Stacie Schwartz, a 23-year-old Brookdale Community College student, came to the 501 Lounge for the Snook-alike contest tonight but was turned away around 11:15 when the club reached capacity.
Schwartz, and hundreds of others were turned away from their chance to fist pump with the cast of the Jersey Shore.
“Everyone came here to see me because I’m Snookie,” she shouted outside. As Schwartz/Snookie was walking away from the club several turned-away club goers stopped her to take a picture with her and to reassure her that she would have won the contest tonight.
Continue reading to view a video.
Along with whispers of fights breaking out, people started to walk away from 501 around 10:30 p.m. saying they weren’t letting 18 year olds in anymore and that you had to be 21.
Still, with all the chaos, the line stretched down the block, mixed in with eight police cars, a mobile crime unite white van, a fire truck and dozens of police offices and firemen.
Some club goers gathered at the Dunkin’ Donuts down the street to get warm after waiting to get into the club for an hour and a half.
I am amazed these Jersey Shore types were able to figure out the 501 Club is at 499. Oh, who am I kidding — they just followed the crowd and smell.
Police AND Fire Department response?
Meanwhile…
Down on Mission Street…
We have met the Idiocracy and it is us.
Your tax dollars at work.
(Jeez, can anyone hold a damn camera/cell phone straight anymore?? I’d rather a still picture of club w/cops & firemen over this shaky mess!)
In related news, last night around 10pm, Montcair homeowners found the value of their homes dropping 25%.
The 501 Club is the least of our problems when it comes to home value. Keep an eye on Robin Hood (a.k.a The Mayor) and his merry men. That’s where you’ll see how fast the value of our homes decline.
Um …. did I go off topic?
I find it amazing, and absolutely depressing, that when the Baristas’ crack editorial staff finally seems to set out to do some actual on-site reporting, it is about something as base and trivial as the cast of “Jersey Shore.”
This is all just so very fascinating!
To see five posts in a row about this lovely event
makes me feel so proud to be living in Montclair
right now.. ….NOT.
Sigh.
http://www.nj.gov/oag/abc/enforcement.html
Call 866-713-8392 – to report illegal activity to the ABC Investigative Unit.
You can’t lease a liquor license. If Dick Grabowski is doing that, it is illegal.
There is no transfer on record with the Township.
Otherwise Grabowski is the owner/operator of Club 501. Any problems/fines/liabilities associated with Club 501 lie squarely with Grabowski.
“In five years, we’ll not be able to recognize Bloomfield Avenue.”
So True. But note to Dick: Seaside Heights was not the look we were going for.
Give me a break, people. Was the Situation fist pumping in your living room? Did Ed Hardy open an outlet store in Erwin Park? One night of guido bedlam on Bloomfield Ave. pales in comparison to the world’s real problems.
I’m with Mr Reggie on this one. I spent the evening sniffling into a tissue watching (and donating money to) the Hope for Haiti benefit. The “Bloomfield Ave Situation” pales in comparison.
Actually, it’s not the Jersey Shore bedlam that’s the problem.
Rather, its the sex club that operates out of Club 501:
http://www.baristanet.com/2009/12/calling_all_swingers_wicked_re.php
http://www.wickedrendezvous.com/Events.html
http://www.wickedrendezvous.com/OurMssion.html
If T was bouncin at this club, he would have left a trail of beaten young punks. It looks like T gonna to have to come to Baristaville and teach these fools some basic rules. Because when punks like this start acting up I make it my business.
But the biggest punk is this Grabowsky and T pities this fool. T know all about sex clubs because T like a reverse stripper. Strippers, the more money they got, the less stuff they got on, but T, the more money he get, the more jewelry and things he got on.
See, T got his things by hurtin people and makin money. When T was young, he was just that wild lookin dude with the funny haircut, not enough money to even pay attention. T earned what he got and they dont laugh no more. Grabowsky probably one of those guys who got his money by goin to Princeton or Yale. He no match for T.
And this 501 club and this guy, they a disgrace to Montclair. The same way that Balboa was a disgrace to boxing, the same way that Rowdy Roddy Piper and Ace Bob Orton was a disgrace to rasslin.
T don’t tolerate this kind of disrespect and if it keeps up, there will be pain…
I’m depressed at the thought that this venture might actually have been finacially successful and thus, more like it will be scheduled. It’s way to close to where I live.
So far this new place is starting to make the Red Cheetah look classy.
THANKS DICK!
So this is what Montclair is becoming or has already become? It’s a disgrace and a disaster. Where does this tacky cliental come from?
Perhaps we can kill multiple birds here … Let’s turn 501 into a senior center. It can also be used for office space for everyone’s overflow staff (overflow? really). We can put in some bike closets and racks and make sure the auto parking is scarce. And give the liquor license to the Haitian relief effort. Did I miss anyone?
Reading this board reminds me, almost on a daily basis, of why I am so glad my family sold our Montclair home in November 2007 (thank goodness we did not wait a day longer than we did — on so many fronts!!) and moved to another part of the country. The thought of raising my young children just a few blocks from an event of this nature is truly disheartening.
