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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
 
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[quote]
And now he has a liqueur license. quote] I hate to be quetsche, but this is carrying gentrification too far.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 15:17
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Just can't stay away
 
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I walked by last night and the place was packed.
Its clear JC'ers are horribly desperate for ANY new place to open. I can see this place doing well with the corporate happy hour crowd like Powerhouse.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 15:09
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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Can't forget The Dopeness.
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Posted on: 2013/6/21 14:28
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Quite a regular
 
Joined:
2008/12/30 23:10 Last Login : 2014/12/5 15:04 From Harsimus Cove
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The folks that organize the farmer's market have been very accommodating. The food trucks are now at the other end of the plaza, ZipCar moved, there was a huge and inviting corridor to his restaurant.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 14:17
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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No one is going to be unaware he is there, and whatever business he might lose because they can't see him he will more than make up for by the vastly increased foot traffic in the area because of farmer's markets and concerts.
Hell if he were smart he'd have them re-arrange the stage so you could see the concert from his restaurant.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 14:05
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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2010/5/26 20:32 Last Login : 2023/9/14 15:34 From Hamilton Park
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I actually think the guy has a point, part of the draw of his location is people seeing it coming right off the path. The way all these things are setup now, foot traffic to his front door is discouraged.
If I were him I would work with the organizers to shift the layout around so that his front door isn't blocked. Of course I would have been doing this during the 6 months I built the place and would be friendly about it, because his restaurant and the events in the plaza are mutually beneficial.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 14:02
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Quite a regular
Joined:
2008/12/30 23:10 Last Login : 2014/12/5 15:04 From Harsimus Cove
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All of this speaks to appropriation, simulation. The references to casinos.. yes folks.. that's all bullshit to numb your senses. God forbid an authentic venue that is what it is: A basement with a stage, a bar and a sound system. There is nothing wrong with that! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacra_and_Simulation Alas, this is only a minor grievance. The guy just needs to play nice with others. That's all I'm asking.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 13:45
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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Does that mean if I go to Le Cirque, I should expect elephants and trapeze artists? And if I?m thinking of having lunch at The Cannibal today, should I be afraid?
Posted on: 2013/6/21 13:23
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Quite a regular
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CdeCoincy for the win!
Posted on: 2013/6/21 13:21
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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That's exactly what he is doing, in the same way that hotels and casinos that call themselves Palaces 'exploit' our ideas of luxury and grandeur. I believe this is called association. As a child I felt that Rocky and Bullwinkle exploited War and Peace and mocked Leo Tolstoy.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 12:53
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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It's almost as if he is using the name 'Speakeasy' to evoke a certain time and place in American history and then trying to exploit that for profit, instead of actually running an illegal bar. Idiot.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 10:17
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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Agreed, you can't call a speakeasy The Speakeasy....is that really what it's called, with signage??
Posted on: 2013/6/21 5:14
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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If the owner of speakeasy lounge reads this thread, rest assured that not being loved by jclisters is a good sign. It means that you are not
1) A 99 cent store 2) A Pathmark 3) Not housing "artists" for free 4) A store which has the words "cheap" "payless" or "bargain" in it Basically, you are not anything that is preventing JC from moving forward from its slummy ghetto past. Congrats speakeasy lounge. Soon, you will be as hated as the luxury condo builders that have brought the middle class back to jersey city. You can only hope to reach this goal..
Posted on: 2013/6/21 5:11
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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I agree 100% with this. I would actually like this place a lot more if there was some creativity involved in the "speakeasy" part of the restaurant. A speakeasy is supposed to be a hidden secret....a gem of stiff drinks and a low-lit, relaxed atmosphere. The sign directly above the entrance on Morgan St. makes it feel like a speakeasy for either corporate America or the incredibly thick patron. I knew something like Death and Co. was out of Jersey City's grasp.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 4:10
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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I can't believe I'm saying this, but treating your staff like crap and threatening random people who are NOT your customers are two different things. Personally, I would boycott a business owner who treated their staff like that, regardless of how many selfish service junkies / morons were eating at the place. Maybe I just have a warped sense of personal ethics.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 3:45
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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If the food and service were amazing, I could forgive the sociopathic behaviour...after all, even Yasuda San of famed Sushi Yasuda in midtown was known to throw pans and hissy fits at his wait staff...and his restaurant was busy ALL the time. Same thing here, I don't care if jeff is a saint or sinner, if the food and service is good, I'll be there. Only time will tell. Perhaps this "soft" opening should have waited until everything was ironed out and ready. i mean, they didn't even have coffee when I was there and service was Sssssllllllowwwww.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 3:29
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Quite a regular
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This place sounds like a train wreck in the making...
Posted on: 2013/6/21 2:26
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
Joined:
2007/4/16 13:46 Last Login : 2023/11/15 11:50 From Village/HP
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Not to mention he's also leveraging the previous owner of Rustique for the pizza place. Loved his pizza, but OMG, the drama between him and his family.... the cray cray sister....
Posted on: 2013/6/21 2:17
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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Entrance is on Morgan, not Bay
Posted on: 2013/6/21 2:12
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Quite a regular
Joined:
2008/12/30 23:10 Last Login : 2014/12/5 15:04 From Harsimus Cove
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There used to be a park bench 20 feet in front of his establishment. He cut the bolts and moved it. Yes, this is the person we're dealing with. And now he has a liqueur license. If you think it's bad now, just wait until he starts terrorizing the residents of Bay Street with his "wine bar" entrance and then his so-called "speakeasy." (Pro tip: If you advertise a speakeasy, it isn't a speakeasy. It's simply a club in a basement.)
Jeff needs a serious attitude adjustment. He needs to understand that success of his business is directly related and reliant on the social capital built by organizations such as the HDSID that produces the farmer's market and Groove on Grove. And if it wasn't for the community efforts of the Harsimus Cove Association, there would be no Fitzgerald-Holota Plaza for him to profit off of. I've been watching Jeff build that place out for months. He's put a lot of work into it, a great vision. That location has been empty for years and desperately needs a community-minded social business to complement the plaza.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 2:08
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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Quote:
+1
Posted on: 2013/6/21 2:02
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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I have met Jeff before on many occasions. He has owned MANY places around JC and Hoboken. Some of them very successful. He used to own York Street Tavern before selling it some 4 years ago, and he is related to the group that owns and manages Powerhouse Lounge. He is actually a great guy: friendly and welcoming. While I am not denying what others are saying, in my opinion the stories here are not characteristic of him. Hopefully, he will succeed in this new venture. He is a relentless entrepreneur, and that's something that can benefit JC.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 1:49
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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Next week there are events at Grove Plaza 4 out of 5 week days (Farmers Market mon. and thurs., groove on grove both wed. and friday - rescheduled from JC Fridays). Sounds like the dude is going to have an aneurysm. He can scare away another few hundred potential customers. Better yet since it's in public, post it to youtube.
A quick google suggests that this guy had a cafe in Hoboken as well as NYC both of which are closed, and is involved with Powerhouse lounge which we all know is an outstanding beacon of cultural and culinary excellence.
Posted on: 2013/6/21 0:58
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Just can't stay away
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And, how could he possibly NOT know of the happenings at the Grove PATH .... he had to be around when his place was being put together. Take a chill pill, man!
Posted on: 2013/6/20 23:46
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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didn't he *just* open? has there been a concert since they opened?
Posted on: 2013/6/20 23:42
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Newbie
 
