CLUB SNUB?
Plans for Blue Ribbon have some neighbors concerned
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
By ALI WINSTON
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Former NBA star Terry Dehere and his legal representatives met with local residents Monday night at St. Joseph's Church to discuss his plans to bring live music and other entertainment to his Journal Square restaurant.

The Blue Ribbon is in the Summit House, Jersey City's oldest building, which was bought last year by Dehere and his childhood friend, Steve Papas. They recently applied for an entertainment license, which would allow for "any live act, including vocalists, actors, dancers, floor shows, instrumentalists and DJs," according to city ordinance.

Some residents, including members of the Hilltop Neighborhood Association, say they fear the restaurant will become a nightclub, bringing late-night noise and trouble.

Last year, just four months after Dehere and Papas opened the restaurant, two Hudson County corrections officers were shot, one fatally, about 3 a.m. after leaving a party there.

"He opened a restaurant, most people want it to stay that way. It's going to be a tough sell," said Richard Boggiano, president of the Hilltop Neighborhood Association. "I have an open mind on the entire situation."

Dehere is seeking an entertainment license that would allow his business to host live music and provide a "supper club" atmosphere in the Journal Square area.

"The ordinance just says 'nightclub,' which puts a bad taste in people's mouths," Dehere said. "The type of establishment specified under the ordinance needs clarification."

Dehere also said the neighbors' concerns were "legitimate" and that he hoped all could "come to a harmonious solution."

The Jersey City native, noting he is aware of Summit House's extensive history and will work to protect the building, has previously said his intention is to have live jazz music during brunch and during dinner.

Councilman Steve Lipski, who attended the community meeting, agreed with Dehere that the entertainment license ordinance is too vaguely worded.

"The ordinance currently in place is very broad; if we specify the type of use, such as a supper club that closes at 11 p.m. versus a nightclub that closes around 3 a.m., there would probably be a lot less resistance," Lipski said.

Dehere, however, never said he intended to close at 11 p.m. In fact, the Blue Ribbon currently remains open until midnight on weekdays, and closes at 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, an employee said last night.

Lipski hinted at the possibility that race - or at least, "culture" - has something to do with apprehension about the restaurant's future.

One resident said the Summit House, which until Dehere and Papas bought it had housed a Laico's restaurant, used to be a "blue-collar white person's bar."

Lipski urged residents to remember Dehere is a "class act" and a "man of God" and, paraphrasing Martin Luther King Jr., asked that he be judged on "the content of his character, not his color."

Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who did not attend Monday night's meeting, also praised Dehere but added: "There have been some serious problems at the Blue Ribbon since it opened, and the city will be looking long and hard at the situation before granting an entertainment license."

Nightclub in historic building?
Monday, October 23, 2006
By ALI WINSTON
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The oldest building in Jersey City has some changes in its future.

The Summit House, believed to have been built by Dutch settlers more than 300 years ago, was bought last year by former NBA star Terry Dehere and his childhood friend Steve Papas. They opened a Blue Ribbon restaurant in the building - which formerly housed a Laico's restaurant - and now want to add a stage to the building's interior to host live music. They also are applying for an entertainment license, which would allow the restaurant to operate as a nightclub.

However, Dehere told The Jersey Journal, the changes won't mean any renovations or alterations to what's left of the original historic structure.

"This is an addition to what is already established," Dehere said. "The only thing we're trying to do is spruce up our brunch atmosphere."

Providing that the entertainment license is successfully obtained, the stage will accommodate jazz bands, open mic performances and other acts on Sundays and Fridays, according to Dehere.

City officials stated that Dehere and Papas have inquired about applying for an entertainment license that would permit the Blue Ribbon to operate as a nightclub. Currently, the Blue Ribbon does not have such a license, according to Division of Commerce Director Paul Barna.

Entertainment licenses are required by law for any establishment that hosts "any live act, including vocalists, actors, dancers, floor shows, instrumentalists and D.J.'s," according to city officials.

John Gomez, president of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, did not object to the proposed changes to Summit House.