Mired in family drama and lawsuits, the Grande Saloon in Clifton is for sale
CLIFTON —The Grande Saloon is up for sale, and while the popular bar and restaurant has a number of potential suitors, including the city's mayor, reaching a deal may be problematic, as the establishment seems to be mired in family drama and a legal morass.
The Van Houten Avenue establishment is owned by partners James Visconti and Nick Cimmino while the property it sits on is owned by Gregory Visconti, James's brother. All three are embroiled in legal battles that include accusations of fraud, non-payment of rent, taxes and a host of other allegations levied against one another and filed in superior court.
Grande Saloon An American Original closes its doors
Three months ago, the Saturday before Mother's Day, the restaurant abruptly closed "temporarily" leaving regulars heartbroken.
Then late last week, for sale signs were placed in front of the saloon and on the building's windows.
The signs created quite a stir on social media, especially after James Visconti added a legal update that leads to the lawsuit documents on the Grande Saloon's website. The legal paperwork contains a request for the court to consolidate the various suits into one. Below the link for the update, is a notice also informing the site's visitors that the business is for sale. That link leads to James Visconti's email address.
"When we saw the signs go up, that's when we put it on the website," James Visconti said, adding he has been embroiled in a legal battle since 2021 with Greg Visconti and Cimmino, who is married to their niece, daughter of one of their sister. "It's a mess," he said.
The website still reads: "Opened in 1974 The Grande Saloon, a bar and restaurant in Clifton NJ, has been a great place to go with friends and family for over 40 years. We have a diverse menu of appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, wraps, paninis, pastas and more."
Greg Visconti purchased the property in 2018 and the suit filed by James Visconti alleges his brother lent them $572,000 so they could operate the bar and restaurant. James Visconti and Cimmino each own 50% of the business and liquor license.
What happened in the ensuing years gets super complicated with claims and counterclaims made by the various parties.
Claims involve the non-payment of liens, an allegation that Cimmino "involuntarily disassociated" James Visconti from the business, as well as charges that under-the-table payments were made between Cimmino and Greg Visconti and nonpayment of taxes, all of which essentially wrecked the business, reads James Visconti's request to the court for the consolidation of the suits.
Buyers interested in Grande Saloon
Yet, even with all the family drama and lawsuits, at least two parties are interested in buying the almost 50-year-old institution.
One of them is Clifton Mayor Ray Grabowski, who said he has a couple of partners interested in buying the saloon.
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"I think I could make it a political hangout almost like Murph's," Grabowski said, about Passaic County Republican Chair Peter Murphy's tavern in Totowa. Grabowski said he also sees its potential as a venue for music that could be great for the city.
Grabowski said he has a meeting on Tuesday about the sale. He said if legal issues can be resolved he thinks he and his partners can turn the Grande Saloon around.
"It is contingent on a lot of things," Grabowski said. "Hopefully it will work."
When Cimmino was reached for a comment, he said he has "no idea of what is for sale." Attempts to reach Greg Visconti were not successful.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Mired in family drama, lawsuits, Grande Saloon in Clifton is for sale
