By Emerson Clarridge
In the decade since they were suitemates in Dover House, Wayne Chrebet and Matt Prince have led separate lives.
While Chrebet played professional football with the New York Jets, Prince ran a series of successful nightspots including Bogart’s, the Hempstead Turnpike bar he opened when he was still a student.
Chrebet, a University trustee, was a clutch player for 11 seasons in the NFL. He retired at the end of last season after receiving seven concussions throughout his career. He was inducted into the University’s athletic hall of fame in February.
Now, the men will combine their individual expertise in a new venture.
The longtime friends have teamed up to gut and renovate the former Bogart’s into an upscale lounge that will be called Chrebet’s.
The new bar will open in the fall. Bogart’s closed in January amid an aggressive police crackdown on underage drinking.
“It isn’t a college bar anymore,” said a source familiar with the renovation plans.
Aside from beer, the menu will include burgers and coffee. However, Chrebet said the lounge will be strict with IDs and only serve patrons that are 21 and older.
However, the source said he was concerned that as the turnpike bars turn down underage students, they will attempt to drive to bars that will overlook the drinking age.
“They’re going to die,” the source said of students he expects to drive home after a night of drinking at bars that are not within walking distance.
The owners, pouring a million dollars into renovations, expect to draw seniors, grad students and residents that live in the area to the bar they hope will be a trendy hotspot.