"The Place Was Empty": How Piermont New York Mayor Bruce Tucker's Dead Pig Carcass Restaurant And Gangland Lounge In Elizabeth New Jersey, Each Failed Miserably.
2003 01 24. Bruce Tucker and his wife put the
Piermont Place property, their home, in a US$365,000 revolving-credit loan hock
to M&T Bank - pursuant to a filing made or otherwise referenced on this
date.
2003 02 07. A subsequent document confirms that
Bruce Tucker and his wife put the Piermont Place property, their home, in a
US$365,000 revolving-credit loan hock to M&T Bank - pursuant to a filing
made or otherwise referenced on this date.
2003 05 07. A discharge in the Elizabeth, New Jersey
waterways is cited by environmental authorities as emanating from the vicinity
of 1 South Front Street, the soon-to-be future site of Bruce Tucker’s “Front
Street Smokehouse & Saloon, Inc.” It is not yet clear whether Tucker had
any control over this location as early as May of 2003.
2004 06 24. This is the date of the filing of the
New Jersey Certificate of Incorporation of Bruce Tucker’s “Front Street
Smokehouse & Saloon, Inc.” in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The filing identifies
Bruce Tucker as one of the corporation’s three Directors, holding 100 of a
total authorized 1,000 shares, along with Philip Costanza and Bruce L. Kain.
2004 12 01. But a few short months after its New
Jersey Certificate of Incorporation was filed, this is the approximate date
upon which Bruce Tucker’s “Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon, Inc.” started
economically failing, according to the admission that Bruce Tucker later made
in a transcribed public hearing on January 25, 2010 to the City of Elizabeth
liquor authority and City Council. (See below). However, the restaurant does
not appear to have been announced in public-record sources as being open to the
dining public until late 2005 or early 2006, suggesting that it had opened as a
bar, alone, first-in-time, and that it was already economically failing as a
bar by the time that the restaurant later opened.
2005 03 29. This is the date of the filing of a loan
modification and consolidation with M&T Bank made or otherwise referenced
on this date, whereby Bruce Tucker and his wife increase the US$365,000 “in-hock”
revolving-credit amount to US$500,000 as against their Piermont Place home. It
appears that Tucker was thereby speculating on the opening of a greasy pig
barbeque restaurant in dangerous Elizabeth, New Jersey that ultimately few if
any people really wanted to travel to patronize, as it turned out. An awful
gamble with real money.
2005 05 03. A subsequent document made or otherwise
referenced on this date confirms that filing of a loan modification and
consolidation with M&T Bank, whereby Bruce Tucker and his wife increase the
US$365,000 “in-hock” revolving-credit amount to US$500,000 as against their
Piermont Place home.
2005 05 03. The filing of a tax-exemption request
relating to the loan modification and consolidation with M&T Bank was made
on this date.
2005 08 27. Principals in Bruce Tucker’s “Front
Street Smokehouse & Saloon, Inc.” win the “Cabela’s BBQ Cookoff” barbeque
competition in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, according to a comment posted on an “eGullet
Society” forum that may have been a planted comment by a social media publicist
seeking to drum-up business. These principals were likely Bruce Kain and Bruce
Tucker.
2005 09 15. Two of the three principals in Bruce
Tucker’s “Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon, Inc.” appear on The Food
Network, according to a comment posted on an “eGullet Society” forum that may
have been a planted comment by a social media publicist seeking to drum-up
business. These two principals were Bruce Kain and Bruce Tucker.
2005 09 23. A “tasting” is scheduled at Bruce Tucker’s
“Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon, Inc.”, according to a comment posted on
an “eGullet Society” forum that may have been a planted comment by a social
media publicist seeking to drum-up business.
2005 10 15. This is the approximate date that Front
Street Smokehouse & Saloon, Inc. was invited to the Jack Daniels
Invitational Barbeque Championship in Lynchburg, Tennessee, according to a
comment posted on an “eGullet Society” forum that may have been a planted
comment by a social media publicist seeking to drum-up business.
