State denies Warren County strip club’s appeal for liquor license renewal

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A Franklin strip club has lost its appeal to renew its liquor licenses before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission.

The state liquor commission heard the appeal from the owners of New York, New York Cabaret, 1221 E. Second St. in Franklin last month to the objections to renew its liquor licenses for 2017-2018, and 2018-2019. The business has continued to operate pending the appeal. The notice that the appeal had been denied was mailed Oct. 31 to the owners.

In that notice, the commission said upon hearing the evidence and arguments of the parties, it found “the appeal was not well taken and affirms the order of the Division of Liquor Control.”

David Chicarelli, an attorney for the cabaret’s owners, said he expects the owners to appeal this decision with the Franklin County Common Pleas Court which hears appeals for the state liquor commission decisions. That appeal is due by the end of the week.

Franklin City Council formally objected to renew the strip club’s liquor permit renewal as due to the state investigation that resulted in two arrests and several citations against its liquor permit in 2017.

City officials say that New York New York has operated in a manner that demonstrates a disregard for state laws and regulations, city ordinances, and constitutes a nuisance. The strip club and its employees have faced challenges from the city and investigations since it opened more than two decades ago.

In addition to the state liquor control commission hearing, the club owners are also facing a hearing before a Warren County Common Pleas Court magistrate concerning its operation as a sexually oriented business.

Chicarelli said that hearing has been continued pending resolution of the issue before the state liquor control commission and will need to be rescheduled.

Among the issues cited by the city include that the applicant and/or its managers are under investigation for crimes that relate to its/their fitness to operate a liquor establishment; have operated the liquor permit business in a manner that demonstrates a disregard for state laws and regulations and city ordinances; are in the habit of using alcoholic beverages or dangerous drugs to excess; the permit premises is so located with respect to the neighborhood that substantial interference with public decency, sobriety, peace or good order would result from the renewal of the permit and operation under it by the applicant; and the permit premises can be declared a nuisance pursuant to state law.

The strip club was charged with drug sales and improper conduct following a three-month investigation by the Ohio Investigative Unit. OIU agents, Franklin police and the Warren County Drug Task Force made the arrests on March 31, 2017.

MORE: Judge: Franklin strip club not responsible for actions of manager convicted of cocaine trafficking

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