A group of homeowners in Bergen County says that their quality of life has been ruined by a local restaurant that hosts bands in their back parking lot.

The Mason Jar on Ramapo Valley Road in Mahwah backs up against a quaint neighborhood on the hill. The homeowners say that for 20 years the restaurant has been a good neighbor. But this all changed with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s great to have outdoor music, but they’re a restaurant, not a concert hall,” says neighbor Shari Levitsky.

Levitsky says that when the Marson Jar started the outdoor dining at the start of the pandemic, she was on board. But she says that when indoor dining restrictions ended, the outdoor dining area turned into a concert venue. She says this happens on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, often past 11 p.m.

“Our windows shake, so we can hear the music and feel the vibrations from inside the house. All of the windows closed and the air conditioning running,” Levitsky says.

Neighbors have been logging calls to police for the past six months. There have been visits from county engineers to measure decibel levels. The neighbors have gotten together to create a petition, which they handed to the city council asking that the music move back inside.

“We want to be able to enjoy our peaceful backyards with our own music playing,” Levitsky says.

They say that if the music is moved inside, all will be resolved.

News 12 New Jersey reached out to the owner of the Mason Jar by phone and email, but did not hear back.