The front in the battle between the Borough of Red Bank and Best Liquors shifts to Trenton later this month, when the state Alcoholic Beverage Control division will decide “whether there is an overriding public interest” in immediately terminating the store’s liquor license, according to a notice sent to lawyers for each side yesterday.Download 71607_abc_order_scheduling_hearing.pdf
The hearing is scheduled for 10a July 25 at the office of the ABC director. The burden of proof is on the borough, a deputy state attorney general wrote in the notice.
Meantime, store employee Balvinder Singh is due in Red Bank Municipal Court on July 19 to answer a summons for selling beer to a 19-year-old on July 10. The store was under surveillance at the time. Download supplemental_charges_and_specifications_71207_with_exhibits_redacted.pdf
Then, on July 26, the Borough Council is scheduled to hold a special session at 5:30 to hear evidence from the July 10 episode and decide if it merits a license revocation.
The council has already decided that the store, owned by Sunny Sharma, should lose its liquor license for a half-dozen violations involving sales of loose cigarettes sales of alcohol to minors.
For crissakes, you'd think this guy was the freaking King of Red Bank the way we're treated to every shred of legal minutae surrounding his case.
He's like Paris Hilton–the focus of yet another report that basically says nothing new every other day. Another photo of him staring blankly into the camera. The reiteration of the same old stuff.
Can't you do something interesting for a change? Like a story on the Fire Hydrants of Red Bank or an investigative report on the Unreasonable and Variable Cycle of the Street Light on Monmouth and Broad?
Maybe you can superimpose that photo you keep using of Sunny Sharma standing next to it or behind it or something if you think no one will read it otherwise.
C'mon Mr. Starbucks. This is a hugely important quality-of-life issue for the town. This is especially so for those residents on the West Side.
Many residents of the West Side are making an investment towards the improvement of their properties (which is apparent..) Meanwhile, the Sharma guy rolls into town in an imported convertible only to piss on a neighborhood he does not live in.
It's newsworthy because this forum brought notice to the problem.
First off Starbucks I agree. Enough attention to a guy who doesn't deserve it. What has this clown done as a credit to American society to deserve all the press? Saved a life? Helped feed the poor? Given ANYTHING back to the community that he's raking in the "big bucks" from? How about even making an attempt to pick up the garbage that litters Leighton Ave. from his store? And your right Ken, there are more important issues to be addressed in this town besides this cat and mouse game Sunny is playing with local law enforcement. It's apparent with his stores most recent bust that he's either the most ignorant want-to-be, or the most ruthless businessman thumbing his nose to all of Red Bank. Either or, he's proven he's a reckless endangerment to our minors. We would all be better off on the West Side if Sharma jumped in that fancy imported sports car he jets in and out of town in with ear splitting music blasting to collect his money in, pointed it West and kept on driving.
Is this guy for real? Less than two weeks and busted again. Sharma must be a glutten for punishment. If stupidity was against the law, he'd be getting the 'chair'.
Sharma owns the store. He pays a guy to work for him. That employee has been busted over and over again for selling to minors. Did he replace him with someone more conciencious? NO! Sharma's lack of "good judgement" is obvious. If he hasn't given that a thought, do you think he cares about the lives of the minors he sells to? Even after having his license revoked, the employee got busted again. If you go in the store today, the same employee is working there. Come on council, read between the lines. This guy doesn't take responsibility for his business. Continually claiming "it wasn't ME" who broke the law isn't cutting it for Sharma at this point. Would someone tell Sharma if he wants a solution to his problems, firing the guy who KEEPS ON SELLING TO MINORS WOULD BE A START!!!!!!
MNM you right. Guess that guy who works for him isn't just an emplouee, but more like a partner in crime.
Showing good judgement and being a positive asset to the community is what Sunny is trying to do. He is unable to contol what goes on outside the store-can you control other peoples actions?? I witnessed Sunny on July 17, 2007 being selective in his potential sale of alcohol to a man who showed him a drivers license from Illinois. Sunny used his good judgement and did NOT sell him alcohol. Later the cops came in and notified Sunny the ID was fake and commended him on a job well done.
I would like to clarify a few important Facts. Mr. Singh was shown ID for the sale of alcohol which could be seen on video surviellance from Best Liquors. Don't believe everything you read. This will be proven in the court of law. I personally saw the video and clearly there was an error. It is funny that you have so much spare time for this BS. Maybe, volunteering your time to a good cause would fulfill you.
FIRST he drives to work in a jeep and if I'm not mistaken that's made by Chrysler.
SECOND I threw out there the other day that if he had indeed sold to minors that this time it would be inexcusable, well apparently there is the old Video tape to play for the council and the ABC, and it would appear that Sonny is indeed being diligent and smart. The camera don't lie, and he is getting all on tape.
THIRD I am sure that either of the two Johns would have said that he is also guilty of blasting music so far to their credit they have not.
FOURTH, I would imagine that sonny is not the only business owner in Red Bank that does not live in town, indeed I would hazard a guess that 90% of all business owners do not live in town. Is that now a pre requisite for owning a business?
FIFTH. Now your blaming him for the garbage on Leighton avenue, He has trash cans out there, should he follow everybody home to make sure that they do not throw trash on the ground, jeeze, go look around and check out the trash from other stores around town I see coffee cups from 7-11 and Wawa, sandwich wrappers from BK and Mickey D's.
As for calling him a clown for not saving a life, feeding the poor and that he is raking in the big bucks, how many of the business's in Red Bank can claim that,and what would you know of his charitable contributions anyway?
my name is posted, but just mark me down as sick of the same old bullcrap
Sunny lives in Red Bank. Jealousy will destroy you.
D.P. get your facts straight. Sunny lives in Middletown. Read His arrest report. You and he WISH he lived in RED BANK. Please . . . the fact that his business is here, is enough crap for everybody.
If this guys name was O'Riely or Vito would they be just as eager to close him down ?
Raul, a criminal is a criminal no matter what their name or alias are.
DP no matter how hard you try, the fact remains YOU CAN'T MAKE CHICKEN SALAD FROM CHICKEN SH– you know its like trying to put a suit on a pig.
TONY- Sunny lives in Red Bank. The police report is obviously wrong. So, as far as wishing he lived there he does.Why the BIG CONCERN?????Worry about important things NOT petty BS. Have a nice day in Red Bank.
REBECCA- I am responding to your RUDE comment about someone you truly don't know. Where did you get your manners from? NOT a very good role model for Red Bank!!!!!Now, why don't you tell me how hard it is to put a suit on a PIG. Have a great day.