Boomerang’s to open soon in Oakland

The third time’s the charm — at least that’s what Boomerang’s Bar and Grille is hoping…. The third time’s the charm — at least that’s what Boomerang’s Bar and Grille is hoping.

Boomerang’s will soon occupy the much-plagued spot on Forbes Avenue that previously housed two defunct establishments — C.J. Barney’s and Johnny Rotten’s.

In 2001, C.J. Barney’s left 3909 Forbes Ave. after receiving several citations from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and filing for bankruptcy. The spot remained vacant until Johnny Rotten’s, an 18-and-older club, opened there before closing by the end of the summer.

Now, Boomerang’s hopes to turn the location into a successful sports-themed bar and eatery, especially for local college students, said Jared Hosack, manager of Boomerang’s Indiana, Pa., location.

“We want to present a positive image,” he said, noting that the location has a somewhat tarnished reputation.

According to LCB records, C.J. Barney’s was cited in 2000 and given a one-day suspension for selling alcohol on the premises on June 6, six days after its liquor license had expired.

In 2001, the establishment was issued a nine-day suspension and an $8,000 fine for several violations that occurred there between February 2000 and 2001. On separate occasions between February and November 2000, it sold alcohol to a total of 159 minors, according to the records.

Records also state the bar was separately cited for allowing the same minors to “frequent the establishment,” and for holding an expired health permit, failing to maintain proper records and failing to notify the LCB about a managerial change.

After filing for bankruptcy, C.J. Barney’s closed in February 2001, without paying the fine or serving the suspensions.

Now Boomerang’s, operated by Caylor ‘ Homer Inc., must serve the suspensions issued to C.J. Barney’s so it can sell alcohol on the premises. The company also paid the $8,000 fine, Hosack said.

“We wanted to make everything 100 percent legit,” he said.

The suspensions are being fulfilled on consecutive days chosen by the LCB, between Jan. 7 and Jan. 17. Those dates worked in Boomerang’s favor, Hosack said, because the restaurant is not set to open until late January or early February.

The suspensions took four years to be issued “because [the venue] had stopped operating,” said Molly McGowas, a spokesperson for LCB.

Although Johnny Rotten’s was operating in summer 2004, “there was never any authority for them to be selling alcohol,” McGowas said.

To get around this problem, the venue gave away alcohol to those older than 21.

“They were never selling alcohol there,” said Christine Claus, a former employee of Johnny Rotten’s. “They didn’t charge anything for it. It was free beer.”

Technically this is legal, according to John Hupp, a supervisor for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement. “[But] money could not be tied to it in any way,” he said.

For example, if Johnny Rotten’s had a cover charge but people wanted to get in just to drink and not dance, Johnny Rotten’s couldn’t make them pay, Hupp said, because they would essentially be charging them for alcohol.

Gus Grekis, an owner of Diversified Night Clubs of America, which operated Johnny Rotten’s, did not return calls for comment.

Although minors were allowed into Johnny Rotten’s because the venue wasn’t selling alcohol, Hupp said the practice would be unwise because the owners could be criminally charged if any minors got a hold of alcohol, despite the establishment’s intentions.

“That’s just a time bomb waiting to go off,” he said.

But Claus said minors were not served at the establishment. Alcohol was only served in a back room, past the dance floor, she said, people needed to show IDs to get there.

“There were two big bouncers at the door. They didn’t let anyone under 21 in the back,” Claus said.

“Minors will be encouraged to come in and eat,” Hosack said of Boomerang’s Oakland location, but they will not be served any alcohol.

The Indiana location of the restaurant has a computer system that scans all IDs to verify their authenticity. The same system will be set up in the Oakland venue, ensuring that those with fake IDs can’t drink, Hosack said. And once inside the restaurant, all people who appear to be under the age of 35 will be asked for identification once they order drinks, he said.

According to Hosack, there have been no violations of the liquor license for the Indiana location. “We plan on having zero violations here as well.”

LCB records state that two citations were issued against Boomerang’s in Indiana, but both were withdrawn.

“It’s going to be nothing like C.J. Barney’s or Johnny Rotten’s,” he said. “We want to totally change that image of this spot.”

Boomerang’s aims to offer good food at reasonable prices and in a fun atmosphere, Hosack said, confident that the venue will be a successful venture.

“We plan on being here for a long, long time,” he said.