Let the upscale freakism resume.
Club 152 on Beale Street reopened Friday at noon (technically 1 p.m. because the order came just after noon) after a settlement was reached in Environmental Court. Third time was the charm, as the case had been reset twice this week while Judge Larry Potter met with attorneys. The club was closed a week ago as a public nuisance due to drug sales.
“This resolution must be abided by,” said Potter. “Deviation from this will incur the wrath of the court.”
Ted Hansom, representing Club 152, and Katie Ratton from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office, both said it was their common interest to try to get drugs off of Beale Street.
“The club has taken steps in assuring the prevention and abatement of any nuisance activity that was alleged to have existed at Club 152. Managers of Club 152 drug tested each and every potential employee of the club and are complying with the current mandatory background check requirement,” says the order. “Respondents have been very cooperative and efficient in complying.”
The club acknowledged the allegations and will submit to court supervision and monitoring for one year. They will fire all employees involved in illegal activity and ban them from the premises. Hansom said 106 employees had been tested. He said at least two and possibly more employees face criminal charges.
Club 152, which markets its upper floors as “upscale freakism,” will pay $4,000 to the West Tennessee Judicial Drug Task Force. Most important to the club owners, however, is that the club will reopen for what is expected to be one of the biggest weekends of the year.
