For someone like me who grew up in the Oranges, this is a great opportunity to return home,” said Tim McLoone, owner of the McLoone’s restaurant group. “We are so very grateful to Joe DiVincenzo and the County of Essex for creating this spectacular facility and we promise to deliver a dining experience worthy of it,” he added.

McLoone’s Boathouse Restaurant is located at 9 Cherry Lane at the corner of Northfield Avenue and Cherry Lane/Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange adjacent to the Essex County miniGOLF Safari. The 12,000-square foot building was designed according to a rustic boathouse concept that enables it to connect with the Orange Reservoir and blend with the natural setting of South Mountain Reservation and the environmental mission of Turtle Back Zoo.

When entering the restaurant, patrons will see a bar area with a high ceiling. Seating for lunch and dinner is located off the bar area. It is designed with natural wood and rock finishes that give the interior and exterior a wilderness look. There is seating for about 240 people inside with room for another 100 patrons on a deck overlooking the Orange Reservoir. On the deck is a fire pit to add to the ambiance of the outdoor dining area. The building is designed so the space can be utilized for regular restaurant use and for semi-private parties.

“It is amazing to walk in here today and see the infrastructure at its fulfillment,” NJ State Senator and Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said. “Seeing families and friends gathered around the dinner table when the restaurant opens for business will be the pivotal moment of what the County Executive wants to accomplish,” she added.

“ The boathouse is such a magnificent place,” Sheriff Armando Fontoura said. “We take pride in the many projects undertaken by the County Executive to make this complex, and the parks throughout Essex, attractions that everyone can be proud of,” he noted.

“ History is being made here today,” Freeholder President Blonnie Watson said. “On behalf of the Board of Freeholders, we are glad to have helped make this dream become a reality. With the other attractions at this recreation complex, even more people will be attracted to Essex County for leisure activities,” she added.

“We can all be proud of this. We all can have a good feeling to know we were part of the many improvements being made throughout Essex County. This is a legacy,” Assemblyman and Freeholder Vice President Ralph Caputo said.

“When I walked through the door, I was struck by how outstanding this building is,” Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins said. “It was a blessing that Joe D. knocked on my door and brought this project to us. We are proud to be partners with Essex County to make these improvements even bigger and better,” he noted.

“Once again the County Executive has delivered a phenomenal asset for Essex County residents,” Essex County Improvement Authority Board of Commissioners Chairman Steve Rother said.

McLoone’s Boathouse Restaurant is the latest addition to the McLoone’s Restaurant franchise. Tim McLoone is owner of the restaurant group that operates five restaurants in southern New Jersey and one restaurant in Maryland: McLoone’s Rum Runner in Sea Bright, McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch, McLoone’s Woodbridge Grille in Fords, McLoone’s Asbury Grill and Tim McLoone’s Supper Club in Asbury Park, and McLoone’s Pier House in National Harbor, Md. In keeping with the tradition of Tim McLoone’s other restaurants, the Boathouse menu will offer American cuisine that appeals to the entire family.

McLoone has a varied professional career in the music, television and sports industries. He is the founder of Holiday Express, an all-volunteer musical group that performs exclusively during the winter holiday season at hospitals, nursing homes, homeless shelters, schools, and soup kitchens in the tri-state area. He is also a regular performer at his restaurants. McLoone directed the U.S. Men’s Olympic Trials in 1998, did broadcast work for the Olympic Trials and the Los Angeles and New York Marathons, and served as musical director of the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony for NBC from 1998-2000. He also serves as Director of Game Operations and Arena Announcer for the New Jersey Nets and Seton Hall University men’s basketball team at the Prudential Center.

Essex County will receive $22,500 in rent per month. The contract length is 15 years with two additional five- year options. In addition, McLoone’s will set aside $12,000 a year that will be deposited in a beautification fund for the maintenance of the site. Essex County is working on an agreement with the City of Orange to gain access to the Orange Reservoir.

Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex

The South Mountain Recreation Complex is part of the historic Essex County Parks System, the nation’s first county park system created in 1895. Named after South Mountain Reservation, the land upon which it sits, South Mountain Recreation Complex is home to Turtle Back Zoo, miniGOLF Safari, Treetop Adventure Course and Codey Arena.

Turtle Back Zoo: New Jersey’s #1 Zoo, Turtle Back Zoo is AZA-accredited and features over 800 animals from around the world. Opened in 1963, Turtle Back Zoo is committed to providing an enriching recreation experience that fosters excellence in wildlife education and wildlife conservation for present and future generations. For reservations visit www.essexcountynj.com or call 973-731-5800.

Safari Mini Golf: The 19-hole African Continent-themed miniature golf course opened in 2010. The course features figures of life-size animals (including a 12-foot elephant), waterfalls, dunes and more – offering family fun from spring through fall. For information about the miniature golf course, visit www.essexcountynj.com or call 862-520-5024.

Treetop Adventure Course: The State’s first aerial obstacle course includes rope bridges, zip lines and other sky high climbing obstacles – all nestled in the treetops 35 feet in the air. For reservations visit www.essexcountynj.com or call 973-731-5800.

Codey Arena: This state-of-the-art facility features two indoor NHL-regulation sized ice skating rinks. A recent facelift transformed the Arena into a year-round venue that hosts a variety of ice skating and non-ice events, including college and high school hockey games, figure skating clubs, dog shows, dancing competitions and corporate events.

The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 20 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, miniature golf course, Treetop Adventure Course, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.