The owner, Peter, is a convicted felon -- no kidding, it is a matter of public record. Feel free to look it up. His son seems like a reasonable man at first glance but unfortunately the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The owner also is an elected town official (he was in this position before committing his crimes involving "mismanagement" of town funds, then spent 3 years in jail, and was immediately re-elected) and has the police in his pocket. As such, it is no surprise that Murph's treats their neighbors like dirt and spits in the face of local residents who dare ask for peace and quiet in the comfort of their own homes.
Accordingly, they consistently flout Totowa noise ordinances such as blasting music through their outdoor speakers and having their obnoxious middle-aged patrons yelling and screaming at the outdoor seating until well after 12:00 am on weeknights (all excessive noise is technically banned in the town at all times, and the restrictions for "excessive" are much greater after 9 pm). Since the police are complicit, it became my responsibility as a nearby resident to ensure the establishment follows the law. On a number of occasions I would call to register a valid noise complaint and the police, who are legally obligated to respond to the call, would simply never show up and the music would continue. I drove to the police station on more than one occasion to ask why nothing was being done about these constant issues and was treated like subhuman garbage instead of a productive, tax-paying citizen of the town that pays their salaries.
They also... TWICE A YEAR... throw a 4-day weekend party in which they put a tent around their parking lot and have live music from 6 pm onward on Thursday and Friday night, and then from 2 pm till close on Saturday and Sunday night, the level of which would put Air Force One to shame. Although they are supposed to have this obtrusion end at 10:00 pm each night per town noise laws, the live music would continue for hours after, once until 1:30 am on a Thursday. I once walked into the bar during one of these parties and reminded them that the permits they acquired for the live music only extend to 10 pm. I was threatened by one of the employees and a patron started insulting me.
Murph's is a disgrace to the town, the county, and the state of New Jersey as a whole. Do not support their corrupt owner and criminal actions in any capacity. I couldn't be happier to have moved far, far away and I truly feel for whoever is currently in my old residence. read more