Live music is once again welcome in Newark.
On Monday, city council legalized live entertainment venues, reversing the ban that has been in place for nearly three decades. Newark was once known for venues like the Stone Balloon, but an anti-alcohol crackdown in the late 1990s led to laws that effectively banned new businesses that offer live music.
The law passed Monday paves the way for the opening of Stella’s, the live music venue that Wonderland Records owner Demitri Theodoropoulos plans to open in Newark Shopping Center. In addition, three other groups have expressed interest in opening an event venue or adding live entertainment to an existing business, according to city officials, but details have not been made public…