Bittersweet Sendoff To The Moroneys at RBQ’s Last Hurrah

By Kami-Leigh Agard

Since the spring of 2018, RBQ has been serving up barbecue, beats and bevvies, establishing Rockaway Beach Boulevard as Rockaway’s midtown weekend hot spot for locals and visitors alike. However, sadly this past weekend, John and Kellieann Moroney celebrated their last hurrah as owners of what has become a Rockaway staple. And with a jampacked weekend of live music with popular local bands, The Rock-AWades, Mixed Bag and Gerald Bair from Friday, April 28 to Sunday, April 30—scores of patrons from near and far, came out to show their love for the Moroney family and their staff at RBQ.

Located on Rockaway Beach Blvd., the Moroneys opened RBQ in a building that has an illustrious past. Longtime locals may remember in the 1980s, dining on pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs at Boggiano’s, The Tap & Grill Clam Bar next door and Playland amusement park across the street. Fast forward to the ‘20s, the

Moroneys brought back the same excitement to Rockaway Beach Blvd.

However, RBQ is not just a restaurant and bar, it’s also an event space the Moroney family generously gave to community organizations and charities looking to host fundraisers and more.

According to John Moroney—who has a full-time job as a civil trial lawyer and also, heavily involved with the Ancient Order of the Hibernians-Division 21, which he helped to grow—it’s all about paying it forward. He said, “There’s a lot of organizations on the Rockaway peninsula that don't have a home, don't have a place to go, nor the facilities or the means to host functions. So, we thought it was a great way to pay it forward by allowing these organizations and people in the community to run events without charging them, so they could promote and develop their organization or charitable cause with hosting fundraisers, etc.”

Also, RBQ evolved into a premier spot for live music, hosting popular bands such as The Brooklyn Bards,

Fools Night Out, Solshyne and more.

For Moroney, hosting all these bands, and up and coming music artists, is something of which he is especially.

“We did a lot of good things here. We built into an area that had been desolate and abandoned for quite some time, specifically the building RBQ occupied. Also, we started pushing live music as they were very few venues at that time. We brought in a lot of different bands with different genres and gave a lot of people the opportunity to showcase their talents and ministry of music,” he said. At RBQ’s last hurrah this weekend, many of the restaurant’s patrons expressed their love for RBQ and the Moroney family.

Rockaway native, Patricia Woods, whose family owned the old Irish Circle said, “It has been a pleasure being a patron of RBQ. I’ve been coming here since they opened, and

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Rbq

Continued from Page 6 it’s always been a great place to have fun with family and friends.”

Woods’ friend, Kathy, agreed, I’m sorry to see the Moroneys go. They took very good care of the community with all the charities they supported. However, I wish them the best of luck.”

As for why the Moroneys decided to pass on their ownership reins of RBQ to another local family, John Moroney said it was just time. He shared, “In addition to running the restaurant and bar, both of us have full-time jobs. I’m a lawyer and Kellieann is a teacher. It became a lot to handle. So, we figured, let's tone it down a bit and start enjoying other aspects of life.”

According to John Moroney, RBQ’s new owners are from Rockaway and he’s confident that they will continue to support the community as he and his wife have done for the past five years.

He said, “They’re wonderful people and I think they'll be a great fit for the location and for the community overall. Note, we’re not closing yet as we’ll be running the business until the new owners get all the necessary permits approved.”

As for how he feels about passing on the reins of RBQ, which he and his wife Kellieann invested their heart and soul for the last five years, Moroney said, “I guess like with the end of a chapter in life, you ponder about it, but I know we had a great run, and we appreciate all the support and patronage that the community gave us over the years. We wish the incoming owners much success. And we ask that the community patronizes the new establishment once it starts because it’s going to be an integral part of Rockaway Beach. People need to support it and keep it thriving.”

On Saturday night, longtime RBQ patron, Lou Romas, toasted to the Moroney family's new chapter. He said, “To John and Kellieann Moroney, you enjoyed a great run. I wish you a lot of luck and happiness, and I also wish the new owners much success as they serve and elevate Rockaway, like John and Kellieann have done.”

