Wildwood OKs ‘Pocket’ Liquor Licenses

WILDWOOD — Commissioners unanimously approved resolutions on Wed., Oct. 27 renewing three non-operating or “pocket” liquor licenses.
There are about 188 liquor licenses in Cape May County. The municipality with the most licenses, by far, is Wildwood with 55. Cape May, 27; Lower Township, 26; and North Wildwood, 25, are distant runner-ups.
Licenses for the sale of intoxicating drinks in New Jersey are regulated by the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). The ABC Licensing Bureau processes license applications submitted by municipalities to ensure they meet state regulations.
According to the ABC Municipal Handbook, an inactive license is a license that is not currently operating in a licensed premise.
“A license which becomes inactive and is no longer sited at a business premises becomes a ‘pocket’ license,” the handbook stated. “The municipality may renew an inactive or pocket license for two license terms following the date it became inactive…If the license has been inactive for more than two license terms…the license may not be renewed by resolution until a Special Ruling is issued by the (ABC) Director which authorizes the municipality to renew the license.”
That’s what happened Wednesday in Wildwood.
“The special ruling has been received giving permission for the consideration of renewal of said license,” the resolutions stated. “The application was in good form, was accompanied by the proper fees…no objections, written or otherwise, were filed with the city clerk, nor were any other objections offered at the time of the hearing.”
Hence, commissioners okayed the pocket licenses.
The owners of record for the three licenses were listed as DSD Entertainment Inc., 173 Fries Mill Road, Turnersville; Dock Street Tavern Inc., 4408 Park Blvd.; and Waterway Café Inc., 539 W. Burk Ave.
According to the resolutions, Dock Street has been inactive since May 8, 2003 and Waterway since June 16, 2006. The Clerk’s Office was unable to determine which bars these licenses were last associated.
According to Herald archives, DSD’s license was connected to the Nile and Grove Lounge at 4200 Pacific Ave. The president of DSD at the time was Darryl DePiano, of Beachwood.
On Aug. 31, 2006, Wildwood police concluded a three-month undercover investigation at that nightclub resulting in three arrests of county residents on drug charges and two arrests for underage drinking.
The investigation was a joint operation of state, county, and local law enforcement agencies and targeted “club drugs” such as Ecstasy, Ketamine, and GBL.