2005 11 23. The approximate scheduled opening date
for Bruce Tucker’s “Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon, Inc.”, characterized
by Bruce Tucker as the Old No. 7 Band’s “new bar (& soon to be BBQ
restaurant)”, according to a comment posted on an “eGullet Society” forum that
may have been a planted comment by a social media publicist seeking to drum-up
business. The flyer for the event touts, inter alia, Bruce Tucker on banjo and
guitar, Bruce Kain on bass, and Howard Cohen on guitar, and adds, “[A]nd try
the Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon specialty drink, The PIGTINI!”
2006 02 17. This is the approximate opening date of
Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon, Inc., according to a comment posted on an
“eGullet Society” forum that may have been a planted comment by a social media
publicist seeking to drum-up business.
2006 03 06. Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon,
Inc. is announced as “finally open for business”, according to a comment posted
on an “eGullet Society” forum. Prophetically, the comment notes that on a
Saturday afternoon around 5:00, “the place was pretty empty”.
2006 03 17. Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon,
Inc. is announced as considering opening up its upstairs area, according to a
comment posted on an “eGullet Society” forum that may have been a planted
comment by a social media publicist seeking to drum-up business. It is not yet
clear if the upstairs ever opened.
2006 03 17. Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon,
Inc. is announced as virtually empty on a Saturday at around 5:00 PM, according
to a comment posted on an “eGullet Society” forum: “Only one other table was
occupied and maybe 2 or 3 people at the bar ordering take-out”.
2006 03 19. Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon,
Inc. is again announced as virtually empty, according to a comment posted on an
“eGullet Society” forum: “I was surprised by how quiet it was when we got
there...”
2006 03 20. Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon,
Inc. is considered “kind of off the beaten path”, according to a comment posted
on an “eGullet Society” forum. Other “eGullet” posts within the same general
time-frame remark upon how “rough” and unsafe the neighborhood is, and how “un-scenic”
the drive is to get there and back. To similar effect, a post from 2006 03 21
assures us: “[A]s long as you are alert and aware of your surroundings, you
should be fine”. [Emphasis supplied].
2006 03 22. Bruce Tucker himself chimes in on the “eGullet”
forum, indicating that he has likely been reading the “eGullet” forum comments
the entire time since the restaurant opened. In his post, Bruce Tucker assures
us, “As with any urban area, you must always be vigilant”. He also admits that
the fenced-in parking lot behind the restaurant has yet to be completed, and
directs people to park on the street. Incidentally, what Tucker tells no one in
this “eGullet” forum post is that Elizabeth, New Jersey is perennially one of
the top 5 cities in New Jersey for car theft. Elizabeth recently clocked-in
with the ignominious honor of being #3. Elizabeth’s average number of autos
stolen? 1204. Elizabeth’s number of autos stolen per 1,000 people? 9.6. Sure,
maybe not Newark, but Elizabeth tries harder.
2006 03 26. Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon,
Inc. is again announced as virtually empty, this time on a Saturday night at
around 8:00 PM, according to a comment posted on an “eGullet Society” forum: “[O]nly
one other table-for-two was occupied”... “So - our concern is that on a
Saturday night there was only us - and two other people eating”.
2006 04 01. Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon,
Inc. is announced as unacceptably smoky, according to a comment posted on an “eGullet
Society” forum: “I found it VERY smoky, and I had to air out my clothes that
night (and I’m not particularly sensitive to smoke)”. It is clear from the
context of the comment that this “eGullet” commenter was not referring to
barbeque smoke, but to cigarette smoke from either patrons or staff.
2006 04 01. Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon,
Inc. is again announced as virtually empty, according to a comment posted on an
“eGullet Society” forum: “...[I]t was not really very crowded when we went,
happy hour was just ending”.