To think of all those tax dollars being spent to attract and police something like this is nothing more than astounding. When will the residents of Montclair speak up and ask the township to do things to make Montclair a better place for the people living in and paying taxes in Montclair? I am willing to bet that the money spent on police/fire, etc. just last night on this event would probably be enough to pay for helping elderly Montclair residents with their garbage cans once a week for an entire year!
As an aside — when did we get to the point in our society where this Jersey Shore stuff (and plenty of other things similar to it) is what our teens and 20-somethings admire and choose to emulate? Can someone please re-direct our cultural aspirations? QUICKLY????
You tell them, B.A.
I left the Y at 10 p.m. last night and was bewildered by the sight of so many young women dressed in a way that shouted out, “We’re not from Montclair!” It wasn’t until I returned home that I learned that there was a “Jersey Shore” event. It was bizarre for sure
Regarding your aside about teens: Earlier that night, I saw performances by talented, motivated Montclair High students in the annual School of Visual and Performing Arts Cabaret. There were individual performers and kids working in groups they’d organized and rehearsed. These are the many of the same kids who had been in the high school’s wonderful “Showcase” performance of “Love Notes” a few weeks ago, and who contributed their talents to Monday’s Haiti Benefit as members of Passing Notes, or in Julian Lee’s case, as a member of a group of all-star jazz musicians.
Some kids choose to emulate Snooki. Some form productive friendships centered around singing and playing musical instruments. Montclair has many of the latter group.
YES: PAWS!
Why can’t all these low-life kids stay in Rutherford or Edison or Jersey City where they belong. And if they insist on coming here, the least they can do is take voice lessons or learn to play the harp.
Bennies go home
There is something very foolish and presumptuous from the insistence from several posters above that tackily dressed, loutish people couldn’t possibly be from Montclair. (But then, I once attended a Unitarian conference in Montclair, and there were plenty of badly dressed, liberally loutish folks in attendance.) Along with the assumption that (as walleroo sort of noted) people actually from Montclair would perforce be more inclined towards “higher’ culture. (Despite that this very site has attempted to milk everything it can get from “Jersey Shore.”)
Really, folks, hailing from Montclair’s schools system is no guarantee of anything. Save, perhaps, that your parents will then post very pompously and foolishly.
the kids i photographed friday night were friendly, nice, and cheerful and excited about possibly meeting and ‘partying’ with the stars of their favorite show. I liked them. I don’t know exactly where they came from. I imagine that some of them were from Montclair and some of them traveled from other towns to get here. I went to photograph them because I suspected it would make a colorful and fun photo essay or slide show. i believe there was a ‘snooki look a like contest’ advertised and many of the outfits reflected that. i saw nothing wrong with the way the kids were dressed for a fun friday night out, but i was concerned that the young women without coats might be very cold.
i don’t know why things got out of control, but i did observe that there were a LOT of people on line for what seemed like a very long time.
perhaps in the future, events of this nature, which are likely to attract such large crowds, could be held at larger venues, and maybe the tickets could be sold in advance. logistical changes such as these might prevent some of the problems of friday night’s event.
I have lived in Montclair since December of 1988. one of the qualities that I associate with Montclair is the quality of openmindedness. surely we are resilient enough to weather a few highspirited girls in tube tops and guys in muscle shirts every now and then. with a little more planning events such as these need not get out of hand.
Fran,
I agree with our open-mindedness. To a point. A gaggle of Jersey Shore denizens crowding the streets is harmless.
But myself and others i have been speaking to this week are very concerned about the legitimacy of this business and the direction the owners wish to take. Would Montclair property owners and businesses be open to a sex club in the middle of our downtown? See:
http://www.wickedrendezvous.com/Events.html
http://www.wickedrendezvous.com/OurMssion.html
Why has the Township chosen to selectively enforce laws governing liquor licenses? See:
http://www.baristanet.com/2010/01/recorkedthe_show_must_go_on_sa.php
Because there has been no transfer of a liquor license, Dick Grabowski is the owner/operator of Club 501. Will he pay out of pocket for the dozens of police and fire responders who closed off the streets Friday night? Will he be held liable if the “private rooms” described in the above links turn into something more?
There’s lots of questions to ask.
We’re (in)famous! Jersey Shore party at 501 is the on Perez Hilton. “Jersey Shore Appearance Ends In Arrests!”
Yes, Ackme, and the Daily News as well.
The SL article states that Dick Grabowski has “no relationship” with the club operator. WTF? He takes the guy’s rent money, no? I call that having a situation, uh, I mean relationship.
Unless he has transferred the liquor license, Dick Grabowski “is” the owner/operator of Club 501.
If he is leasing the liquor license, he is doing so against ABC regulations.
Simple as that.
“Where does this tacky cliental come from?”
Answer: Totowa, Lyndhurst, Nutley, the Caldwells, Bloomfield, Belleville, Monroe Twp & Marlboro, NJ.
