behind bars at Big Shots

I love this place. They have a different event each night of the week so no matter when I go there something is happening. I have been going during NFL games trying to win a jersey. They give two away for every major game. I also go on either Friday or Saturday night for the DJ's that usually start around 10. All in all its a great place, new, clean, and affordable. You really can't go wrong because they have something for everyone. There are LCD tv's everywhere you look, a more secluded VIP section and the downstairs resturant is a more upscale lounge after it closes. I highly suggest it.

The owners are long time clients of my company Health Club Services and have become personal friends of mine over the years. They have always acted with integrity and straight forwardness an refreshing change to today's dog eats dogs world. In the forefront of our dealings I have always been put first and treated as part of there team. I know that good luck and much success will reward them in any venture that employs there style of leadership.
Yours In Health
Bruce Richie Pres.
CBE Inc.
Health Club Sercvices Div.

The only sports bar I know of that will not let you in with a Bret Favre Jersey or any jersey at that. Very strict dress code... To strict for the type of bar it is.

Talk about the bar. Sounds like you're lovers with the owner.

Health Club Services wrote:

The owners are long time clients of my company Health Club Services and have become personal friends of mine over the years. They have always acted with integrity and straight forwardness an refreshing change to today's dog eats dogs world. In the forefront of our dealings I have always been put first and treated as part of there team. I know that good luck and much success will reward them in any venture that employs there style of leadership.
Yours In Health
Bruce Richie Pres.
CBE Inc.
Health Club Sercvices Div.

Big Shots in Woodbridge, NJ is one of those places where the owner is sports bar guy by heart but is trying to make it more than it is or... more than it should be. It is a sports bar..period! yet they try to have a dress code now and they have hired "promoters" ??? please, promoters for what? your only gonna attract white trash crowds at that kind of dump..especially where the location is. The owner should not try the approach of weeding people out by having guestlists and being selective becuase the trendy people who count in the nightlife scene in NJ will not go there..period. next thing they will do is have guestlists lol. it is a sports bar, not a trendy club and it will never be. Oh by the way did you know how much the parking sucks at Big Shots in Woodbridge, NJ? it used to be 88 Keys which was a failed business at that location. Right idea perhaps for a sports bar but wrong location, terrible parking and a club it will never be.I cant believe a sports bar has a dress code and promoters. That is just pathetic. Places like this tried to open in other prime areas of Nj and they failed within 18 months lol. There are too many places around that area and within 15 minutes of that area that will smoke them and are established. Sure it may have a little boost in the summer right now with their new outside area but...I cant wait to see the place go bankrupt beucase in the winter months no one will go there. The real party people in Nj and the "real and recognized promoters in NJ wont touch that place. I hear their promoters are from NY. The big dogs in NJ are laughing at this sports bar trying to be hip. The location sucks. Smart entertainment directors like us, using hardly any energy, can easily re-route people to better venues nearby. Right now, they will have a big buzz and you can expect one because the owner is paying any shmo who is an advertiser, promoter, or "big shot" in the entertainment biz but when the buzz dies and the smoke clears..the crummy location will not work in the fall and winter months. a place like Big Shots in Woodbridge, NJ will not survive only being fun in the summer and will most likely fail within 30 months from or so from now. They are spending a ton on promo right now and thats fine but..no one will go to a sports bar that tries to have promoters lol.

I have to agree with you on this one NJ nightlife director, there are a few things wrong with this place. the loaction does kinda stink. The parking is HORRIBLE!!!!! Even when it was 88keys I could never ever find a parking spot! I went there with two lesbians once AND THEY HATED IT!!! LOL!!!!! Sure there are a couple girls walking around with prostetic breasts that bounced so much they burst out of their seems. but you can only stare for so long.Sure there are 27 flat screeens but it kinda feels like your drinking inside of a television after awhile. and the dressscode thing REALLY SUX!!!!! I got a hard time getting in there and I had on 200 DOLLAR SHOES!!!!!!!!!!

The last time I went there I actually turned around because - IW OULDVE COST ME TWENTY DOLLARS JUST TO WALK IN THE DOOR!!!!!!! F*&K THAT PLACE!!!!!!!!!!

The past 2 posters are "Out of their minds!" 88 Keys is no longer there for one reason only...Hip Hop! It was not the parking. It was definitely no the location.(Located on Route 1 just past Woodbridge Mall?) It was an element that did not wish to go out and have a few drinks, it was an element that wished to go out and cause trouble which alienated the locals. If a dress code keeps out this element than so be it.

Food and bear are good, the best part are the waitresses, i got 2 of em to come home with me and we had a great time!!!! YEA, meeting with one tonight........shh...but yea highly the place is great but the parking sucks

the first time i went here i won a $265 carlos beltran jersey. i go there on tuesdays and spend $5 for the entire night of drinks. i like this place. i think it's cool. the bartenders are nice and they even have beer pong on sundays. i like the innovative place. if it does fail in the winter months, it'd be sad cuz it's close to my house and its clean. i like it.