2006 04 01. Another patron of Front Street
Smokehouse & Saloon, Inc. complains about the cigarette smoke, in a comment
posted on an “eGullet Society” forum: “I’m extremely allergic to smoke, and on
my first visit to [Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon], didn’t notice any
smoke at all (we sat a[t] tables). My second time, we sat at the bar, and until
two people a few seats away started smoking, I didn’t have a problem. Of
course, once they did, it was all over, and the clothes I was wearing went in a
bag of their own when I got home”. It is clear from the context of this
comment, too, that this “eGullet” commenter was not referring to barbeque
smoke, but to cigarette smoke from either patrons or staff.
2006 04 01. Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon,
Inc. is yet again announced as virtually empty, according to a comment posted
on an “eGullet Society” forum: “I was in a few afternoons ago... and the place
was mostly empty”.
2006 04 03. Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon,
Inc. is announced as closed, according to a comment posted on an “eGullet
Society” forum: “Tried to go today for lunch, got there at 2:30 and FSS was
closed, arghh[sic]. I thought [that] the place was open for lunch. There
are no hours listed and no phone number either. I really like this place but
this information should be available at the door. Did I miss it?”
2006 04 11. A comment on the “eGullet” forum slams
Bruce Tucker’s “Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon”, its food, and its music:
“I was underwhelmed. I got the 2-part combo with baby backs and sausages, which
was genuine BBQ, but the flavor was nothing special... At least on Saturday
night, the 2-guitar combo was deafening, blotting out all conversation. It took
me 45 minutes of wandering to get back on the Interstate, so leave a trail of
breadcrumbs on the way in.”
2006 04 12. Defending their review, the commenter
adds: “My baseline is a no-name place in Chattanooga, TN, on Dodson Avenue next
to the bowling alley. It’s been run by a... grandfather, father and son since
the 1950s. Their ribs have a great crust and burnt ends that raise the flavor
level, which Front Street didn’t have. By comparison, Front Street had little
pork flavor… [Front Street]’s sausages were, for me, too upper class, with too
many spice notes. I prefer juicier ones with maybe one spice and the Southern
amount of fat… [Front Street]’s cole slaw was very good, but again, an upper
class version that called attention to too many flavors. It should be an
accompaniment, not a co-star… The [Front Street] baked beans were blah. The
sugar was under control, but I want more bean flavor, with some fatback rather
than lean pork… BBQ should be a sin, not a gourmet dish. I want to pull off the
meat and gnaw the marrow out of the soft ends of the bones.... Finally, I want
the experience to be about the BBQ, not the music.”
2006 04 14. Another poster then replies on the “eGullet”
forum to refute those critical comments. That reply commenter may have been
operating as a social media publicist deputized to refute negative comments
about the restaurant.
2006 04 14. Bruce Tucker’s “Front Street Smokehouse
& Saloon” in Elizabeth, New Jersey, is reviewed by the Newark Star Ledger,
notably calling Bruce Tucker’s fries “limp and soggy”.
2006 04 14. In response to the Star Ledger review, a
commenter on the “eGullet” forum chimes-in by way of reply: “[I] don’t recall
the sweet potato fries being exactly crispy. [I] suppose “limp” is the other
extreme. [P]ersonally [I] like them a bit crispier, but that’s a personal
preference. [I]’m certainly not shocked to hear someone describe them as “limp”,
though...”
2006 05 13. A commenter on the “eGullet” forum
notes: “[T]he atmosphere is more bar-like than restaurant-like”, a prophetic
signaling of the end of Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon in favor of the
disreputable “Lava Lounge” to follow.
2006 05 21. Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon,
Inc. is again announced as considering opening up its upstairs area as well as
an outdoor patio, according to a comment posted on an “eGullet Society” forum
that may have been a planted comment by a social media publicist seeking to
drum-up business. It is not yet clear if the upstairs or outdoor patio ever
opened.
