Township suspends Cameo liquor license
Lawsuit filed against Dominick brothers over unpaid debt
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

The Township Council voted last week to suspend the Cameo's liquor license for 60 days and impose fees of $5,000; however, problems still exist.

"We will make sure that the municipality will be reimbursed for our legal fees, which include the overtime pay that the police officers received to testify in the case," said Township Clerk John Mitch. "The costs are hard costs that were unnecessary to the township."

The decision [on Jan. 16] comes one week after the council, which serves as the Alcoholic Beverage Control [ABC] governing board, held a liquor license hearing where it heard three hours of testimony from township police officers and Cameo employees on Jan. 9.

The Jan. 9 hearing stemmed from two incidents - which involved a stabbing, a beating, and assaults on police officers - that occurred at the banquet hall on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 that led to arrests. Harry and Jarrod Dominick, owners of the Cameo, voluntarily agreed to close their doors pending a Dec. 19 hearing, where the council allowed them to open their doors, but not until they complied with eight restrictions that they had to follow until the Jan. 9 hearing. The owners complied.

Smith Toth Inc. [Cameo] was charged with multiple violations of state and township ordinances, municipal codes and ABC regulations. The violations include immoral conduct and public disturbance; maintaining a nuisance operation; failure to adequately provide security personnel; sale of alcoholic beverages to unauthorized underage persons; serving intoxicated persons; and multiple violations of municipal housing, building, zoning and planning ordinances. Additionally, the fire department officials previously issued fire code violations.

The Dominick brothers had to vacate the Cameo's premises at 800 Rahway Ave. on Jan. 14 because a state Superior Court judge ordered an eviction notice, which was initiated by Laucyn Enterprises Inc. of Woodbridge, the owners of the Rahway Avenue property. The previous eviction notice was Jan. 31.

Just last week, the Cameo was returned to Peter Toth by default and he exercised his right to take back the stock and salvage what is left of the company, which he owned for 20 years before he sold it to the Dominick brothers a year and a half ago.

Toth, through his lawyer John DeNoia, filed a lawsuit against the brothers for not paying a substantial amount of money that is still owed to him.

"The [brothers] have brought burden to Mr. Toth," said DeNoia. "When he turned over his business to the brothers, they were supposed to make monthly payments, which Mr. Toth did not receive. I can't say the exact dollar amount, but the amount is in the hundreds."

Because of the Dominick brothers, DeNoia said his client is left with a suspended liquor license and angry customers, who have not received their security deposits from events that will not happen.

"Not much can be done in the short-term," said DeNoia. "The lawsuit is a long way from being resolved."

As of Jan. 19, DeNoia has not heard from the Dominick brothers.