Wellmont Theatre: Welcome to My Neighborhood

I've been putting off doing a post on the Wellmont Theatre as long as I could. I'm ready to come out of the closet ... as a resident of Montclair, NJ. Not only do I live in the town where the new Bowery Presents venue will be located, my headquarters is within earshot. I could do cartwheels from my door to the Wellmont and still be there within 2 minutes.

Meaning all the after parties will be at Casa de Música Snobbery. I'll have brownies and sangria for all and I'll spin some tunes in my living room. I'll try to convince Colin Meloy to stop by.

Not to get into too much detail, we locals have known since it's been shut down as a movie theater that Montclair big wig and owner Steve Plofker was shopping it around as performing arts space. The Rosen Group stepped in and had the financial backing to renovate the place. The big clincher was buying a liquor license. A license in Montclair can run up between $250,000 to $1.5 million. It's intense.

To give you some background, the place was built in 1922 as a live theater, then it became a movie house. Somewhere along the line, it became an art-house movie theater with 4 screens. The upper balcony was one screen, while the ground floor was 3 screens. I saw Traffic in the large balcony and it was damn cramped up there -- small seats, a weak screen and it sounded like a tin can. You can image the discomfort of seeing a 3-hour film like Amores Perros in there. When I moved here in 2000, we had 3 art house movie theaters, now we have one.

Around 2003, the town had a crappy hardcore/punk/ska club called the Bloomfield Ave. Cafe, and it was doomed from the start. I was there on opening night for the Toasters, and it was about 150 degrees inside. They never bothered to install A.C. Now, it's a check cashing store. We still do have Outpost in the Burbs, which have folkie type acts. I saw Cowboy Junkies there when a while ago. Then, Montclair State University which is in the upper area of town, has an rare big show at the Independent League ball park. Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Joan Jett have played there.

I've been telling people that the Wellmont would probably have the Joan Baez or James Taylor-types and not to expect somebody like the Klaxons. So it's a nice surprise that the seats can be taken out for some rock shows. I'm hoping to get a personal tour before I leave -- it's in the works because I want to see all of the renovation for myself.

Even though Fountains of Wayne was formed in Montclair, we've never had a cool venue that looks like it will appeal to both families and modern music types. You've probably seen the line-up, but here it is anyway:

• Nov. 1 -- Hanson with Dave Barnes & Everybody Else
• Nov. 2 -- Matisyahu with Flobots and Mishka
• Nov. 8 -- Bill Maher
• Nov. 11 -- The Decemberists with Loch Lomond
• Nov. 14 -- Wolf Parade with Listening Party
• Nov. 15 -- Martin Sexton with Ryan Montbleau
• Nov. 17-18 -- Steely Dan
• Nov. 19 -- Tony Bennett
• Nov. 22 -- Al Green
• Nov. 23 -- Brian Wilson
• Dec. 4 -- B.B. King
• Dec. 5 -- John Prine with Chip Taylor
• Dec. 6 -- Get The Led Out
• Feb. 13 -- Rufus Wainwright

I'm hoping to be there for opening night with Hanson. As an important town resident, along with Stephen Colbert, Bobbi Brown, Peter King, Yogi Berra, David Tyree and David Carr, I should be present. I've already marked my calendar for Decemberists and Wolf Parade. Finally, it will be nice to walk home from a big gig.

Now I'm sure you have a bunch questions, so I'll try answer them.

Can I get there via public transportation from NYC? Yes. The best bet is to take the DeCamp bus from the Port Authority (4th floor). Round trip will cost you $12-$13 and it runs frequently. The #33 can drop you off right in front of the venue or the #66 will drop you off two blocks away at the YMCA. The last bus back to NYC is 11:50 on the 66 or midnight on the 33.

You can also take the NJ Transit train from Penn Station to Bay Street-Montclair. You then walk 3 blocks to the Theatre. Get a one way for $5.50. That last train back is 10:35pm so don't press your luck on shows ending at 10. Note: the train doesn't run on the weekends, the bus does.

Parking: Montclair is known for its random acts of unnecessary parking tickets. You can find on street parking if you try. The town was saved by our self-parking deck, which won't cost you much. I don't know how much it is since I live downtown and don't need to drive.

Pre-Show Cocktails: We don't have many bars, because, again, licenses are a premium (Essex Co. only allows one for every 3,000 residents). The ones near the Wellmont will take care of you. There are two sports bars/restaurants, Just Jake's and South Park Grille, that are 3 blocks aways in the downtown area, while there's my local watering hole, Egan & Sons which is 3 blocks north. It's a classy Irish brew pub, and it has 50ft. bar and beers as far as the eye can see. You can find me there passed out in the corner on Friday nights. Across the street from the Wellmont is the Diva Lounge, which must be avoided. We call it the Guido Lounge ...nuff said.

Eats: I might be biased, but Montclair has the best restaurants in Jersey. Cuban Pete's is next door to the Wellmont and it will blow your mind. Across the street is an awesome BBQ joint called Indigo Smoke. Every cuisine is represented.

Is Montclair the 'burbs? I never considered it the 'burbs, because the downtown area is pretty hip. The joke is that our nickname is Park Slope West. We got an Urban Outfitters, yo! The town does a good job of having more independently owned businesses, with a few chains.

Is it far from NYC? It's 12 miles away and about 20-25 minute drive from the Lincoln Tunnel without traffic. You basically get on Rt. 3 after the tunnel, get off at the Grove Street exit. Take Grove for 5 miles. Make a right on Bloomfield Ave and you can't miss it.

In all, I'm super-psyched for the Wellmont and the potential of getting hip acts. I would pass out if Kate Nash came to town to play. She can come to MusicSnobbery HQ and marvel at my CD collection.

Comments

[andrew]

You should hit the B.B. show too... I don't care whether you're a blues fan or not, the man is amazing.

[Rebecca]

I saw Amores Perros there too! And Polish Wedding where I believe the reel broke. Sad that the theater doesn't exist anymore but it's nice to see that they are keeping the building in the arts.

[Brian]

Absolutley Pumped for the Decemberists !!

I am also considering Wolf Parade.

ALso going to Bill Maher........

[Joyce]

Tickets.com is charging $16.25/ticket as a "fee" for tony bennet & steely dan, and
$12 for Bill Maher. In addtion, they are charging $3.50 handling charge per order.

That is disgusting! I am waiting for the box office to open, so I can walk over and get tickets.

[steph]

i found you today, i am also a montclair blogger and music fan.
lately i am a really lazy blogger and since you did all the work for me i put a linkie to this posting here: http://whatsupwithsteph.wordpress.com/ .
i too was waiting before i posted about wellmont, and i am glad i did b.c. you answered all the questions.
:)

[randi dawson]

Matisyahu tonight 11/2 631-680-4004

[randi dawson]

Matisyahu tonight tix tonight below face 11/2 631-680-4004

[M]

I can't believe you'd call Bloomfield Ave. Cafe 'doomed from the start.' I've seen some good bands there. Also, it's not a check cashing place, it's just empty.

[holden]

i'll be visiting for morrissey, is there any afterhour madness?

[jkjj]

I went to the Morrissey show last night there and it couldnt have gone anybetter. Check out the review on my site. http://www.allmylittlewordsonline.com/

[abac]

Can someone let me know what the best seats in the house are? Not for a concert but a comedy show. Is the stage high ? or would you say the front row seats would be fine? please let me know

[Michelle]

Fantastic review! I am enlightened...thanks

[Bill]

Parking in the deck is a buck an hour.

[Maggie]

Thanks for the insight. Going to Wilco tonight, hope to see you at egan & sons before the passout =D