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It sounded to me like that was exactly what he wants. Living here in downtown for 10 years...I think we can all attest to the changes. The funny thing is, if the stuff at the plaza weren't going on, would he have even considered opening up the place? I mean, come on, having stuff going on there all week has to help him. I just don't get the tirades. I have seen him do this before, i think during one of the concerts. And i'm sure he's going to do it again, he seems to have an irrational sense of entitlement.
Posted on: 2013/6/20 23:38
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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It's completely disrespectful for him to think he's suddenly above a community event that's been going on for far longer than he's been running a restaurant. What the hell does he want, a barren plaza?
Posted on: 2013/6/20 23:27
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Newbie
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I saw the whole thing go down too. He was ranting and running around like a crazed coke head. Seems to me, if you are opening a business, being an asshole is not how you get clientele. The worst part is, he seemed to be busy, all the tables were taken outside, there were people at the bar. So I dont get why the farmers market is an issue. They're probably bringing people to his place...not driving them away. If anyone is driving them away, its him and his crazy antics.
Posted on: 2013/6/20 23:25
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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I am pretty sure I overheard two women complaining about him to the cops - something about "feeling threatened when they were trying to work." The conversation was happening a few yards from the restaurant so it seems plausible. There was also a space cleared in the market in front of where their outdoor seating is. I am sure the rent in that location is astronomical and they are going to need to have at least decent customer service to stay in business. I know opening a new business is stressful but dude sounds like he needs a xanax, a stiff drink, or both.
Posted on: 2013/6/20 23:06
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Re: Speakeasy Lounge at Grove plaza
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Home away from home
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Eventually the cops came and told Zipcar to take their van elsewhere. I guess the van was ruining the view, or preventing people from entering, or who knows what. Seems like a real douchebag.
Posted on: 2013/6/20 22:08
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