Residents continue to petition for action on former Club Bene

Residents continue to petition
for action on former Club Bene


JEFF HUNTLEY Owners of Krome, formerly Club Bene, Sayreville, will soon make their case before the Borough Council. Residents have presented the council with a petition asking for action to be taken because of problems at the club in recent months. JEFF HUNTLEY Owners of Krome, formerly Club Bene, Sayreville, will soon make their case before the Borough Council. Residents have presented the council with a petition asking for action to be taken because of problems at the club in recent months.

SAYREVILLE — Residents who live near the Krome nightclub are not letting up on their campaign urging the Borough Council to take quick action to address their concerns about the night spot.

Pending confirmation from representatives of Krome, the former Club Bene, Route 35, the council may hear the case on Nov. 20. An exact time has not been set.

Under state law, the council acts as the local agency for the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. As the ABC authority, the council oversees license renewals and can discipline liquor-license holders. Decisions can be appealed to the state ABC.

Residents who live near the nightclub packed the council chambers at the Nov. 1 meeting, asking for some action. "We really trust the council will do the right thing for the borough," said Old Spye Road resident Valerie Smith.

The residents formally presented the council with a petition against the club. The petition calls for the borough to take action against the nightclub or the residents will file a class-action lawsuit against the borough and the nightclub.

The club has been the subject of debate for some time now. Residents have complained on numerous occasions about loitering, violence, noise, the promotion of lewd acts and other alleged problems associated with the club in recent months.

At the Nov. 1 meeting, council President Mary Novak introduced an ordinance to change the closing time of bars and clubs throughout the borough from 3:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Councilman Vincent Zarcaro originally suggested the 2 a.m. closing earlier this year. At the time, Novak said she wanted to hear the cases for the liquor-license renewals of Club Abyss, Hunka Bunka and Krome before making a final decision regarding the closing times.

Peter Santos, a manager at Club Abyss, disagreed with the earlier closing time proposal. "A mismanaged place will remain mismanaged regardless of what time the club closes and opens," he said.

Santos said Club Abyss has tried to comply with stipulations set with the renewal of its liquor license, and the club is willing to hear whatever suggestions and complaints residents may have.

"I don’t want to be incorporated with one bad child," Santos said.

One resident said she did not want the club situation to be used as a political tool. "This is not Democratic, not Republican; this is our lives," said Old Spye Road resident Debbie Jackson.

Late last month, borough police filed 21 charges against the nightclub for violations from August through October.

The charges allege that the club violated the terms and conditions set forth in the renewal of their liquor license in August.

Among the charges, owners of the club allegedly failed to notify the borough when they changed the name from Club Bene to Krome. Also, police said the club operated in an improper manner on several occasions in August and October when it allegedly allowed patrons to fight and loiter around the premises.

— Takesha Pettus