Shooting, Stabbing Get Licenses Revoked for Aqua, Van Gogh Nightclubs in Providence
Thursday, September 08, 2016
The Providence Board of Licenses voted on Wednesday to revoke the licenses for both Aqua and Van Gogh after a shooting and stabbing at each location, respectively.
Van Gogh had been placed on a 72-hour emergency closure following a stabbing outside the establishment early on the morning of August 20; Aqua had been closed following a shooting inside the club on August 15.
Nick Hemond, the lawyer for Aqua, said he is contesting the decision made on Wednesday, and expects Van Gogh will do the same.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“We're absolutely appealing - it's clearly an excessive penalty that's not connected to the law or fact,” said Hemond. “It’s unfortunate that yet again another establishment has to go to [the Department of Business Regulations] to clean up the mess made by the Board of Licenses. Van Gogh will be there as well. I'm filing an appeal today.”
Sharon Steele, a Providence real estate consultant and public advocate who regularly attends BOL meetings, said she was shocked by the decision to close Aqua.
“Even from my perspective, Aqua’s license should not have been revoked,” said Steele. “There was one shot discharged at the ceiling, the owner did everything he could to help get the bad guys. So I expect Hemond will appeal and overturn it.”
Latest at Board of Licenses
The decisions come following a recent spate of violence at the clubs, which GoLocal covered at the end of August:
Reports of a Providence nightclub stabbing over the weekend - as well as a drug bust - has Board of Licenses members weighing in on the most recent spate of crime and violence at the city's clubs, with widely diverging opinions as to how they are handled.
SLIDES: See Recent Episodes of Crime, Violence at Providence Clubs HERE
A purported stabbing outside of Van Gogh lounge came just hours after a cocaine sting at Tel Aviv Lounge - and on the heels of incidents at Flow as well as The Vault, which is in the building formerly co-owned by Congressman David Cicilline, and now solely owned by his brother, which saw those clubs closed for several days and then ordered to have police detail for a limited number of weekend, and reopened.
On Tuesday, GoLocal reported that board member (and former board chair) Johanna Harris expressed concerned about the inconsistency of penalties.
Board Chair State Senator Juan Pichardo stood by his decision to revoke the licenses on Wednesday.
“So essentially the board today [revoked] the license of Aqua based on the history and the public safety issue and a gun being discharged inside the lounge. Based on that, and the concerns for patrons — I take very seriously a gun going off inside an establishment - we revoked the license,” said Pichardo.
“Van Gogh had a lengthy history, going back to Monet,” said Pichardo of the locations’ former name. “Just last year there was a shooting there, they had a fifty day suspension back then."
Pichardo acknowledged however that the entities hacw the right to an appeal.
“Entities have the opportunity to appeal to a higher board if they choose, but from my perspective — and being on the board for several years -- we are supposed to ensure we look at the facts and discipline based on progressive discipline,” said Pichardo, referring to the board taking into consideration a club’s prior record.
“We want to make sure the discipline is progressive, and they understand there's a great responsibility that licensees have. DBR looks at this, and yes [clubs] can appeal but we hope they uphold those decisions -- we know the concerns at the local level. and we want a vibrant nightlife and confidence in the public’s safety," said Pichardo.
Related Slideshow: Providence Clubs and Reports of Crime and Violence - 2016
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