Nightlife is back at the Jersey Shore, just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
Nightclubs were packed and dance floors were full on Friday, despite a driving rainstorm, on the first night the state-wide ban on dancing in bars and restaurants, the 6-foot distance requirement, and mask mandates were lifted.
“After being pent up for so long you got to let something out,” said Adam Schwartz of Asbury Park, who was at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como with his wife, Kaining Chen.
The Eddie Testa Band was on the stage at Bar A, and DJ Mike Nice was spinning the hits in between sets. The crowd, like other places visited on Friday, was euphoric, energetic and largely mask-less.
“It's OK now because if you want vaccine, you can get a vaccine, so it’s a personal decision to come out,” Schwartz said. “People can wear a mask or not wear one.”
Joe Machu, 23, of Howell, was enjoying the scene at Bar A.
“It’s starting to loosen up and we’re able to do stuff,” Machu said. “I like it.”
Tickets are available for the Gary U.S. Bonds show at Bar A on Monday at Bar A. The outdoor show was rained out there on Friday.
Around the corner, the Boathouse Bar and Grill in Belmar had a full house for the cover band Howl.
“If you had asked me two weeks ago would we be in this position on Memorial Day weekend, I would have said no,” said Tim Harmon, co-owner of the Boathouse. “This is clearly a great thing to have people out and about and back into the bars, listening to music, dancing around, and having a good time back on the Jersey Shore, which is what people want to do, especially on Memorial Day weekend.”
Joe DeVito of Belmar was happy to see the crowd back inside.
“The vibe here is great,” DeVito said. “We got the live bands back, everyone is having a good time, trying to stay safe but still enjoying themselves. No one’s wearing a mask but I’m hoping they’re vaccinated. It’s like it used to be two years ago before everything happened.”
State nightclubs and venues were closed in mid-March of 2020 at the onset of the coronavirus outbreak. Live entertainment venues were allowed to reopen in September with capacity-restricted socially distanced events.
On Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy gave the OK for venues to fully open.
“Dance floors at bars and restaurants may reopen as well and we will also lift the requirement that individuals must remain seated while ordering and eating and drinking at bars and restaurants,” Murphy said.
The dance floor was also full inside at the Headliner in Neptune.
“People are letting loose and they’re here to have a good time,” said Riley Pewterbaugh of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. “It’s not really my scene but I think it’s cool that people are trying to have a good time. People are just happy to be back.”
Pewterbaugh was happy that the Headliner's DJ Case Ace threw some BTS into the mix.
Fully opening on four days’ notice was a challenge for Headliner general manager Tom Sueta, as it was with other venues.
“We can’t find people to work,” Sueta said. “We’re paying $15 minimum an hour and we still can’t find people to work. They come in and tell me I make $17 an hour on unemployment, they want 25, 30 dollars an hour and I can’t afford that. I’d be out of business if we do that. People like us at the Headliner, we’re regular guys, we’re not a chain. Unfortunately all this stuff preys on the individual owners. The chains are going to survive, but the problem is the small owners, they’re not going to.”
Sueta sees a good weekend at the Headliner coming up, even if the weather isn’t cooperating. The hit Jersey deejay tandem Riggi and Piros were scheduled to headline the action at the spot Saturday.
“It’s going to be a very good weekend no matter what the weather,” Sueta said. “I’m just thankful were able to do some business. I’m thankful we survived — a lot of people didn’t survive.”
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