Root Beer And Checker Club

 
CIRCA 1944-45 a small group of prominent local men were in the habit of lunching at the Colonial Restaurant. It was quite natural that they began pushing tables together so that they could discuss the topics of the day as a group. Some of the earliest members were Frank Pingatore, Bill Sherwood, Thomas Phipps, Harry Klatsky, Joe Schwartz, Bill Klatsky, John V. Crowell, Jr. and Ed Maclin who gave the Club its most illogical name. 

        More and more men heard about the group, and wanted to be part of it. As the space requirements grew, the luncheon headquarters were moved several times, until finally club rooms were rented adjacent to the Olde Union House where, in 1958 the Club was formally chartered with Edward H. Conway as its President, In 1959 the Club moved again to quarters at 5 Broad Street. After many years there, in mid 1999, the Club re-located to the Knights of Columbus building at 200 Fair Haven Road, Fair Haven, NJ. In January 2009, the Club moved to the Nauvoo Grill at 121 Fair Haven Road, Fair Haven, NJ.  Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, meetings were suspended in March 2020.   Meetings were reinstituted May 2021 at Bahr's Landing at the Highlands, NJ.

        Several social events are held annually: Fall, Spring and Christmas Cocktail Parties, St. Patrick’s Day Buffet, Thanksgiving Luncheon, as well as Theatre/Dinner parties, Local Boat Trips, Monmouth Park Day at the Races and a Hudson River Cruise to a West Point Football Game.

        At the Eight Ball Luncheon a Special Award is given to one of the Club’s outstanding members.
 

        The Club feels that it has, and will continue to have, a membership that represents the outstanding business and professional people of the community.