Nightclub's liquor license is in jeopardy Shooting incident was the latest problem at club in Brick Plaza BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer When The Mansion nightclub opened its doors in 2006, owner George Melassanos promised the establishment would be more upscale than most. PATRICIA A. MILLER Township police have responded to a number of incidents at the upscale nightclub The Mansion in Brick Plaza. The Township Council was considering revoking the club's liquor license as of press time. "It's a nice crowd and there are no incidents or problems," he said then. "It's very safe, and that's an important thing." But things have changed since last year. As of press time, Township Council members were considering revoking The Mansion's liquor license after several incidents over the past few months that sent police in droves to the nightclub. The council passed a resolution at the Oct. 7 meeting to send a notice of intent to Melassanos to suspend or revoke the club's license. The notice was sent on Oct. 9, in order to give Melassanos and his attorney the required fiveday notice before the hearing. The Mansion's liquor license was on the agenda for the Oct. 16 Township Council caucus meeting. John Paul Doyle, Melessanos' attorney, did not return calls for comment. Police arrested Corey R. Brown, 25, of Brick on Oct. 6 after he fired 10 shots into the air in the nightclub's parking lot. Brown was charged with possession of a weapon, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and unlawful possession of a weapon. "He fired 10 rounds of gunfire," said Township Councilman Anthony Matthews, who first suggested the license be suspended or revoked. "I'm guessing they have not lived up to expectations. He fired all 10 shots in the parking lot. It puts our guys at risk. It's gotten progressively worse. I think we need to do something." The nightclub is located on the south side of Brick Plaza, flanked by an Ethan Allen furniture and the Bon Ton store. The Loews Theater complex is a few stores down. Township Council President Stephen C. Acropolis suggested the council speak to Melassanos in closed session about the problems. "He's been a businessman in town for a long time and doesn't want to cause any problems," Acropolis said. "I don't see this as closed-session material," Township Attorney Jean Cipriani said. Nine Brick police officers and Lakewood police responded to the shooting incident, said Brick Capt. John Rein. "Every week or every other week there is some kind of dispute, fight or disturbance in and around The Mansion as people are arriving or exiting," Rein said. "A number of them have been domestic disputes, boyfriend, girlfriend, jealousy. Other times it's people that just don't get along. Something happened inside the club and they took it outside." Council members said people leaving the movie theater late at night were also at risk. The theater closes around 1 a.m. "The longer we delay, holiday season will be coming upon us, with later hours," Matthews said. "This type of activity is not good for us." "We should send the strongest message possible," Acropolis said. "We are not going to put up with this. Let's give him five days to come in and convince the public safety committee as to why he should not have his license suspended." Council members voted 6 to 1 to send the notice of intent to Melassanos. Councilman Daniel Toth abstained because of a conflict of interest. The council has local jurisdiction in the matter, Acropolis said after the meeting. "Anything we do has to be confirmed or denied by the state Alcohol Beverage Commission," he said. "We can do it, but he can appeal to the ABC." Acropolis said he didn't think Melassanos was the cause of the problems. "I think it's the management company he has hired," he said. "He's been around Brick for quite a while. I don't think he wants it to go down this way."