Keyport Go-Go Bar's License Suspended For Over-Serving, Nudity

KEYPORT, NJ — As of Jan. 2, the state Division of Alcohol Beverage Control suspended the liquor license for Fantasie's go-go bar due — in part — to the bar over-serving an already visibly drunk customer who went on to commit a fatal DWI in 2014. Fantasie's must also pay a $300,000 fine.

Their license will be suspended for 135 days and the club will not re-open until mid-May. The state also says Fantasie's repeatedly flouted New Jersey's go-go bar laws over the past several years, including having dancers perform unclothed and touch audience members, both of which are no-no's for New Jersey liquor establishments.

Fantasies Go-Go Bar is located on Rt. 36 on the Hazlet/Keyport border. Their license was suspended beginning at 2:01 a.m. on Jan. 2 and will remain suspended until 2:01 a.m. on May 16, according to the consent order from the state obtained by Patch.

The Division of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) originally wanted to take away Fantasie's liquor license for good, most notably for the fatal DWI that occurred on Dec. 5, 2014.

Robert Pennington, 51, of Marlboro, admitted that on that date he consumed more than seven beers during the several hours he spent at Fantasie's. He then drove his minivan south on Rt. 34 in Holmdel, and hit a car driven by a 32-year-old Old Bridge man head on. The Old Bridge man died at the scene; Pennington was uninjured. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to second-degree death by auto and DWI. He was sentenced to six years in prison.

The state also conducted several undercover investigations at Fantasie's, where they say they found dancers performing nude and touching patrons, and simulating sex during lap dances.

All of that is against New Jersey law: Lap dances are allowed in New Jersey, but “audience participation” — or touching — is prohibited during such dances. State regulations also ban woman from dancing topless or bottomless at any establishment with an alcohol license.

As Patch reported at the time, here are some of the violations:

• On Dec. 3, 2018, a Fantasie's bartender exposed her breasts.
• Allowed audience participation with dancers "Christina" or "Annabel" on Oct. 25, 2016.
• On that same day, the bar "allowed, permitted or suffered lewdness ... with dancer 'Mercedes,' who was not properly clothed."
• Allowed audience participation with dancers "Velvet" "Jennifer" and "Brianna" on Oct. 20, 2016.
• And allowed dancer "Nikki," who was not properly clothed, to perform on Oct. 20, 2016.
• On Dec. 5, 2014 dancers simulated sex and bared their breasts.

As part of its consent agreement, which was just reached with the state on Dec. 20, 2019, Fantasie's entered a plea of non-vult to all charges, which means they did not wish to contest any of the charges. Fantasie's waived their right to any hearing or appeal and also agreed to pay the state of New Jersey $300,000 in lieu of losing their license entirely.

Fantasie's agreed to make the payments in five installments of $60,000 due on June 1, 2020; June 1, 2021; June 1, 2022; June 1, 2023 and June 1, 2024.

When the state's charges were first made public in January of 2018, Patch called the go-go bar. A manager there, Nick, agreed that losing their liquor license would severely hurt the business.

"We really can't say much because this has to all be worked out with the state," he said. "Yes, it would really hurt us. We've been here for 20 years and serve all kinds of people."

He did not give his last name.

Initial Patch report: Fantasies Go-Go Bar In Keyport May Lose Liquor License (Jan. 22, 2018)

Firefighters Battling Strip Club On Fire In Sayreville (Jan. 10, 2020)

Marlboro Man Admits to DWI That Killed Old Bridge Man (Jan. 2016)