Dumb dress code. Someone needs to tell them its a "Sports Bar" and not the Roxbury. I had a pair of $210 jeans with a tear in them (the way I bought 'em) the the bouncer wouldnt let me in. Then a set of Double Ds walks to the door with a big hole in her jeans and I guess his eyes didnt make it down to her knees.

Marie Apuzzo wrote:

I love this place. They have a different event each night of the week so no matter when I go there something is happening. I have been going during NFL games trying to win a jersey. They give two away for every major game. I also go on either Friday or Saturday night for the DJ's that usually start around 10. All in all its a great place, new, clean, and affordable. You really can't go wrong because they have something for everyone. There are LCD tv's everywhere you look, a more secluded VIP section and the downstairs resturant is a more upscale lounge after it closes. I highly suggest it.

Cant be such a bad place since it is packed EVERYNIGHT. Owners are making a killing. Must be doing something right. Maybe not a place for all, and the dresscodes keeps trouble out. Dont like it, just go elsewhere.

Now that a drunk from BigShots killed a Cop lets see how long they last!!!

Big Shots are for all the little wanna-be's who think they are someone or are trying to be someone. Everyone knows if your "brother" is high class enough to be a bartender there, you can stay and drink after hours. Then leave drunk and run a couple red lights and kill an innocent person. This place should be shut down.

Can't wait for them to close this place down...Way to serve after the 2 a.m. closing and get a PA cop killed. Ooooo, wait the silent partners are all Woodbridge Cops. Wow, must suck getting one of your brothers in Blue killed by your own negligence.

Who says you can't get in with a Brett Favre jersey on? I wore the Jets Favre jersey in there plenty of times. Plus, I've worn a Johan Santana jersey in there AND the Carlos Beltran jersey that I WON there. Additionally, every female bartender in there is slammin hot. You guys are all so ridiculous because that guy was incompetent and crashed into a cop and killed him. For Christ sake, yes that sucks big time, but that doesn't mean Big Shots is a bad place to drink. You guys are all idiots. Additionally, you can always find parking because the parking lots across the street behind the place are rented out to Big Shots during the week. The place is great, so the hell with all of you.

the owners are all jerkoffs

It's sad how ALL of the owners stay there after closing, partying it up with hoes while their wives are home sleeping. Bunch of scumbags.

not only am i a customer and fan of the place, but ive been in the bar industry for a long time - i bartended my way through college & grad school.. i have to say, the place is great - it offers an atmosphere that is unlike any place nearby and the customers seem to all be responding very well.. i thought all these posts were interesting because everyone's negative comments seem to be about the owners and the unfortunate car accident that occurred recently.. hate to say it, but thats the way this industry is.. owners can be scummy sometimes, and although this may come as a surprise, there are often accidents and lawsuits filed against alot of bars.. and they still survive.. thats why its important for bars - and especially bartenders - to abide by ABC regulations (which includes intervention- AKA cutting off- of the visibly intoxicated.. but alas, that does not mean its not a great place for customers, which is the whole point.. lastly, and this may piss some people off, but although a dress code at a sports bar may seem strange, the policy is usually utilized by bars for ulterior reasons.. its a little trade secret and i actually worked at a place that used it.. the point is to stop people at the door who may look 'like trouble', yes first based on looks, but the point is to test the customer and theyre usually let in or not let in PURELY based on their attitude.. the objective is to "weed out" people who may cause a problem inside and thats judged by how much of a problem you cause at the door.. sorry to say, but it was probably more of your nasty or hostile reaction to the "inspection" than your clothes themselves, even if they did cost hundreds of dollars (ps i think its a little silly to spend hundreds on ripped clothing, but maybe thats just me).. bottom line, the place is friendly, unique, clean, serves a great variety of drinks especially tequila, and caters to sports fans.. my friends and i have fun everytime we go, so if youve never gone, i would absolutely recommend it for any big sports night.

Sportsfan516... couldn't agree with you more
I got quite a kick out of reading all of the comments above...Not quite sure where NJ Nightlife director is getting his info from but he must be a "nightlife director" (great job..how are the benefits?) for a bar in the area that has been suffering since the opening of Big Shots. Honestly if it's not a place for you then don't go there again. I can tell you now, if that place can withstand the issues with the accident then there is no reason it wouldn't last beyond that. I'm usually there 1-3 days a week and I have been going there since September 2007. That place has a great atomosphere, the drinks are cheap and it's not a rowdy crowd. If you are looking for a club atmosphere go down the road and enjoy Chris Michaels. Are all bars the same? no!
I have never been more pleased with a bar that I have been to. Get over it guys!!!

What's the mayor going to do? He is part owner with his best friend, Pete. There was a HUGE lawsuit slapped against the place and all the owners. The place is really just a cop hangout.