Tacos, cocktails and a fresh vibe are heading to Long Beach as Mareya, a new Mexican restaurant, takes over the former Moneyline space.
This is owner Mike Wachs’ first restaurant and he hopes to open by Cinco de Mayo or May 5. “I have a big responsibility to bring something very special here,” said Wachs, a former hospitality consultant.
Mareya’s name was inspired by the Spanish word “marea,” which translates to “tide.” Wachs was inspired by the bay and ocean that surround the barrier island, taking some artistic liberty with the spelling.
Moneyline sports bar in Long Beach has closed. Credit: Jeff Bachner
Moneyline opened at 906 W. Beech St. last year with a concept modeled after Las Vegas sportsbooks, Newsday previously reported, serving dishes like seared ahi tuna, Cobb salad and “grown up mac & cheese.” In hindsight, owner Josh Krapf acknowledged that “maybe it wasn’t the best fit for Long Beach” in a statement about the closing. Now he and his wife are following the progress of the venue’s transformation and are “hopeful the town will embrace the new concept which will be much more beach- and family friendly.”
While Mareya’s menu is still a work in progress, Wachs is locked into tacos and desserts. He also wants community input to help create the menu.
“Right now, we’re cooking everything and we’re seeing what goes, what fits,” Wachs said. “We want to launch with a smaller menu; it’s going to grow and it’s going to evolve, but it’s so important to come out the gate — whatever you do it needs to be great.”
Wachs took inspiration from Mexico City “with a sprinkle of Tulum,” to create an immersive experience in the decor, he said.
The space that once was accented with neon pink and laden with more than 20 television screens, will be transformed into an oasis with greenery, earth tones, terra-cotta and pops of color.
Melissa Azofeifa is a restaurants reporter with Newsday’s FeedMe team. Having grown up on Long Island, she loves talking about food and its impact on culture. A graduate of Stony Brook University, she joined Newsday in the fall of 2024.