2006 05 28. Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon,
Inc. is again announced as empty, this time on a Friday night, according to a
comment posted on an “eGullet Society” forum: “The place was empty other than a
couple of people at the bar”. A photo of the bar and restaurant accompanying
the “eGullet” post confirms this. The commenter also laments that the brisket
is “machine-sliced, which I think is a shame”, indicates no love lost for the
sausage, and berates the restaurant for having no greens on the menu: “NO
GREENS? At a BBQ joint?”.
2008 03 07. A poster on the “eGullet” forum comments
that he hasn’t “heard boo about [Bruce Tucker’s Front Street Smokehouse &
Saloon] in ages”.
2008 11 29. An apparent liquor license transfer
occurs relating to Bruce Tucker’s liquor license in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
2009 05 01. This is the approximate date upon which
Mrs. Ferrera, a resident of the City of Elizabeth and residential neighbor of
Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge” on Front Street, claims to have first heard
unacceptable noise emanating from Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge” - as she later
reports to the Elizabeth alcohol authority and City Council in a January 25,
2010 hearing. (See below).
2009 05 21. This is the approximate date that Front
Street Smokehouse & Saloon closed, according to a post on the “eGullet”
forum. It appears that by this date, Bruce Tucker has closed the restaurant
solely in favor of neighborhood blight “Lava Lounge”.
2009 07 30. This is the date of Bruce Tucker’s
Alternate Name Filing Certificate with the State of New Jersey identifying “Lava
Lounge” as a restaurant and tavern, and as an alternate identity of “Front
Street Smokehouse & Saloon, Inc.”
2010 01 25. The City of Elizabeth Liquor Board and
City Council shame and humiliate Bruce Tucker and his “Lava Lounge”, in a
memorable transcribed public hearing. Residents of the City of Elizabeth
angrily testify against Bruce Tucker and his “Lava Lounge” at this hearing.
2010 01 25. In the same public hearing, Bruce Tucker
admits to the City of Elizabeth liquor board and City Council, that he was
compelled to open “Lava Lounge” out of “Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon”,
because “Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon” had been failing since
approximately December 2004 - just a few short months after it had opened.
2011 03 13. Less than two months after the public
hearing before the City of Elizabeth liquor board and City Council, there is a
large fight at the site of Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge” in Elizabeth, New
Jersey, with a report of possibly one shot fired. The City of Elizabeth Police
Department is called to the scene.
2011 05 04. The filing of a deed from Bruce Tucker,
to a trust naming Bruce Tucker and his wife, was made on this date.
2011 05 04. The filing of a property transfer report
relating to the deed from Bruce Tucker, to the trust naming Bruce Tucker and
his wife, was made or otherwise referenced on this date.
2011 05 11. Bruce Tucker actually files a SCAR
petition tax grievance for the Piermont Place property, seeking a property tax
reduction, in a filing made or otherwise referenced on this date. Bruce Tucker
ends up striking-out and taking nothing. (See below).
2011 05 12. The filing of a deed from Bruce Tucker,
to a trust naming Bruce Tucker and his wife, was made or otherwise referenced
on this date.
2011 07 05. Noise is again reported at the site of
Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge” in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The City of Elizabeth
Police Department is again called to the scene.
2011 07 20. A disturbance is again reported at the
site of Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge” in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The City of
Elizabeth Police Department is again called to the scene.
2011 07 27. A subsequent document indicates that
Bruce Tucker seeks a SCAR petition seeking tax-reduction for the Piermont Place
property, in a filing made or otherwise referenced on this date. Bruce Tucker
ends up striking-out and taking nothing. (See above, and below).
2011 08 08. There are multiple reports of loud noise
and a disorderly group, at the site of Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge” in
Elizabeth, New Jersey. The City of Elizabeth Police Department is again called
to the scene.
2011 08 25. Noise and “loud and disorderlies”[sic]
are reported at the site of Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge” in Elizabeth, New
Jersey. The City of Elizabeth Police Department is again called to the scene.
