UpstairsMontclair is a restaurant town, but more specifically it is a BYOB restaurant town. There are over 80 restaurants and eateries in Montclair, and only one dozen liquor licenses. 

According to Mayor Jerry Fried, “NJ State law limits liquor licenses to one per 3000 residents, thus Montclair has only 12. Exemptions include those on State property (like the NJTransit stations) and also 100+ bed hotels.  Nothing can be done locally except lobbying for changing State law. It would be particularly helpful if we could somehow use Glen Ridge's "extra" licenses. Or add several hundred new residents to get the 13th.”

Of the twelve liquor licenses only ten are active and trade as Egan & Sons, Halcyon, Tierney’s, Just Jakes, South Park Street (V Bar), Dlv Lounge, The Office, Richie Cecere’s (yes, they are still pouring), Trumpets, The Wellmont, and new bar in town, Upstairs.  The Charlie Brown’s of Montclair, Inc. license is inactive, as well as a license owned by Dick Grabowsky, LLC. 

So when the Patch writers, along with our newly returned editor, Shelley Emling, decided to gather for cocktails, selecting a place to meet was not too difficult.