Club Light's owner Kenny Franco said he's trying to change the public's perception that teen clubs always mean trouble.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- A new teen club, in the works for more than three years, has finally opened its doors in the township.
Owner Kenny Franco said "Club Light" -- a deviation from its previous proposed name Club Bash -- launched its first teen social night on the 1st of the year with an aim to change old perceptions about underage clubs.
"We're trying to give the kids a safe place to go and making sure parents feel comfortable leaving them there," said Franco.
He knows previous teen night clubs in the area were notorious for a range of issues, from fights to underage drinking and everything in-between, but said their combination of strict security, separate events for different age groups and their community-oriented approach will set Club Light apart.
"Kids are going to be kids, but you have to be able to manage them properly," said Franco, who is also using the Fries Mill road venue to host private parties, fundraising events and more. "We're trying to be proactive."
That includes hiring a security staff comprised of retired and current police officers, firefighters and teachers, said Franco, as well as enforcing a no-reentry policy, a dress code and a laundry list of rules and regulations that are featured on its website.
New teen club "Club Light" in Washington Township features seating, game and dance areas. (Photo provided)Franco said his company, Light Entertainment, that operates the club will also be paying for a marked, uniformed Washington Township police presence on its social nights to help with traffic and patrol.
The inside of the facility, which formerly housed Gloucester County offices, is outfitted with a dance floor, seating areas and a game and arcade center. It's open on Friday nights for kids aged 12 to 14 years old from 7 p.m. to 11 a.m. On Saturdays, only teens aged 15 to 18 will be admitted from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. The cost to enter both nights is $15. VIP entry is $25.
"We understand kids need to be in their own age brackets to socialize, so there are no problems from that," said Franco.
He first came up with the idea for a teen social space on Halloween of 2012, when he noticed dozens of teens in his neighborhood desperate for somewhere to go and something to do.
He started getting the then-named Club Bash off the ground in 2013, but major damage to the Fries Mill Road building from copper-wire thefts delayed the project for more than two years as the entire building's electrical system was replaced and fire and alarm systems were brought up to code.
Along the way, Franco said he switched to the name "Club Light" to reflect their aim of being a positive influence in the community.
Since getting their certificate of occupancy on Dec.31 and opening on Jan. 1, Franco said the club has had about 100 kids attend at each of their Friday and Saturday night events, and the numbers are steadily increasing.
He's looking toward teaming up with local churches to bring youth groups in during the week, and offer the space for community groups that are looking for a space to hold events.
Down the road, in about six months to a year, he's hoping they can expand further into the space and create indoor sports areas such as batting cages. But in the meantime, he's focused on keeping the space safe and sticking around for the long-haul.
"We understand that parents should be concerned about the whereabouts of their children and the company they keep and the events they're attending," said Franco. "We take that seriously... we want to make sure they're getting what they pay for."
Michelle Caffrey may be reached at mcaffrey@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ShellyCaffrey. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.