2011 08 27. Victim Bryan Cleza is beaten-up
gang-style while exiting Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge”. Cleza is beaten-up by
the Bruce Tucker Lava Lounge disc jockey and seven of the disc jockey’s male
associates. The City of Elizabeth Police Department is again called to the
scene. Victim Cleza is left to be driven to the hospital by Cleza’s father.
2011 10 02. Multiple reports of loud noise emanating
from one or more open bar doors are again reported at the site of Bruce Tucker’s
“Lava Lounge” in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The City of Elizabeth Police Department
is again called to the scene.
2011 10 29. Multiple reports of loud music and noise
are again reported at the site of Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge” in Elizabeth,
New Jersey. The City of Elizabeth Police Department is again called to the
scene.
2011 10 30. Loud noise is again reported at the site
of Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge” in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The City of Elizabeth
Police Department is again called to the scene.
2011 10 30. Loud noise is again reported at the site
of Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge” in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The City of Elizabeth
Police Department is again called to the scene.
2011 12 25. As Bruce Tucker’s Christmas present to
his City of Elizabeth residential neighbors with families, loud music is again
reported at the site of Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge” in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The City of Elizabeth Police Department is again called to the scene.
2011 12 30. As Bruce Tucker’s New Year’s present to
his City of Elizabeth residential neighbors with families, loud music is again
reported at the site of Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge” in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The City of Elizabeth Police Department is again called to the scene.
2012 01 29. An incident is reported at the site of
Bruce Tucker’s “Lava Lounge” in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The City of Elizabeth
Police Department is called to the scene.
2012 01 30. Bruce Tucker is yet again summoned
before the City of Elizabeth liquor board and the City Council, due to more
noise complaints from neighborhood residents.
2012 02 27. Bruce Tucker is hauled before the City
of Elizabeth liquor board and the City Council for another personal appearance,
due to noise complaints from neighborhood residents.
2012 05 17. The filing of the SCAR settlement,
yielding Bruce Tucker a zero-dollar tax reduction on Piermont Place, was made
on this date.
2012 05 30. Bruce Tucker is documented as “Vice
President” of “Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon, Inc.”
2014 05 14. Pursuant to a “Stock Purchase Agreement”,
Bruce Tucker buys-out his former co-venturer Philip Costanza’s interest in “Front
Street Smokehouse & Saloon, Inc.” and “Lava Lounge”.
2015 01 01. Although the exact date is yet
uncertain, Bruce Tucker renews the alternate name of “Lava Lounge”, presumably
in a filing.
2015 05 14. A New Jersey newspaper advertisement
appears, mentioning Bruce Tucker’s name in connection with the change of stock
ownership in the Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
(See above).
2015 12 27. Bruce Tucker is indicated in a
public-record report as becoming a “National Sales Manager” for “Marico
Enterprises, Inc.” on this date. Apparently an offshore-owned “health, beauty,
and wellness” consumer products company, it is not yet clear whether “Marico
Enterprises, Inc.” actually functioned as some form of multi-level marketing
(MLM) or pyramiding arrangement at the time.
2016 06 28. On this date, “Front Street Smokehouse
& Saloon, Inc.” files its last Annual Report with the State of New Jersey.
2016 08 02. “Front Street Smokehouse & Saloon,
Inc.” is indicated as a “Former Licensee” on a Bulk Sale Permit relating to an
apparent proposed transfer of a liquor license corresponding to Bruce Tucker.
2016 11 28. Bruce Tucker’s “Front Street Smokehouse
& Saloon” in Elizabeth, New Jersey ceases operations, according to the
State of New Jersey, Department of Law & Public Safety, Division of
Alcoholic Beverage Control, and according to “pocket license” Tucker-transferee
Hossein Sarrafian.
2016 12 13. Bruce Tucker’s “Front Street Smokehouse
& Saloon, Inc.” in Elizabeth, New Jersey lists as “Inactive” with the State
of New Jersey Department of Labor “Employer Accounts” program area.
