Officials: Had Too Many Violations
A night club in Elmhurst, was shut down last Friday, Mar. 22, and will remain closed at least until May because of numerous quality-of-life infractions.
A State Supreme Court judge ruled Mar. 25 that Exotics Lounge could not re-open until the State Liquor Authority’s full board could address the spot and the various infractions it has accumulated in the past.
“[The judge] gave us a great Easter gift,” the chair of Community Board 4’s Public Safety Committee, Lucy Schilero, stated.
Schilero said the club had been shut down for short periods in the past before re-opening without ad- dressing any issues.
Geury Cruz, claimed officers from the 110th Precinct continually reschedule his attempts to meet with them.
“They look at us like we’re from Mars,” he said, alluding to racial tensions he perceives from officials.
Schilero stated the club presented serious safety concerns and was a bother to neighbors, alleging there were stabbings and out-of-control bouncers.
Cruz, however, maintains that he fixed problems at the club and is simply being targeted as a scapegoat for other clubs in the area.
He told the Times Newsweekly on Wednesday, Mar. 27, that he took advice from an officer at the 110th Precinct eariler this year, changing security guards and valet parking service, as well as buying more cameras and a new metal detector.
“That’s $4,500, and I already had one,” he said.
Cruz also stated the stabbing in question happened at a hotel on the other side of Queens Boulevard.
Cruz said the last altercation on the club’s grounds was Dec. 9, 2012.
The most recent infraction-the one that has it closed until at least May-is a count of underage drinking, which occurred last Friday, Mar. 22, according to 110th Precinct Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Ronald Leyson.
The investigation was conducted by the NYPD 110th Precinct in conjunction with the State Liquor authority, he said.
Leyson directed the Times Newsweekly to the investigating officer, who did not return a call for further comment.
Cruz denied any wrongdoing, and stated the police simply saw the underage individual near open containers.
Schilero claimed the club’s problems spilled out into the community. Patrons were disrespectful and raucous, she added.
“They park their cars all over the boulevard and sidewalk-they just take over,” she said. “The kind of clients they bring in are not good for our community.”
Cruz said there’s no proof the customers belong to him and not an adjacent club. He added that the shut-down has taken a toll on him and the 52 people his business employs.
“My employees are scrambling to pay rent,” he said. “My life is [Exotics]; my investment is there.”
