Council hearing to air charges against club

The 13 charges include six of excessive noise and five involving fights at the business between March 1 and May 1.

By: John Patten
   The owners of the go-go club Pure Lounge on South Street will have to answer to 13 charges brought against them by the borough this week if they hope to stay open.
   A Borough Council hearing has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 29 to review the charges, which include six charges of excessive noise and five fights at the business between March 1 and May 1. Most of the incidents occurred outside of the business, and several of the fights resulted in patrons requiring medical attention.
   "I don’t know how many calls we’ve gotten from residents," Mayor Angelo Corradino said Wednesday. He declined to comment further until the hearing afforded Pure Lounge’s management an opportunity to address the charges.
   Representatives of the lounge could not be reached for comment before press time.
   The Pure Lounge opened Feb. 26, after purchasing and remodeling the former Spotlights club.
   The council could recommend the state revoke the business’s liquor license, based on the series of complaints. The business would have an opportunity to appeal such a recommendation with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control board.
   The charges reminiscent of the lengthy battle the borough waged against the owners of the Mi Casita bar and restaurant on South Main Street, following a number of fights reported outside of the bar.
   The Borough Council twice held hearings regarding whether or not to renew the liquor license for Mi Casita, once in July 2005, and a second hearing in June 2006 when the council voted to revoke the business’s liquor license.