Saugus to close book on night club

SAUGUS – Tabu Ultra Lounge and Nightclub has a calendar full of events on its Web site but according to town officials it will close its doors Jan. 15.Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said Town Hall was notified Tuesday that the business owners will not renew its lease on the building and will shut down operations Friday.”It’s kind of a milestone,” Bisignani said.The town has cracked down on the club, which has experienced a number of violent incidents inside and outside over the last few years. At the tail end of 2009 the club was hit with a six-day suspension and had its hours of operations permanently rolled back to 1 a.m. The club was due in for another show cause hearing sometime in February but the board had yet to set the date.Bisignani said it’s his understanding that while the business is closing Frank Amato, who actually owns the club but leased it to another party, will retain the business and reopen it under another name.Board of Selectmen Chairman Donald Wong said he only hopes whoever steps in to fill Tabu’s tables is a good neighbor and a good business. His colleague Scott Crabtree agreed.”If you’re going to run a responsible business and be a good neighbor we’ll support you,” he said.The predominant word about town is that Amato plans to open an under-21 club, which would mean yet another all alcohol license will be up for grabs, but Tabu’s could go for a substantially higher sum than the one the town has.The town regained one all alcohol license when it permanently suspended Jin Asian Restaurant’s license last month but a community bylaw can only charge a set fee, which maxes out at $5,000 for an all alcohol license. If the Amato family owns Tabu’s liquor license, however, they have the right to sell it to the highest bidder providing the town approves the transfer. When he closed the Palace Entertainment Complex, Russell Robbat sold his liquor license to the previous owners of Jin for $245,000.Any license transfers or changes to the business plan would all have to come before the Board of Selectmen for approval before any licenses or cash can change hands or new plans could be implemented.Crabtree also noted that Tabu’s liquor license carries a few restrictions with it. Tabu was hit with a permanent roll back of its hours to 1 a.m. and it still has the six-day suspension attached.”Whoever gets the license will have to deal with the six-day suspension,” Crabtree said. “That goes with the license and it still has to be served.”