“A disgrace,” Councilman Art Murphy says of the morning-after conditions on the sidewalk alongside Ashes.
Led by Councilman Art Murphy, the Red Bank Borough Council last came down with both feet on Ashes Cigar Club on Broad Street, refusing to renew the restaurant’s liquor license over a host of maintenance and other issues.
Out of patience, Murphy led the revolt against the Ashes renewal.
What appeared at first to be a routine renewal of three liquor licenses turned into a surprising rejection of Ashes after Councilman Mike DuPont noted that it was his understanding that “the borough is having some issues with Ashes” and asked if the renewal shouldn’t be tabled until those matters were resolved.
The rejection came despite Mayor Pasquale Menna’s caution that it would be best for the council to move ahead with the license approval while issues of possible building code violations at the eatery are under investigation.
The rejection movement was led by Murphy, who is the liaison to the police department. He said the borough “has been over there quite a bit” in the person of code enforcers and building inspectors, one of whom was out on a Sunday morning taking photos of discarded beer bottles and cigars left on the sidewalks of Broad and Mechanic streets.
“It’s a disgrace,” Murphy told redbankgreen. “They don’t clean the sidewalks, they don’t clean the tables. It’s nasty.”
He added that a renewal of the license would be a slap at the downtown businesses that strive to maintain their properties and the sidewalks in front of them.
In February, the borough raided Ashes around midnight on a busy weekend and shut down the upstairs bar, where the crowd was said to exceed capacity by at least 100 persons. The business was cited for other violations as well, including turning a pantry into a DJ booth, running television wires through a fire exit, penetrating a fire-rated stairway, installing a door that opened in the wrong direction and using open candles.
The vote to renew the license garnered yes votes from councilwomen Sharon Lee and Grace Cangemi. Murphy, DuPont and Kathleen Horgan voted no, and new member James Giannell abstained.
The denial could prove little more than an exercise in council frustration, however. Borough Attorney Ken Pringle told redbankgreen afterward that the business can appeal to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control agency, and that such appeals are routinely granted.
“It would take an extraordinary reason for the ABC not to renew,” Pringle said. “The council didn’t vote to revoke, it simply didn’t renew.”
Should the ABC reinstate the license, the borough, in turn, could appeal, he said.
“But even then, you have to show some pretty extraordinary circumstances, almost rising to the level of revocation,” Pringle said.
Kudos to the RB council for standing up. The place is an overpriced/overhyped bar full of self important people anyway.
If all of the allegations are true, why not fine them with the threat of license revocation in the event of non-payment?
I agree with JD about the clientele. It is also worth pointing out that Ashes - a "cigar club" - has cashed in big time on the smoking ban enacted in 2006. That place is packed with chain smokers every night…just look at the ratio of "cigar" patrons to the cigarette smokers.
The thing is the food is actually pretty good at Ashes. I made the mistake of eating there once and was met with a lady at the next table lighting up. I don't mind cigarette smoke that much, but would prefer to taste my food and not your Marlboro Reds.
My dislikes of the place aside (as they should be), some of the violations are unacceptable and pose a threat to the town. Anyone remember The Station? With the amount of open flames in Ashes I would certainly be more attentive to the fire code.
I think there have been a lot of late night problems at Ashes - and have seen a lot of scuffles outside the place over the years (but that happens at the Globe and Dublin House more often and their not under fire) as far as dirty side walk tables the Pizza Place across the street is far worse for litter and leaving food on tables (does anyone ever clean there?) I'd like to know if they (Ashe's) lose their liquor licence who get's to buy it and why?
I suspect the reason Ashes' liquor license was not renewed has more to do with matters of race than anything mentioned above. As anyone that has driven past the club at closing time can attest, there are far more black patrons at that bar now than there have been in previous years. Moreover, I suspect that the increased number of black patrons at Ashes would also explain why the Red Bank Police Department feels the need to routinely park a patrol car at the front door of Ashes during the weekends.
Guess somebody didn't read the kickback memo.
Maybe Artie Murphy can give Ashes some of the money he saves by milking the RB taxpayers for health insurance on the cheap and Ashes can hire a cleaning service.
Ashes is a great place. I can't tell you how many people I've brought there from out of town who simply love it. The clientele can be a bit joisey at times, but it's good to have place where you can have a smoke and a cocktail.
The litter outside the homes near best liquors blows away a couple of cigars and bottles on our posh street.
I also loved the loud collision at the intersection of catherine and leighton today. A minivan and a pick-up truck collide and both vehicles speed off. A pile of debris lay in the intersection. We know it well over here. No liscences, no insurance, probably illegal. Soon it will be a child that gets hit and the driver runs
using the KID card i see?
The decision seems punitive, considering Ashes occupies something of an "anchor position" on the RB retail strip.
Surely politics are at play, considering Mayor Menna's recommended, "best for the council to move ahead with the license approval while issues of possible building code violations."
Rational consideration supports the Mayor's position.
For whatever reason, the city council instead chose a "scorched earth" approach.
I hope they reconsider.
Something does SMELL ROTTEN - when are we going to get to oversight in Red Bank???
Rotten??? The only thing rotten here is Ashes and they way they have been doing business. Has anyone been down there around 2am and witness they crap that goes on every weekend. I have personally witnessed numerous fights, large street blocking brawls and other general examples of lawless and boorish drunken behavior. (And no this doesn't happen at other places or with such regularity)
Ashes is out of control and this is a good way for the council & police to fire a shot across their bow. If they can't conform they should lose the license, something better will occupy the space in about 30 seconds.
I think Murphy was just looking for something that he can say he accomplished as a councilman for when he runs for re-election to secure the cheap health insurance. He was jealous of DuPont's plastic bag platform.
Is this Murphys retaliation for ASHES not using him in an overpriced construction bid?
something smells like doo doo mcgoo in this equation.
something smells like doo doo mcgoo in this equation.
something smells like doo doo mcgoo in this equation.
fight outside ashes Sat night at 2:30 — funny stuff.
maybe they can join forces with Sonny, he knows all of the ins and outs, Before the borough attorney goes after them I hope that they check first that they are'nt (Ashes), one of their clients…..