“Unless he has transferred the liquor license, Dick Grabowski “is” the owner/operator of Club 501.
Is it possible that he is just a partner in the enterprise? I’m no expert by any means, but I’d think that there is some way to find this information out and put this to rest one way or another. Isn’t this kind of information made public someplace? If someone knew where to find the info it would at least end the speculation…
Yes dane, it’s possible he has partners in Club 501. If so there would have been a transfer of ownership like this:
http://www.montclairnjusa.org/dmdocuments/R-169-09.pdf
There has not been a transfer of ownership. Don’t take my word for it. Ask the ABC:
http://www.nj.gov/oag/abc/enforcement.html
Call 866-713-8392
Go through these Council minutes:
http://www.montclairnjusa.org/index.php?searchword=liquor&x=0&y=0&option=com_search&Itemid=
No transfer.
Even if he had transferred ownership and was a partner, he would still an owner/operator and is liable for what happens at Club 501.
I totally understand why the guy would want to distance himself from not only the chaos of Friday, but also the sex club downstairs. Don’t take my word for it. See:
http://www.baristanet.com/2009/12/calling_all_swingers_wicked_re.php
http://www.wickedrendezvous.com/Events.html
http://www.wickedrendezvous.com/OurMssion.html
So what do you want Montclair? A sex club with “private rooms” and “adult toy parties”? A business where no one claims responsibility when dozens of police and fire responders have to shut down Bloomfield Ave?
Fabulous!!….What a RIOT!
relax people,
Have you called the ABC yet? No? Then stop with the incessant whining!
Meanwhile, I can’t believe Baristanet was scooped by E!, The Wallstreet Journal, Huffington Post, Perez Hilton, Us Magazine, MTV UK, the Boston Herald, and numerous other “Not even in NJ” news sources with the following info ():
There were 4 arrests, Grabowski is the owner, but not the “operator” (ie: Fall Guy)… Also, the ABC is investigating (though I’m guessing not at “Relax People”‘s request).
Strangely, my original link didn’t work…
Yeah Mike you’re a few days late on your whining… We read those articles over the weekend.
Yeah Mike you’re a few days late on your whining.
Have you ever heard that phrase involving pots and kettles? You might want to think twice before accusing someone else of whining.
Also, I wasn’t whining so much as helping the baristas add some factual information instead of “whispers of fights” or your ranting about the ABC and “sex clubs” for the umpteenth time.
Yes Mike, I’m sure the baristas are thrilled by your ace reporting! If only it wasn’t three days late…
Better late than never…
Or would it be better if I just sat back and whined about how “someone” should find out what really happened and throwing out wild accusations without actually taking initiative and posting the results (if said results weren’t already posted)?
I only ask because I don’t want you to think I’m stealing your shtick.
Sigh.
Mike,
If you want to go through the Council record as i have, go for it:
http://www.montclairnjusa.org/index.php?searchword=liquor&x=0&y=0&option=com_search&Itemid=
If you want to call the ABC as I have, go for it:
http://www.nj.gov/oag/abc/enforcement.html
Call 866-713-8392
If you’d like to explore your sex club options at Club 501, go for it:
http://www.wickedrendezvous.com/Events.html
http://www.wickedrendezvous.com/OurMssion.html
If you want to help the baristas as an ace reporter, go for it:
google.com
One of the fascinating sociological quirks of Baristanet is the large gap between some posters’ handles and their personalities. For instance, whenever I see “relax people” I immediately tense up. I think of those two words being spoken through clenched teeth.
Yes Walleroo! Relax reminds me of an hysterical ex who constantly screamed “relax.” Can we ask relax people to rethink the name?
Hey Marty,
Did you talk to your good buddy Grabowski about his “vision” for Montclair? Can we expect more sex clubs in his vacant storefronts that litter the town? Since you two are so close, by all means, let us know!
The Promoter of this party ADVERTISED that the capacity was 2,000 people. Mr. Grabowski, I call on you to reimburse the town for all of the mayhem and overtime you caused this past weekend. Your business cost the taxpayers a lot of money. Check the link, and speak with your employees, because it doesn’t sound like anybody’s to blame but yourself, 2,000 people showed up, and according to your website, 2,000 people were invited.
http://www.partybody.com/events/event.php?eid=747
http://www.partybody.com/events/event.php?eid=747
The page at the above above like says:
“Remember Red Cheetah Wednesdays? Remember Centrum Fridays? We have combined the 2 past legendary events to create the most incredible nightlife experience NJ has to offer.”
Weren’t the Red Cheetah owners run out for nasty illegal things? Are they back under a new name?
It also says:
“Nice area with plenty of parking.”
Yeah. Nice area until the clientèle shows up.
good reporting.. but do you know the reason why 8 cops were out front? http://www.app.com/article/20100124/ENT/100124005/1031/Jersey-Shore-cast-party-overwhelms-Montclair-nightclub-4-arrested its because 4 people got arrested, and 1200 people over the legal limit showed up. Dick is the owner of the club… happy “relax”??