North Miami Beach Strip Club Loses Bid for 6 a.m. Closing Time
City denies request to stay open till 6 a.m. because of nearby violence
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G5ive denied request to stay open to 6 a.m. in part due to violence nearby.
A North Miami Beach strip club won't be staying open until the wee hours of the morning after its owner failed to convince council members a 6 a.m. closing time would be a good idea.
Tied votes and an appeal from Rev. Gary Johnson weren’t enough to convince council members to extend the hours of G5ive strip club, according to the Miami Herald.
Since August 2011, the North Miami Beach Police Department responded to 11 calls near the strip club at 337 Northwest 170th Street, including a shooting in November that left two injured.
“It was an argument that occurred in the club, the patrons left the club property, got in their vehicles and as they were leaving they drove around the corner and began shooting at each other,” Police Department Chief Larry Gomer told the Herald.
Gomer wasn’t against extending the clubs hours, but told council members he suggests having four to six off-duty officers if they did.
G5ive Strip Club is required by the city to pay for two off-duty officers every night.
According to Johnson, the club always has two bouncers present and has paid more than $76,400 on off-duty officers since June 2011.
Mayor George Vallejo and Vice Mayor Beth Spiegel voted in favor of extending the hours, along with Councilman Philippe Derose.
Derose told the Herald he’d allowed other businesses to stay open till 6 a.m., and wanted to be consistent.
However, Councilwoman Marlen Martell voted against it because of the shooting back in November.
“If it wasn’t for that shooting I would definitely be approving it at this time,” she said.
Consequently, with the absence of Councilman Frantz Pierre, the council was tied, leaving them to deny the request.
The strip club, taken over by Antonio Bryant back in June 2011, normally closes at 2 a.m., but will stay open till 4 a.m. on a 90-day trial that will end in March.
After the 90-day trial period, City Manager Lyndon Bonner will decide whether or not 4 a.m. will stay the new closing time.
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