Like many other boardwalk areas in the United States, such as Coney Island, New York, Asbury Park fell on hard times. Palace Amusements, built in 1888, closed in 1988, and the historic building fell into disrepair. When the Palace site was targeted for demolition and redevelopment, Asbury Park residents, Tillie fans, and Springsteen fans formed a grassroots effort to save Tillie. The group lobbied the state to block the demolition or at least remove the mural beforehand. The effort was partially successful, as the left-side Tillie, as well as the "bumper girl" murals, were removed. The right-side Tillie was demolished. From June 8 to June 11, 2004, Save Tillie volunteers removed the mural from the Palace building. The building was demolished in July 2004.[4][5] Tillie and other murals from the Palace building were to be incorporated into a new building on the site. The two wall sections with the Tillie mural are currently stored in Asbury Park; the version on the Wonder Bar at Ocean Avenue is a replica.[citation needed]
Present-day history
After being saved from demolition, Tillie was put in a shed at the city’s wastewater treatment plant while it was decided what was to happen to the mural. It was left in the shed, which was battered by weather and became run-down, letting paint flake off the mural.
On September 28, 2021, Tillie was brought out of storage for the first time in 17 years and sat outside Paramount Theatre before being moved elsewhere.
asburyboardwalk.com - The Asbury Park Boardwalk: Past and Present. A collection of stories, photos, postcards and advertisements of the Boardwalk and City of Asbury Park.