Florida Agenda

$750K Judgment in Yearlong Case

WILTON MANORS — After a ruling this fall by Broward County Circuit Court Judge Mark Gold, a Consent Final Judgment has been issued requiring the payment of $750,000 damages by Matty’s on the Drive to plaintiffs Jackson Padgett and Mark Negrete, the owners of Georgie’s Alibi.

The case made headlines this fall as part of the backdrop from other legal actions between Padgett and Negrete and Terry Norman and George Kessinger, the former owners of the Alibi, and one of whom, Norman,  is a principal in Matty’s, which opened in 2008 at the north end of Wilton Drive.

In February, another judge ruled that Norman and Kessinger and Norman had made knowing fraudulent misrepresentations of material facts in their sale of the Alibi to Padgett and Negrete, which entitled them to $255,000 in damages.

In his ruling, Judge Gold found that Norman, who is listed as an officer of Matty’s on the Drive’s operating entity (NAG Bar, LLC), violated a non-compete agreement he had with Padgett and Negrete when he entered into a business relationship with Matty’s.

According to the judgment, the $750,000 judgment against Matty’s and Norman resulted from “intentional, malicious, and wilful acts” to harm the plaintiffs. It also says that Norman and Matty’s agreed to the terms of the judgment’s settlement.

Matty’s on the Drive Celebrates 2nd Anniversary

The place has been called the “sleeping giant on the drive.” It appears the sleeping pussy cat has awoken and its roar is being heard up and down Wilton Drive and a far. Matty’s on the Drive, named after founder Matt Auslander, is stirring the pot and, from all reports, the community is responding and loving it (Excuse us McDonalds).

Is it the no smoking policy, the drink prices, the cleanliness, the staff, the video music, the young clientele, the owners? Just what is it that is drawing big crowds to this neighborhood bar?

“Probably all of it,” says Matt Auslander, who has been in the nightlife business for 25 years.

“Matty’s was designed to be a place for people and friends to gather in a safe, clean environment and just kick back,” he says.

Matty’s is expanding and will soon open the Oy Vey Deli, a New York styled deli that will open for lunch and serve traditional overstuffed deli sandwiches until the wee hours of the morning.

“We wanted to be a true neighborhood watering hole,” said Terry Norman, who liked what was going on at Matty’s and joined Auslander, a longtime friend, as a partner not too long ago,. “Matty’s has created a niche for itself on the drive and I wanted to be a part of it,” Norman added. Matty’s has expanded twice by taking over neighboring space and will expand a third time by taking an extra bay.

“We needed more space so when the third bay became available, we grabbed it,” said Auslander.

Matty’s has formed a close alliance with its neighbors, Rosie’s and New Moon, who have worked together on a number of promotions. “We get along extremely well and have one common goal and that is promoting the north end of the Drive,” said Auslander.

On their 2nd anniversary, celebrated August 20 – 22, expect some loud roars including giveaways worth hundreds of dollars. The giveaways include a $250 bar tab, Apple IPAD, a Nintendo Wii and anniversary T-shirts. Entertainment will be provided by New York vocalist Spicky Hilton. Also, one of South Florida’s local TV stations will film portions of the weekend celebration for the kickoff of a new lifestyle program.

A Touch of New York on Wilton Drive

(Picture: Matty’s in standing in front of his ‘celebrity wall.’)

Having expanded into what was a wine store last year, next week, Matty’s On the Drive opens their long-awaited deli. Matty Auslander, owner of Matty’s said the deli will be New York-style.

Matty’s On the Drive opened in 2008 in the Strawberry Plaza on Wilton Drive next to New Moon and has grown in popularity. Matty feels the addition of the deli is the next logical step in growth.

Sandwiches will include the traditional hot pastrami, brisket and corned beef and most sandwiches will be “over-stuffed” with 1/3^rd pound of top-of-the-line meats. Though not a typical “Jewish-style” deli, he does plan to offer more traditional Jewish foods such as knishes and homemade matzo ball soup. There will be no grill or hood in the new deli, so hamburgers will not be available. All meats and sandwiches will have to be steamed or toasted and not grilled.

The deli will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. daily. Prices will range from $7 to $8 a sandwich which Matty says is reasonable and you can expect to pay $22 for the same sandwich in New York. Deserts such as New York-style cheesecake will also be available.

One eye-catching aspect of the deli is the ‘celebrity wall’. “When you go to delis in New York, they always have pictures on the wall of celebrities who have eaten there.

We’re using our regular customers,” said Matty. “It’s become a crazy thing, everybody wants their picture to be on the wall. I have over a hundred more to hang and I can see us filling the entire wall soon.”