By sue m. morgan
Staff Writer
Club owner tries to address concerns
about ’80s-themed bar
OLD BRIDGE — Ridge Road resident Alicia Rihacek says she is no killjoy. Still, she does not appreciate hearing Van Halen sing "Jump" at high decibels at 1 a.m. on weekend nights.
Blaring music and shouting DJs have disturbed the quiet weekend nights Rihacek said she and her neighbors enjoyed until Breakfast Club 80 opened last month on Route 516, across the street from their homes.
Patrons of the 1980s-themed nightclub have been parking along Ridge Road, blocking residents’ driveways and preventing some homeowners from entering their homes on Friday and Saturday nights, Rihacek said. Some have even parked in residents’ front yards, she said.
When Ridge Road residents have asked those patrons to remove their vehicles, they have not always been treated politely, Rihacek said, claiming that at times they have been cursed at. Police have been called to investigate, but the vehicles come back the following night, she added.
Frustrated and annoyed, Rihacek went to the Township Council on April 14 and complained about the loud music, the parking and the sometimes rude nightclub patrons.
"Since March 20, I have gone through a run-around with the police department," Rihacek said. "I can hear Van Halen blaring from across the street."
Rihacek, who also owns a number of rental properties in the same area, told the council that her tenants have also complained about excessive noise from the nightclub, which stays open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
"I don’t see why I should be woken up [or] why my tenants should be woken up," she said.
When Rihacek has gone over to the club and complained, the volume has been turned down, but then pumped up on subsequent nights, she said.
Rihacek acknowledged that the Breakfast Club 80 received its liquor license even though the council denied the business license transfer application in December.
"I know this club went over your head," Rihacek told the council.
The Breakfast Club 80 did get their liquor license by using a legal loophole that allowed it to buy stock in New Jersey Wine & Liquors, which previously held the license, Ward 4 Councilman G. Kevin Calogera said.
The liquor license application was denied because club owner Michael Vanleeuwen had told the council that he expected to accommodate 500 patrons even though the parking lot only had capacity for 67 vehicles, Calogera said.
At that time, Calogera had also questioned Vanleeuwen’s testimony that he planned to run the Breakfast Club as a restaurant, not a nightclub. Now, having received numerous e-mails and telephone calls from Rihacek and other area residents, it was apparent that the Breakfast Club is a nightclub, and not a restaurant, Calogera said.
In addition, the council’s concern about parking overflowing to area streets and businesses has come to fruition, he added.
Ward 6 Councilwoman Lucille Panos and Councilman Edward Testino suggested that any complaints received by the police department about parking, noise or unruly patrons be reviewed by the council when the nightclub’s liquor license renewal comes up in June.
"I’d like to keep an organized record of how many complaints come in," Panos said. "Maybe we could get a weekly or biweekly report of the parking and noise complaints."
"I believe we should get the facts and figures," Testino agreed. "When their renewal comes up, we’ll be in a position to act on it."
Calogera recalled that he was directed to valet parking at the Miller Elementary School when he stopped at the club on April 12 at about 11 p.m. The club is located between the school and Temple Beth Ohr. When Calogera asked the valet if the nightclub had permission to use the school lot, he said he was told that an arrangement had been made between the club and the township.
Calogera then identified himself as a township official and disputed the valet’s claim.
"I told him that if that arrangement existed, I didn’t know about it," Calogera said.
The valet then allegedly stated that the nightclub had made arrangements with the Board of Education to use the lot.
Calogera, in turn, left and contacted school board member Albert DiRocco Jr., who confirmed that there was no such parking arrangement, Calogera said.
The Board of Education is planning to post signs at the Miller School lot warning motorists that they will be prosecuted if they park there, said Township Business Administrator Alayne Shepler. Shepler learned of those plans earlier in the day after speaking to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nicole Okun.
Vanleeuwen was not present at either of the last two council meetings when the issues regarding his business were raised.
Vanleeuwen told the Suburban yesterday that he has received permission from the police to allow his insured valet company use the Miller School lot. He is also in negotiations to use the temple’s parking lot, he said.
However, Old Bridge Police Capt. William Cerra denied that his department has given Vanleeuwen permission to park vehicles at the school.
"Absolutely not," Cerra said yesterday.
Vanleeuwen had yet to present police with a certificate of insurance showing the school board will not be liable for damages, Cerra said.
"He couldn’t come up with a certificate of insurance," Cerra said.
Police have been out to the club to address the parking situation there and on Ridge Road, Cerra said.
"We’ve got to try to work something out with the residents," Cerra said, adding that it is dangerous to have patrons walking across Route 516 after the club closes.
"[Residents] don’t need this, and we don’t need someone getting hit by a car at 2 or 3 in the morning," Cerra said.
Since this past weekend, a club manager has been posted at the entrance to Ridge Road to advise patrons against parking there, Vanleeuwen said.
In fact, patrons must all use the lot behind the nightclub, and all patrons must give their car keys to a valet before they can enter the premises, he added.
Once the club’s lot is full, orange cones are placed at the lot entrance, he added.
"It shows we’re at full capacity," Vanleeuwen said.
The police have only been out once to investigate a noise complaint and that happened on a night when the club was closed, Vanleeuwen said.
"There have never been any complaints with noise," he said.
Vanleeuwen said he can be found at the nightclub from the early morning until closing time. Presently, the club is open from 5 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday until 3 a.m. both nights.
"I’m trying do everything right," he said.
Initially, club patrons did block driveway entrances on Ridge Road, but Vanleeuwen believes he has since resolved that issue.
He has tried to talk to Rihacek, but apparently has not satisfied her issues, he said.
"I’ve walked across the street when we’re open," he noted. "I can’t hear the music."
Vanleeuwen also plans to contact his neighbors by mail to see how he can accommodate any needs they have.
The Breakfast Club building formerly housed McGuire’s Restaurant and Sports Bar.