08/30/2007

News / License denied for Studio 9

WOODBRIDGE — The Township Council declined to renew Studio 9's liquor license Tuesday, citing a history of violent incidents requiring police intervention.



Before the unanimous vote, Council President Brenda Yori Velasco said the nightclub was "not living up to the standards we want in Woodbridge Township."

The club's attorneys would not say if they would appeal the council's decision to the director of the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Township Clerk John Mitch said the council faxed its decision to the director's office in a letter strongly opposing any emergency relief requests that could allow the business to re-open. Mitch said the township also requested to participate in any hearing the department might grant to the club.

Tuesday's council hearing had been scheduled to address the business's liquor license, which had been operating under temporary 30-day permits for 14 months because the club had been behind on tax payments.

But after what police and township officials called two riots in the early-morning hours Friday and Sunday, the township has moved to close the King George's Road club permanently.

In addition, Woodbridge Health Department inspectors cited Studio 9 for unsanitary conditions Tuesday, forcing the business to remain closed until it meets health standards, township officials said.

And Friday, a Superior Court judge, sitting in New Brunswick, will hear the township's motion to close the business for being a public nuisance. An additional hearing before the council on ABC violations is scheduled for Sept. 25.

Woodbridge police officers at Tuesday's hearing described sprawling fights that spilled into the club's parking lot Friday and Sunday.

Patrolman James Distelcamp described "people on top of cars, people damaging cars, people on the ground, yelling, screaming — people running away" after the Thursday night party.

"The crowd was disregarding all police orders," Distelcamp said.

Distelcamp said seven townships responded to calls for mutual aid, and three people were arrested over the course of the two incidents.

Police officers described what they considered inadequate security to quell the violence and evidence of illegal drugs left among the debris inside the club.

George Forakis, the owner of the club, described the Thursday-night event as "a college-oriented party."

A flier for the Thursday-night event dubbed "Thursday Addiction Lingerie Party" invited men 19 and older and women 18 and older and advertised drink specials, music by D.J. Yonny, and a "very strict dress code."

"I've dissolved it," Forakis said before the vote. "I didn't want to cause the township any hardships. I'm not going to do those parties anymore."

Forakis also said he wouldn't work with the promoters responsible for Saturday's party.

"I'm not a fan of hip-hop music," Forakis said. "There's rap and there's hip-hop. Rap is the real dangerous music. You've got to make sure you can control it and not allow any garbage in."

Council members expressed sympathy for Forakis, but voted against him.

"While I think Mr. Forakis' comments are sincere, I have a concern there's a continuing pattern," said Councilman Charles Kenny.

The Health Department's inspection of the club, at 503-507 King Georges Road, found accumulated trash, broken glass, debris and litter inside and outside the building as well as unsanitary conditions in public restrooms and improper storage of perishable beverages, officials said.

Samuel "Skip" Reale Jr., a Willingboro-based attorney representing Forakis' corporate ownership of the club, said his client had filed for bankruptcy and has encountered difficulty selling the business.

"I've tried to sell the place," Forakis said. "In the meantime, I need to stay there to pay my debt and pay my taxes."

Studio 9 opened in December 2004 with a license to operate as a restaurant/cocktail lounge. In September 2005, the business received a five-day suspension of its liquor license for disturbances, according to Mitch.

Since September 2006, the township has served the business with violations charging it used the building as a nonpermitted, nonapproved nightclub in violation of the Planning Board's site plan approval. The Building and Construction Department has issued stop-work notices and levied fines for about $350,000 for failing to comply with township regulations. The fines have not yet been paid, according to township officials.

"Studio 9 is not approved to be a nightclub," Mayor John McCormac said. "It can be a restaurant and a bar, but they don't have any food, tables, or chairs. They had more mattresses on the floor than restaurant tables."

Reale said at the hearing that the kitchen is "fully in place" and the restaurant is closed because it was not bringing in enough money. He said the club offers a limited bar-type menu and catering for parties.

Forakis said that there was a sit-down restaurant for the business's first year-and-a-half of operation, but he closed it because it was not profitable.

By RICK HARRISON

rharrison@thnt.com
http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070830/NEWS010201/708300400/1005

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