1 Annual Percentage Yield (APY) disclosed is effective as of May 1, 2023. The minimum balance to open the 10 Month CD s $100 and the maximum amount deposited in the 10 month CD is $500,000. Early withdrawal penalties apply on CD accounts. This special CD offer is limited to consumers who do not have a deposit account either personally or as joint owner at Ridgewood. One 10 month CD per customer and must be opened online. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice. | 2. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) disclosed is effective as of April 5, 2023, and may be changed by the Bank at any time, including after account opening. This special Smart Move Money Market offer is limited to consumers who do not have a deposit account either personally or as joint owner at Ridgewood. One Smart Move Money Market account per customer and must be opened online. A $10,000 minimum deposit is required to open the Smart Move Money Market account. Interest is earned based on the balance in the account at the end of each day in accordance with these tiers: $0 - $9,999: no interest; $10,000 – $74,999: 4.11% interest rate and 4.25% APY; $75,000 – $124,999: 4.11% interest rate and 4.25% APY; $125,000 – $250,000: 4.11% interest rate and 4.25% APY; over $250,000: .25% interest rate and .25% APY. The $15 monthly maintenance fee is waived if a balance of $5,000 is maintained at the end of the statement cycle. There is a monthly fee of $5 for paper statements. Overdraft coverage is not offered on the Smart Move Money Market account. Fees may reduce earnings. Offer may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Rates, terms and tiers are subject to change

Once again, getting this year’s Rockaway Times Photo contest down to a top 30 was quite the task. We had over a thousand to choose from! Our selections are on Pages 17, 18, and 19. Our judges had a difficult task but, in the end, I think they did one heck of a job. Unfortunately, some great shots couldn’t make the cut because the resolution was too low. The Top 30 are in the process of being enlarged to poster-size and will be put up on display on the boardwalk. Congratulations to the Top 30! Oh, and five Honorable Mention photos will be on display at the ferry dock. We will print those in one of our upcoming papers as well. Look for all the photos to be on display just before Memorial Day. Thank you to everyone who participated! After the Top 30 have had some time to bask in their glory on the boardwalk, we will continue to narrow down the field until we have our winner. *****

Look ma, you made it! Want to put a nice picture of mom in the newspaper? Send your photo to Mail@Rockawaytimes.com and we’ll do our best to put it in next week for Mother’s Day.

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Well, this week’s Rockaway Civic Association meeting with NYC Parks regarding Rockaway’s uptown beaches this summer was not as illuminating as some might have hoped. Inquisitive residents were out in droves to question NYC Department of Parks & Recreation Rockaway Administrator Eric Peterson. In the end, they were not thrilled with everything he had to say and there was still much left unanswered. For a full breakdown of the meeting, check out Kami-Leigh Agard’s coverage on page 9. *****

Have you been down to Riis Park lately? The work that is being done there seems to be making quite the impact. Bay 4, which last year was closed to the public because of the lack of beach, looks completely different with a full beach thanks to the sand replenishment project. While work continues, it does appear to be paying dividends. *****

There will be a blood drive in honor of Walter Blum this Sunday at St. Francis de Sales from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Blood drives save lives. Please give if you can. *****

It’s a tale as old as time, a tradition unlike any other, Rockaway’s own Groundhog Day—the roads are being ripped up and left unpaved for who knows how long. Almost like a game, you end up going up and down streets outside of your usual routes to avoid what feels like riding in a horse drawn carriage. At least this year it is understandable with all the snow we got this winter… *****

This past weekend, Rockaway native Christian Izien was signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Congratulations, Christian! Keep making Rockaway proud.

NYC Parks is hiring seasonal security for Rockaway Beach. Members of the Parks Security Service are City Seasonal Aides/Security Guards and perform routine patrols of parks, beaches, pools and related facilities to promote proper use and enjoyment of parks. CSA/Security Guard candidates will work outdoors in the field of security at beaches, pools, or regional parks to advise patrons of park rules and regulations. The job's prerequisites include being at least 18 years of age, passing a background check and the ability to work holidays, weekends and flexible shifts. To apply, visit: https://bit.ly/3GU8Eey

Edgemere Farms, located at 385 Beach 45th Street, will be hosting its annual Plant Sale Fundraiser on Sunday, May 7, from 10am-1pm. Support the farm by getting your plants from them (annual & perennial flowers, herbs, and a variety of veggies), participate in their seed swap, get a bag of free DSNY ‘Big Apple Compost’, and enjoy a free performance by Rockaway Chamber Music at 11am.