Bielat Santore & Company’s “WHO’S WHO in the Restaurant Industry”
BELMAR, NJ (PRWEB) July 18, 2013 -- D’Jais Bar and Grill is one of the most talked about venues at the Jersey Shore. Open since 1979, owner’s Bill Luddecke, Frank Sementa, and Louis “Kipp” Connor purchased the bar and transformed a college hang-out into a Jersey Shore happening. What once was known as the place to go to hear live bands and have a few beers has become the dance party craze at the shore, with dance music, theme nights and a total party atmosphere. The beachfront bar, only open from May to November, gathers larger crowds than any other spot in the area.
Below is a recent interview with owners Bill Luddecke and Frank Sementa talking about the rise of D’Jais and how it gained its popularity.
Bielat Santore and Company (BSC): Why did you choose this location?
Luddecke: The band I managed, Holme, of which Frank and Kipp were members, played here for 8-12 years. The owner always said to me, “When I retire I think you (Luddecke) would be a good fit.”
BSC: What was your original vision for D’Jais ?
Luddecke: Our vision was to move away from a beer joint and make it more of a dance club.
BSC: What was it like when it first opened?
Luddecke: From day one it was a place where all the college kids home for the summer hung out.
BSC: Why do people come here now? What makes D’Jais different from any other bar?
Sementa: Number 1: LOCATION; We are across the street from the beach and the ocean. Number 2: As owners, we are here 24/7. Number 3: We make people have FUN when they come through the doors. It’s all based on hospitality, creating an atmosphere where people can enjoy themselves.
BSC: Seems like almost every night of the week there is something going on at D’Jais. Does that help your business?
Sementa: People want a diversion from the burdens of life. This is not just a place where you sit at the bar and have a drink. We entertain you. That makes for a fun night. We’re injecting fun into this place all day long.
Luddecke/Sementa: I don’t know of any other nightclub whose owners have been entertainers for their entire adult lives. We came from the entertainment part of the business. We were in clubs almost every night. By the time we bought this place we were seasoned entertainers and knew what to do to make it good.
BSC: What has been the biggest change in your business?
Sementa: There hasn’t been a lot of change. The business is more the same than it’s changed. We have customers who start coming when they are 21 and they are still coming at 30 and 40 years old. Having fun is what it is based on, that hasn’t changed.
BSC: What is your strategy? Do you look at other bars and try to find out how to do better than them?
Luddecke/Sementa: We don’t worry about anybody else. There is not much competition on the oceanfront. On our social media site somebody once said that D’Jais is a lifestyle choice. The original idea is to get the crowd all together in one room and get them charged up for the summer. It’s all about the crowd and making them have a good time.
BSC: Is there anything you wish you could change or still want to do?
Luddecke: I’m comfortable the way it is. It’s not too big, it’s not too small. We’re never satisfied, that’s why we keep trying to make it better.
BSC: Name one word to describe D’Jais.
Sementa: FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN!
For those who can’t wait for D’Jais to open in the summer, twice a year D’Jais goes to Atlantic City. One weekend in November and one weekend in February, D’Jais brings is entire dance party act to Harrah’s Casino. They host holiday and winter related theme nights where guests can dance the night away, just like at D’Jais, Belmar. D’Jais owners are looking at doing the same thing in Las Vegas in the future.
D’Jais is located at 1801 Ocean Avenue in Belmar, New Jersey and is open 7 days a week, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Visit their website for additional information at http://www.djais.com/ call 732-681-5055 or e-mail info(at)djais(dot)com.
About Bielat Santore and Company:
Bielat Santore & Company is an established commercial real estate firm. The company's expertise lies chiefly within the restaurant and hospitality industry, specializing in the sale of restaurants and other food and beverage real estate and businesses. Since 1978, the principals of Bielat Santore & Company, Barry Bielat and Richard Santore, have sold more restaurants and similar type properties in New Jersey than any other real estate company. Furthermore, the firm has secured in excess of $500,000,000 in financing to facilitate these transactions. Visit the company’s website, http://www.123bsc.com for the latest in new listings, property, searches, available land, market data, financing trends, RSS feeds, press releases and more.
Richard R. Santore, Bielat Santore & Company, http://www.123bsc.com, 732.869.4200, [email protected]
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