The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
The owner of Encore Lounge, a nightclub that police say has been plagued all year by violent crime, voluntarily surrendered his liquor license Tuesday morning.
An hour later, a Circuit Court judge issued a temporary injunction that suspended the license until the state can finish an investigation. The city last week went to court to stop alcohol sales at the club, which authorities said has become a hot spot for violence.
Police said they were called to the club 116 times this year. In addition, police documented 24 instances of fights, gunshots and disorderly conduct at the venue. The city's request for an injunction came after a man suffered a serious head injury earlier this month when he was hit with a bottle of champagne.
No representatives for JNP Management Inc., owner of Encore, were present in court. Owner Anthony Gonzales and leaseholder James Phipps could not be reached.
Phipps' attorney Liz Atkinson said Phipps sold Gonzales the business in March.
Former track star Tim Montgomery had been a partner at the club. He is now serving a five-year sentence for selling heroin at Encore, which has been in business nearly two years.
Police Chief Alfred Jacocks testified that drugs, guns and fights were a constant problem at the club.
"What we have is a clear threat to public safety," said Christopher Boynton, a city attorney.
Circuit Judge Patricia West ordered the license suspended until the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Department can hold hearings on whether it should be renewed.
This is the first time the city has used a state law created in 2006 to allow a Circuit Court judge to suspend alcohol sales at an ABC-licensed establishment deemed to be a threat to public safety.
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122. aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
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further response
Ok, I accept all responses. But can I ask this, why when I hear radio ads on mainly hip hop genre stations do their advertisers ask no jerseys, tennis shoes, etc? Come on ladies and gents, I think you know what I'm saying here. I am certainly not saying everyone with braids is a thug, but even black business' feel the need to make rules down to shoes because of what "could" be a problem. That's all I was sayin. Some of the best people I know are black, so please don't take my post as bashing and racial profiling. I would ask that those throwing the book at me to answer this question...most every time there's a club shooting, what genre is the music and patrons? I'm sorry if I offended anyone here.
And as far as my post being the dumbest thing ever written on pilotonline.com, it's painfully obvious you don't read comments as much as I do!! LOL Happy New Year all.
jreid
J siad it incorrectly when he made a comment about the lady and her hairstyle and if these patrons wore the same type of hairstyle. I take offense because I wear the excact same hairstyle. A hairstyle has no prediction on how a person acts. And the reason you was not let into Broadway was because your attire was not approiate. Broadway is an older crowd and they require there patrons to dress up not down. Especially not in a hooded sweatshirt.
Besides the ignorance stated in your comment, Encoure was not run like a good business, they dont have enough security, and they do not keep a good handle on the crowd that is there, and they dont work with local police to help secure the lots when its closing time. I have seen situations like this at other types of bars and clubs also. It is all about how you run your business. And if someone does not let you in because they think your hair is a good indicator of how you act they do not run a good business either.
jreid said it nicely
Thugs come in all shapes, sizes and colors. And, anyone who dresses themselves to look like a thug should expect to be treated like one.
Ladies used to learn this same theory from their mammas: if you dress like a 'ho, you will be treated like a 'ho. Unfortunately, parents aren't teaching anything these days.
jreid??
i swear, that has to be the dumbest comment i've ever seen on PilotOnline... if someone is a criminal, it's because of poor judgement/lack of self-control, not because of the hairstyle they have... you are just one of the many examples as to why blacks and whites (for the most part) will never be able to co-exist in society...
WHAT???
I dont usually comment on things, but I hate when people try to justify racial profiling -- the broadway turns away anyone dressed in a sweatshirt, regardless of your color, if it's a friday, saturday, or sunday night -
WONDERING
I know I'm walking on thin ice here...but is it safe to say that some of the clientel at Encore had the same hairdo as one person who was recently refused entry to another club in VB? With stories like this is it fair or understandable for other clubs that don't want to be tomorrow's news cover themselves and take necessary precautions, even if it takes on the look of discrimination? I think so. I'm a white male and was once refused entry to Broadway (older crowd black club) because I was wearing a gray hooded (local beach music band screen printed logo) sweatshirt. Let's just be on the same playing field is all anyone could ask. I totally understand and agree with any club not wanting this type of recognition. Hopefully I was PC enough for this to pass muster!! LOL