In November, Backstreet Memphis was closed as a public nuisance for a second time after undercover officers alleged that owner Shane Trice had failed to make promised improvements. Upon being allowed to re-open after the club was first closed in 2009, Trice had supposedly agreed to add security in the parking lot, check customers for weapons, and turn the infamous “dark room” into a coffee bar. Police alleged that Backstreet allowed underage drinking, drug sales, and sexual acts.
After the most recent shutdown, District Attorney Bill Gibbons said he’d aim to keep the club closed for good. Now the Backstreet website links to an online petition to re-open the club. From the petition’s website (the typos are theirs, by the way):
I support the Re Opening of Backstreet Memphis. i Have been to Backstreet Memphis and it was never to Have Sexual Encounters, Purchase or Use Drugs. I believe Backstreet is a Safe Place for me and my firends. Backstreet is very strict on ID’s and minors, the sale or use of Drugs or sexual acts taking place on the premise. Backstreet also does not allow people to hang out in the parking lot to prevent desturbing others. I agree to the best of my knowledge that this is true and Backstreet is a good place for the community of Memphis to have here in Memphis.
