Montclair Liquor License Sold For $1.2M: Report

Montclair, NJ – Is Montclair seeing liquor license inflation?

Gerry Cerrigone and Bobby Gaccione - owners of Salute, Salugo and Fin Raw Bar & Kitchen – recently bought South Park Restaurant’s municipal liquor license for $1.2 million, Baristanet reported.

Cerrigone will use the license to open a full bar at Fin Raw Bar & Kitchen on Glenridge Avenue, and will also be able to use the license for his upcoming gastropub next door, since the two establishments are connected by a hallway.

Cerrigone will reportedly continue to allow patrons to bring their own alcoholic beverages to meals.

The sale would be a significant increase from another license sold three years ago. In December of 2011, the owner of the Pig & Prince Restaurant & Gastropub reportedly purchased a license for about $750,000.

MONTLCIAR LIQUOR LAW

According to Montclair town code:

• The annual municipal fee for plenary retail consumption license is $2,500, and the fee for a plenary retail distribution license is $2,500
• Any business with a plenary retail consumption license must have at least 400 square feet of floor space and be “brightly lighted” at all times
• Any room in which alcoholic beverages are served or consumed must be open to full view from the street from opening to closing
• Workers at the licensed establishment must have an employment permit from the chief of police

In addition, bars and restaurants are prohibited from serving the following patrons:

• Any person under the age of 18 years
• Any “intoxicated” person.
• Any “habitual drunkard”
• Any “known mental defective”
• Any “prostitute”
• Any “female impersonator”
• Any “consortium of thieves, burglars, pickpockets, swindlers, confidence men or other classes of criminals”

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