Having visited both clubs in weeks prior to and following the establishment of the 2:00 am closing time, I immediately noticed very different reactions from the management and promoters of each club. Hunka Bunka has maintained a consistently packed and satisfying, Saturday night party for over two consecutive years. In the week immediately following the new ordinance, Hunka Bunka began opening its doors at 9:00 pm. This time is one hour earlier than its former 10:00 pm opening time. This allows patrons to continue to enjoy the same amount of time in the club. In addition to this change, Hunka Bunka has also begun providing complimentary admission and half-priced drinks to all patrons entering the club before 11:00 pm. This has helped the club to remain a favorite with its steady crowd and keeping them from straying to New York and towns of Jersey with a later closing time. The new policy seems to be working very well as the club has remained as popular today as it has been over the past years.

Club Abyss, on the other hand, has made several very noticeable mistakes thus far in adapting to Sayreville’s new policy. Friday nights at Club Abyss have been the club’s strongest night for the past few years. Denny Tsettos had provided the music for the party that drew a crowd from miles around to the relatively small, but recently remodeled nightclub. Recently, the Club has been providing some of the areas hottest guest DJs for Friday night’s party. The DJs have been the sole attraction to Abyss’ Friday night which is losing more and more of its crowd on a weekly basis. The major mistake the club is making is continuing to open its doors to its nightclub crowd at 10:00 pm. Also, the club hosts a male revue on its main dance floor, which on a recent visit to the Club, kept club-goers from being permitted onto the dance floor until nearly 12:15 am. After being charged between a fifteen and twenty dollar cover charge, one is only allowed less than two hours to actually dance to the guest DJ. The clubs hip-hop room on the lower level could easily be used for the male revue allowing patrons to fully get what they pay for. This policy should seriously be reconsidered if Club Abyss plans to keep even what is left of its formerly terrific Friday night party.

DJ Boris spun a fantastic set on the Friday night at Club Abyss that I mentioned earlier. Boris was relentless in dropping one unbelievable song after the other as he kept the crowd intensified for the short period they were able to dance on the main floor. The new lighting and system at Abyss is also a must to be seen and heard, as is the new décor of the club. The décor is ultra-modern and unlike anything in the area. The only part of the décor that was out of place was a large and very obtrusive reserved booth, located in the center of the room. Aside from the very steep cover charge, drink prices were refreshingly low. An average mixed drink was only about five dollars! The crowd at Club Abyss, although much smaller than in past times, was still very attractive and still very “Bang Bang” looking. Abyss has the potential to regain its lost glory, but right now, they are doing an excellent job of keeping with the times in music and décor, but failing horribly in organization, promotions, and management. Hunka Bunka provides an example that Club Abyss should consider following in adapting to the new conditions it must contend with.

One can only wonder whether Sayreville, New Jersey is a rare occurrence or a picture as to what is to come in all suburban towns and cities that feature quality nightlife. The lawmakers need to allow time for the club owners to adjust their practices in light of newly uncovered information. If given time, necessary steps could have been taken by the clubs to allow for the increased security measures needed to combat the growing problem of drug use and sales. These towns need to realize that nightlife accounts for a large deal of revenue for the community as a whole and it is necessary for it to work in unison with the establishments to rectify any problem areas. If these steps can be taken, the community, the venues, and the patrons could all mutually benefit in a safe and trouble-free environment.

by Jay Matassa