Popular New Brunswick Bar Violated Coronavirus Rules, State Says

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The state of New Jersey is now trying to temporarily suspend the liquor license of a very popular New Brunswick restaurant/bar that it says violated the governor's indoor dining rules during COVID.

The bar is George Street Ale House in New Brunswick. The state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (“ABC”) seeks to take its liquor license away for 25 days.

George Street is part of 10 bars and restaurants across the state that lawmakers said violated Gov. Phil Murphy's restaurant rules in place during the second wave. New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal released the list Friday.

Undercover ABC inspectors said that on Friday night, Nov. 20, they observed George Street Ale House failing to enforce social distancing, allowing customers or employees to be seen without masks and that inspectors also saw people standing or seated at the bar.

A call to the owner of George Street was not returned.

“It gives us no pleasure to take these actions, but we’re in the midst of a pandemic and we need everyone in this state to do their part,” said Grewal.

ABC inspectors spent the past month doing secret surveillance of nearly 500 bars across the state. The bars were observed at random. Nearly 90 percent were found to be in compliance, said the AG.

The following 10 were not.

All of the below are facing a minimum 10-day liquor license suspension but for some, more charges are expected:

• Eddy's Bar & Liquors, Bayonne. Cited for allowing patrons to sit at the bar and for failing to enforce face covering requirements. Penalty sought: 15-day suspension.
• Wicked Wolf, Hoboken. Cited for allowing patrons to sit at the bar. Penalty sought: 10-day suspension.
• Reilly’s Bar & Grill, Kearny. Cited for violating 10 p.m. curfew, allowing patrons to consume food/drink while not seated, and exceeding occupancy limits. Penalty sought: 30-day suspension.
• Graystone Inn, Little Falls. Cited for allowing patrons to sit at the bar, and exceeding occupancy limits on two separate occasions. Penalty sought: 40-day suspension.
• George Street Ale House, New Brunswick. Cited for allowing patrons to sit at the bar, and failing to enforce social distancing and face covering requirements. Penalty sought: 25-day suspension.
• Black Betty's Saloon, Sayreville. Cited for allowing patrons to sit at the bar, and failing to enforce social distancing and face covering requirements. Also cited for allowing lewd activity on premises. Penalty sought: 70-day suspension.
• 30 Strikes, Stratford. Cited for violating 10 p.m. curfew. Penalty sought: 10-day suspension.
• Jalapenos Bar and Grill, Gloucester City. Cited for allowing patrons to sit at the bar, and failing to enforce face covering requirements (second offense). Penalty sought: 20-day suspension.
• 814 South Pub & Kitchen, Somerdale. Cited for violating 10 p.m. curfew, failing to maintain a six-foot distance between tables, and failing to enforce face covering requirements. Penalty sought: 25-day suspension.
• B&B Saloon, Atlantic City. Cited for allowing patrons to sit at the bar, exceeding occupancy limits, and failing to enforce social distancing and face covering requirements. Also cited for allowing alcohol to be consumed beyond the licensed premises, hindering an inspection, employing a criminally disqualified individual, and violating conditions imposed on the license after a shooting left two people dead last month. Penalty sought: 115-day suspension.

Here are New Jersey's bar/restaurant rules as they stand as of Dec. 11, 2020:

• All bars and restaurants are still limited to 25 percent capacity
• Masks must be worn by all servers and diners indoors
• Prohibit the consumption of food and alcohol by patrons who are not seated at a table.
• As of Nov. 12, Murphy ordered there could be no standing or sitting at the bar
• All bars and restaurants must cease serving food and alcohol indoors at 10 p.m.
• Maintain a six-foot minimum distance between dining tables
• Enforce social distancing among employees and patrons.