Rock and Roll Meltdown: The Circus Nightclub Story 1979 - 1983

Rick Bandazian grew up in the quiet community of Glen Rock, New Jersey. He currently resides in Wyckoff with his wife and has two grown children and four grandchildren. His friends and family referred to him as a hustler and a workaholic when he was just 12 years old. When he was 19, he tried unsuccessfully to buy his first piece of real estate. It was not an ordinary first investment property such as a house or condo, but instead, it was a small shopping center with seven stores and a two family home attached. Three banks laughed at him when he tried to get a mortgage. After working numerous jobs, including one at a local luncheonette, Rick convinced his father to open a similar business. Although that particular venture failed, they went on to own and operate four other successful businesses, including the iconic rock club, which was the inspiration for this book. Whether it was cutting lawns, shoveling snow, delivering newspapers, painting house numbers on curbs for 50[, or working at Mike's vegetable stand, Bandazian had to be working somewhere or at something; otherwise, he wasn't happy. He learned at an early age the value of earning and saving money. After high school graduation, he went to work full-time in the family business but not before giving college a try. He later joked to his friends that it was the worst eight weeks of his life. And on the day he decided to quit, he went into the school's book store and tried to negotiate the best deal he could at reselling the books back to the school. After all, they were brand new and never opened. That was the sales pitch that got him $9 for the algebra book, rather than the $7 he was offered. It wasn't the two bucks, but the art of the deal. While some of his friends were joining fraternities, going to toga parties, and smoking weed, Rick was doing what he loved-working and saving money because he wanted to own his own business. At 20 years old that dream came true when he became a partner in a diner in Westwood, New Jersey. By the time he turned 25, Rick was part owner of two other successful businesses. After selling The Circus rock club in 1983, Rick went on to a successful career in real estate, including sales, management, investment, and construction.