A New Venue for Teen Nightclub -- in a Garage?

bu Joan R. Simon

(January 6, 2004) The Cove, Mamaroneck High School’s monthly alcohol-and-drug-free nightclub, may be back in business this winter at a garage in the Mamaroneck Town Yard. (See Teen "Nightclub" Closes: What Comes Next?). After the Cove closed last spring due to problems arising from overflow attendance at its former location in Flint Park, Town Councilwoman Judy Myers got together with the town’s Youth Council, which she leads, and students from last year’s Cove board to search the community for a new home for the club.

Village of Mamaroneck Trustee Joe Angilleta, remembering his own teen experiences at a garage in Port Chester, suggested to Ms. Myers that the students use the newly built garage at the Town of Mamaroneck Highway Department facility on Maxwell Avenue, behind the New York Sports Club.

New Cove? It's large enough for a teen nightclub and gets great cell reception.

MHS students visited the site on Tuesday, January 4 and were awed. The major selling point of the town’s garage was unquestionably its size. The cavernous warehouse-style building would be more than adequate to hold the expected 200 or more students who have attended – or tried to attend – Cove evenings in the past.

Teens tour prospective club site.

According to Town Manager Steve Altieri, the trucks that are usually parked in the garage could be temporarily moved outside. The other equipment housed in the room would be either locked up behind fencing or covered with tarps. The only glitch would come if it snowed, since the facility is used for snow removal; in that event, the Cove would have to be postponed.

The biggest issue -- and the one that closed the Cove in Flint Park -- is safety. A group of students met with the Town of Mamaroneck board on Wednesday, January 5, to ask for permission to use the garage and for the Town’s help in providing professional supervision. In the end the issue boiled down to money – overtime pay for police officers and highway department personnel.

Councilman Ernie Odierna expressed enthusiasm for the new use of the garage. “It makes good sense,” he said. “You can make all the noise you want and let your hair down.” He concluded, “I think it’s a fun thing. I just wish I was a teenager.”

Students attended the Town work session to ask for support for the new Cove.

Other issues the students will need to deal with before the Cove is up and running are: bathroom facilities (renting portable toilets is the most likely solution); parking and access to the garage building; parent advisers to help the students manage the events; and money to cover the costs of a DJ, bouncers, refreshments, and decorations (an entrance fee of $5 is planned, up slightly from previous years). One unexpected plus to the location is the excellent cell phone reception -- a critical need for teenagers – since a cell tower is located within the Town Yard site.

Following the detailed student presentation, Councilwoman Phyllis Wittner commented, “Let’s add it all up and get other views and get back to you.” The students, who are hoping to restart the Cove as early as February, will be eagerly awaiting the Town’s response.

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