&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Paradise_logo.png){kind=logo} Logo | |
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Paradise_exterior.jpg) The entrance to Paradise on the side of the Empress Hotel | |
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Location_map_of_Monmouth_County,_New_Jersey.svg)  Paradise Location within Monmouth County, New Jersey | |
| Address | 101 Asbury Avenue |
|---|---|
| Location | Asbury Park, New Jersey, US |
| Coordinates | 40°13′06″N 74°00′05″W / 40.2184°N 74.0015°W |
| Public transit | Asbury Park station |
| Owner | Shep Pettibone |
| Type | |
| Opened | May 1999 |
| Website | |
| paradisenj | |
Paradise is a gay nightclub in Asbury Park, New Jersey. It is known for its fundraisers and drag shows, most notable of which is the annual Miss Paradise pageant. The club is integrated with the Empress Hotel; both are owned by record producer Shep Pettibone. Paradise's 1999 opening is credited as one factor that improved Asbury Park's struggling economy and drew the LGBT community back to the city after a period of local unrest. The venue is a popular Jersey Shore destination in the summer, and it has received praise for its welcoming atmosphere. After several months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paradise reopened its outdoor pool and bar area in summer 2020.