The state alcohol board has agreed to hear a request by the Feelgood Restaurant and Lounge to overturn a liquor license suspension that was to begin this week.
The Secaucus Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board imposed a 16-day suspension on Feelgood following a disciplinary hearing on May 19. The hearing was held after residents who live near Feelgood complained about noise, destruction of private property, parking problems, and other issues stemming from the restaurant, which hosts late-night parties for young people on the weekends.
“The director of the state ABC [Board] has granted a stay on the suspension.” – Ramon Gonzalez
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Feelgood owner Caesar Sanchez has, however, decided to appeal the 16-day suspension to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in Trenton. Feelgood filed its appeal on June 2 according to Ramon Gonzalez, the attorney representing Sanchez.
“The director of the state ABC [Board] has granted a stay on the suspension,” Gonzalez said last week. “We will now get a hearing before an administrative law judge. We feel the evidence presented [by the town at the disciplinary hearing] does not warrant a suspension, especially when you weigh it against measures my client has taken to run his establishment in a professional and responsible way.”
At present, no date has been set for the administrative hearing in Trenton. Sanchez is allowed to remain open and serve liquor at Feelgood pending the outcome of this hearing.
Meanwhile, Secaucus ABC Board chairman James Sheridan has sent a letter to Mayor Dennis Elwell and members of the Town Council urging the governing body to amend the ordinance that allows restaurants and bars to serve alcohol until 3 a.m. Sheridan has recommended that bars and restaurants be required to stop serving alcohol at 2 a.m.
Suspension up to Trenton judge
The 16-day suspension of the liquor license stemmed from complaints from residents that Feelgood patrons are noisy, park on residential streets, destroy property, and urinate in public.
In response to these complaints, Sanchez said he set a dress code, raised the admission age to 24 and over, and hired better security on Saturday nights, when Feelgood hosts promoter-sponsored parties.
Despite these steps, residents say problems have continued. Sanchez, however, believes he is being blamed for issues that are beyond his control – noisy patrons, parking problems – and which could arise from any bar or restaurant in the area.
“I’m hoping to get a fair hearing in Trenton,” Sanchez said.
“There will now be a new trial,” noted Secaucus ABC attorney Michael Jimenez. “I’ll have to get the police officers, probably through subpoena, to testify again. We’ll now present our case before the Office of Administrative Law.”
The administrative law judge can make one of several rulings, Jimenez said. The judge could choose to uphold the original 16-day suspension imposed by the local ABC Board, or could overturn the suspension entirely. The judge could also suspend Feelgood’s liquor license for a period less than 16 days, or levy a fine against the restaurant instead of a suspension.
Last call at 2?
While the suspension issue will ultimately be decided in Trenton, other measures are being considered to address residents’ concerns about Feelgood.
At a Secaucus ABC Board meeting last Tuesday, Sheridan read a letter that he sent to the Town Council dated June 6.
“People are coming to our drinking establishments late night because our laws allow the serving of alcohol until 3 a.m., whereas other surrounding communities close at 2 a.m.,” Sheridan said. “I respectfully request that…the council take action to change our ordinance to reflect a 2 a.m. closing.”
Sheridan added that an earlier closing time had already been under consideration by the Town Council.
“It is my understanding that they have already discussed this at a recent caucus meeting,” he said.
At last week’s ABC meeting, the board renewed liquor licenses for several restaurants and bars in town. Feelgood’s license was not renewed because it needs a clearance certificate from the state Division of Taxation. The restaurant’s liquor license cannot be renewed until that certificate is submitted to the Secaucus Town Clerk.
Feelgood’s current liquor license expires on June 30.
E-mail E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.