Court Tavern to reopen in September

Summer break is over.

The internationally known Court Tavern will reopen on Friday, Sept. 4 with a show by Dollys, Delsea, and Centennials with special guests to be announced.

The club will now be managed by Brittany Dixon, who has booked events at the Court, the Saint in Asbury Park and the Rail House in Rahway, under the name Brittany on Fire.

“I vow to do everything in my power to keep this building,‘the Court Tavern,’ and keep the music scene alive in New Brunswick," said Dixon in a statement. "This venue has been a staple in Central New Jersey that keeps rock 'n' roll and live original music in our hearts and in our culture. Music, booking shows, and playing shows has been my passion and come to be my life. I can’t imagine a more fulfilling job. The new Court Tavern will represent that passion.”

The Court's lower live performance space will reopen initially while renovations, which may include a restaurant, take place upstairs, which will be closed, owner Michael Barrood said. The side game room will be closed, but several games will be moved downstairs.

The venue will only be open for live shows only, which will be Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and as needed.

The Court had hosted nationally known and local stars for some 30 years when it was run by Bob Albert Jr., who closed the club and declared bankruptcy in 2012. Local groups like the Smithereens, the Gaslight Anthem and God Forbid played the Court before finding stardom.

Barrood, also the owner of the city's Mike's Courtside Sports Bar and Grill, purchased the bar in a sheriff's sale in 2012. Since reopening, the club has featured a schedule of live original music that included a show last year by the Bouncing Souls, a New Brunswick band that now calls Asbury Park home.

The venue closed last month. Visit www.court-tavern.com for more information.

Chris Jordan: cjordan@app.com.