Our neighborhood’s hip little jazz club is having a hard time. Balcony Club owner Tommy Stanco says if he doesn’t get investors or a buyer soon, he will have to close. Stanco’s landlord is expected to lock him out Sept. 14.
The club sent out a media release explaining its financial woes, which involve trouble with the fire marshal two years ago.
The national financial downturn of recent years, however, has struck the club hard, causing revenues to plummet to a level barely sufficient to cover operating costs. Moreover, when the club became disconnected from the Lakewood Theater’s fire alarm system in June of 2009, theater management required eight days to effect repairs, during which time the club was forced to have a Fire Marshal on site at all times, at a cost of $70 per hour – a drain on club finances from which it has yet to recover.
Stanco was a bartender at the club, and he bought it in 1991. Two bands perform every day, and the nighttime band is always jazz, performed by local musicians.
A benefit party is planned at the club from 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. A $5 donation toward the effort to keep the Balcony Club open is requested. There will be several bands, poets and food. Costumes are optional. Come as your favorite jazz era.
