Review: Saturday evening I experienced the Off Duty Club in Amity. I was joined by Rob from Canaseraga because I wanted a second pair of independent eyes. Off Duty, Inc. is located adjacent to Amity Rescue Squad on State Route 244. It's a social membership club for First Responders (Fire, EMS, Hospital & healthcare, Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice - active and retired). It features both a restaurant and lounge. Here's my review:
Dinner: Rob and I were greeted politely and with a smile at 5:35 p.m. We were promptly seated and beverage orders taken. The menu included a nice variety of meat, pasta and seafood. The prices, based on the portion sizes, were affordable and appropriate. A few moments later the order was taken. I opted for a classic, the prime rib dinner. The dinner included a trip to the salad bar and included soup options. The atmosphere was very pleasant. It was clean without a lot of noise. There were five other occupied tables. The main course was served 22 minutes later and wow! I ordered the small cut of prime rib and it filled the plate. It was cooked exactly as a I requested. The meat was tender, juicy and flavorful. The bread was fresh, the baked potato was hot and, after some add-on's, perfect. We weren't rushed. Staff made sure we were content. Then came a pivotal moment...they didn't forget to ask if we wanted coffee and/or desert. My response, "Hell yes." The coffee was a nice blend and the desert, a version of peanut butter pie, was incredible. Dinner was a definite thumbs up. The final grade is offered at the end of this review.
About Off Duty, Inc.
Off Duty is a 501 (c) 7 corporation. It pays taxes. Plenty. It is not directly affiliated with Amity Rescue. There was an approximate $72,000 investment into the facilities. Off Duty is operated by an independent Board of Directors. Currently, 21 people are employed at the Club, which pays a monthly lease to the Rescue Squad. Don Zajicek serves as the president of the club. I caught up with him last night and peppered him with questions.
He said there are currently 353 members, of which nearly half are from the law enforcement community. "Nobody gets hassled here," Zajicek said. He said ambulance, fire and yes, police can come here after a challenging day and relax and unwind. "Every member is connected through public service," the president said.
He said a membership costs $45 per year and a social membership is $55 annually. Each member can invite guests. However, there is a public side. Zajicek said Off Duty opens its doors to the public between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. each Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Thursday is wing night, Friday, of course features the fish fry and Saturday is prime rib). Take-outs are available. Membership is available to active and retired First responders from anywhere. Currently, there are Responders who have joined from as far away as New York City.
The Lounge area
By 7 p.m. Saturday there were perhaps a dozen or so people in the lounge area. Again, it was clean and appealing with at least six wall-mounted TV's.
As one could imagine, a lounge filled with police and First Responders comes with plenty of safety features and personal responsibility rules. Every member agrees to follow 23 House rules. For instance, no photo's or video can be taken inside. Zajicek said "members come here to relax, unwind and share stories...they don't come here to go viral on Facebook." In addition, every inch of the premise is under constant video surveillance. The bar staff have all be TIPS certified, which stands for Training for Intervention ProcedureS. The staff is trained for the responsible service, sale, and consumption of alcohol.
As for style, Zajicek said the staff "has game" and can mix some rather sophisticated beverages! Again, prices are more than reasonable.
The Future
The Club hopes to reach at least 500 members. So far, knowledge of the facility has been limited mainly to word of mouth since the Club can't advertise. In four short months, Off Duty has made its mark but is not satisfied. There are also plans for growth and additional amenities. There might even be an expansion in membership to include other professionals.
Summary and final grade
Look, Off Duty is in its infancy. There is a learning curve. However, they've started off strong. Pleasing food. A nice atmosphere. Clean and friendly. Family friendly dining too. Plus, they have vision while understanding the everyday responsibility for safety. They book bands, host events, have wide ranging hours. Ample parking too. If you are a First Responder, talk to your colleagues and give membership a serious consideration. If you are a member of the public, take advantage of the public offerings Thursday-Saturday. Given everything stated above, Off Duty Amity has earned a grade a A-. I have little doubt that the rating will rise to an A by the end of the year. This has been a job well done and painfully needed for the volunteer and paid professionals who work every day to keep us safe. Off Duty doesn't deserve a seat at the table, they have earned it.