Looks like the city of Pompano Beach has had enough of Club Cinema and is looking to have the dance club shut down.
Known for its raves, the club has kept law enforcement busy. Located on Federal Highway just south of Sample Road, it has had many a run-in with drug stings and paramedics having to come rescue clubgoers who have overdosed.
The club says it's been unfairly targeted. The city, however, has filed a nuisance property lawsuit.
See also: Borgore at Club Cinema in Pompano Beach (Slide Show)
According to the suit, the city is asking a Broward Circuit Court judge to close down Club Cinema because if it keeps operating, "irreparable harm will result from continued annoyance of the public, the hazards to club patrons, and continued over-utilization of the City's law enforcement services and fire rescue services."
The 2,500-capacity space is more of a venue than an actual weekend club. It's been known to host about 40 electronic-music shows a year and always seems to pack 'em in with both adults and teens.
Although the club distributes different colored wristbands to differentiate those who are over 21 and those who are not, Pompano Beach Mayor Lamar Fisher says he continually gets calls from concerned parents about the way the club polices its serving rules.
"I had one parent call, and their child was really sick and had to be taken away in an ambulance," Fisher tells the Sun Sentinel. He tells parents that the city is working on finding a solution.
Along with the alcohol and people-drinking-until-they-puke problem, the club has a notorious history of drug problems and bullying.
According to the nuisance suit, Club Cinema has had parties where police have made narcotics arrests, including ecstasy, marijuana, and cocaine. One incident had 15 arrests in one night, according to the suit.
And, according to the Sentinel:
"paramedics were called to the club 256 times from October of 2012 to October of 2013. That's an average of just over six times per show."
Meanwhile, Club Cinema's attorney is accusing the BSO of setting up the club, filling it with cops who wait for things to do go bad so they can pounce.
The attorney also says the BSO's tactics are like a military force that has never gotten a search warrant for the club.
For their part, Club Cinema has said it'll stop selling booze come January, the same month the suit is scheduled to be heard by Broward Circuit Judge John Luzzo.
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