ANAHEIM – The city plans to yank the dance hall
permit for The Boogie nightclub, which could put an end to
the longtime venue plagued with security and
liquor-license problems.
On Friday, the city's business-license division sent a
letter notifying club owners of the proposal to revoke the
permit, which is required for the club to charge cover
fees and offer music and dancing. A hearing is set for
June 6.
Two attorneys for The Boogie said they were unable to
comment because they had yet to see the letter.
"I have no idea what the city is trying to do and
whether they can do it legally," attorney Stephen
Solomon said Monday.
Already, the 18-and-older club in the Disneyland Resort
area is in the middle of a 30-day suspension of its liquor
license over allegations of lewd conduct. The club has
stayed open without alcohol, drawing about half the usual
patrons.
"Just the fact that we don't have to spend that
much time down there gives the guys the time to patrol the
rest of the district," Anaheim police Lt. Dave
Vangsness said.
In addition, the club faces revocation of its liquor
license because of allegations including excessive force
by employees and illegal alcohol sales. The state
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and Boogie are
trying to settle the matter.
The dance hall permit is up for cancellation because
of:
Allegations of unlawful conduct by employees and
patrons.
Police received 2,534 calls to the club's address from
January 2000 through March 26. Boogie employees were named
as suspects in about 40 percent of last year's police
reports, including assault allegations.
Failure to comply with its liquor license.
The license, granted in 1981, requires about half of
proceeds come from meals. The club made about $30,000 from
food and about $4 million from alcohol sales and cover
charges from June 2004 to June 2005.
A snack bar and table offer items such as burgers,
burritos and pizza.
At the city hearing, Boogie owners can explain why the
club should keep the permit. Bill Sell, the license
collector, will make a ruling.
The Boogie can appeal the decision to the city manager.
The Boogie's operations manager, Jack Wade, who has
operated clubs in Orange County, declined to return a
phone call Monday. The venue has offered formats ranging
from disco and country to '80s and hip-hop for three
decades.
In recent months, spillover from the club has turned
violent, forcing some overnight businesses to close to
avoid the post-Boogie crowd. An 18-year-old patron was
fatally shot at a nearby Denny's in March.
The Boogie patron Alicia Powell, 26, of Huntington
Beach said she has never had problems at the club since
she started going there at age 18.
"It really bums me out that the opportunity for
younger people ... is going to be taken away. We don't
have much left," Powell said.
Solomon, Saltsman & Jamieson
are attorneys practicing in the areas of ABC law, ABC
Appeals Board cases, and all related Land Use Matters
such as City and County Conditional Use Permits,
Variances, Police and Fire permits, Entertainment law,
and Gambling Law; as well as Business and Personal
Injury litigation. Solomon, Saltsman & Jamieson can
be reached at 800 405 4222."
