Residents plead for action on club issues
Despite suggestion,
Krome says valet
parking not possible
BY JOHN DUNPHY
Staff Writer

Sayreville residents who live near Krome nightclub continue to complain about refuse and parking on residential streets.

Many who live near the club on Old Spye Road and Route 35 came out to the Borough Council’s public meeting Monday night to speak about the situation.

According to Carol Vittoria, an Old Spye Road resident for 32 years, the situation has them "paying to be victimized," as the residents say they have personally cleaned up after patrons who park in front of their homes on residential streets.

The most recent incident to gain attention and dissatisfaction from residents occurred Friday night when a concert drew enough people to cause a need for patrons to park on residential streets, leaving behind refuse residents say they were stuck cleaning up.

"Who’s responsible for the garbage, urination and traffic control?" asked Elaine Lopez, a Second Street resident for 45 years.

Residents called Mayor Kennedy O’Brien Friday night around 8 p.m. to see for himself what was happening. He said he rode with the police and stayed in the area until around midnight when the show had ended.

"If I lived in that section of town, I’d be raising hell at council meetings about the impact of our quality of life," he said.

At Monday’s meeting, the mayor discussed a possible law that would make it illegal for Krome patrons or other nonresidents to park on surrounding residential roads during shows.

In addition, the option of requiring valet parking, which was recently mandated at the nearby Deko Lounge and Club Abyss, was discussed.

Tom Beninato, owner of Krome, told Greater Media Newspapers that the number of people who came to the club Friday night was much greater than normal. He said the previous time patrons outnumbered available parking on the site had been in early December.

He went on to say the club currently is not considering valet parking as an option.

"[The club] has a capacity of 1,700 [people] between two rooms," Beninato said. "Imagine the confusion and difficulty for the valets [when a show begins and ends], plus the additional charge for valeting cars."

According to Beninato, the club plans to begin triple-parking cars in its lot, which would increase the maximum number of available spaces from 330 to 390.

"I think that should alleviate the problem," Beninato said.

Vittoria believes, however, there is only one solution.

"After seven or eight years of this nonsense, the only option is to close the place down," she said. "I don’t understand why they haven’t."

Barbara McCoy, a Willow Street resident for 35 years, echoed Vittoria’s statement.

"They park in any place they can find to avoid paying the fee that Krome charges to park [in their lot]," McCoy said.

Currently, it costs $2 or $3 to park at Krome depending on the event.

Council President Thomas Pollando said he feels that shutting the club down is not the answer.

"The problem is not inside the club, it’s outside the club," he said.

Borough Attorney Judy Verrone is currently researching whether a parking restriction on residential roads for club patrons is legal. The mayor said he would have more information by the next workshop agenda meeting, which is scheduled for August 2.

Krome, formerly Club Bene, has operated without a liquor license since 2000 when the borough revoked it due to violations of restrictions that were placed during its prior renewal. The property has occasionally been the scene of police action over the years.

The borough is currently considering making the Krome site part of a redevelopment area, and a developer has expressed an interest in buying the property and redeveloping it with senior apartments and a marina along Cheesequake Creek.