As two new Saugus clubs open, two others on hot seat

SAUGUS – As the fate of two Route 1 nightclubs hang in the balance of show cause hearings, two new clubs have opened their doors.Jin Asian Restaurant and Caterer reached out to a familiar face when it hired Anthony Cogliano’s management company to run its new lounge.Selectman Stephen Castinetti said he attended the ribbon-cutting for Orchid, the lounge located on the second floor of the massive temple-styled restaurant.”It’s a very upscale type of thing,” he said. “It’s very nice and it looks like they are trying to attract an older more upscale crowd.”It isn’t, in Castinetti’s opinion, going to bring the troubles that The Oasis, which sits just below Jin, has brought.The fate of The Oasis is hanging in limbo until the restaurant rebuilds following a fire. Once it is ready to reopen, however, it will have to answer the Selectmen’s concerns with 21 police-related incidents that have taken place at the club between January 2008 and July 31, 2008.Selectman Peter Rossetti, who also attended the ribbon cutting, said Orchids didn’t strike him as the kind of place that would hold hip-hop nights or attract a young crowd.”It’s dark wood and tasteful,” he said. “I don’t think they’ll get a lot of kids. They play older music. You’re not going to hear hip hop or gangsta rap.”Rossetti said he had similar feelings regarding the newly renovated Zaza Restaurant and Nitery, the Route 1 north eatery formerly known at Orzos.Tucked in between the Sprint store and Jimmy’s Steer House, Zaza’s has undergone a change that Castinetti said he would also characterize as upscale.”It’s not Tabu,” he said referring to the other club in town that is scheduled for a show cause hearing with the board. “I don’t foresee us having the problems (with Zaza) that we’ve had (with Tabu). At least I hope not. I don’t think either one has the intent of becoming another trouble spot. Time will tell, but I remain optimistic.”The club openings have led to other concerns, as well.While the previous Board of Selectmen was often referred to as anti-business, some residents are now saying the current board might be too business-friendly.The notion made Castinetti chuckle.”There wasn’t much we could say about it,” Castinetti said, referring to the changes that brought Zaza and Orchids. “They had the licenses. Unless they come before us for a major change, there isn’t anything we can do.”Castinetti said he would go on the record as pro-business.”I do plan to bring businesses in, but the right kinds of businesses – not scare them away,” he said.