June 3, 2005 Schundler to await primary results at Manville nightclub
By Greg Marano
BRIDGEWATER COURIER NEWS
MANVILLE -- Gubernatorial candidate Bret Schundler will await the results of the Republican primary Tuesday at Rhythms of the Night restaurant.
Schundler's campaign booked the restaurant and nightclub on South Main Street about 10 days ago, restaurant owner John Pettoni said, and the business has been scrambling to get ready .
To prepare for the event, Rhythms has been installing television sets near the stage and phone lines for television news reporters. Those will be installed specifically for Schundler's party and will not be permanent, manager Adam Florek said. However, workers this week also have been installing new permanent lights and retouching walls.
"The back bar, the tiki bar, we were going to build anyway, but we've kind of expedited the process to get it in before the election," Florek said.
Schundler will face off against six other contenders for the Republican Party nomination for governor in Tuesday's primary.
Florek and Pettoni said the restaurant, which opened in January 2004, has played host to major parties before, but none quite this big. Florek estimated from 500 to 1,000 guests will be on hand to wait for the election results with Schundler and his supporters.
"We're very excited about that," Pettoni said. "We're going to make it a nice affair."
Pettoni said the Schundler campaign has booked the entire facility, but the public will still be able to attend.
"I'm not politically associated with his campaign," Pettoni said, adding that he will be rooting for Schundler on Tuesday "because he chose my place."
