Published: January 05, 2009 08:40 pm      

THIRD STREET: Club New York shuts down without notice

The largest and most controversial nightclub in the Third Street entertainment district has gone dark.

The doors are locked and even the neon sign on the front of the building has disappeared from Club New York.

“The weekend before Christmas I think was their last Saturday night,” said Jack Hornung, owner of the Third Street Tap Room. “(The signage and other indicates of activity) all disappeared in one day.”

The building that housed Club New York is owned by Joseph “Smokin Joe” Anderson.

A spokesman for Anderson, reached Monday night, declined to comment on the demise of the club.

Other sources have indicated that the lease for the club, operated by Louis Bax, was due to expire at the end of the 2008 and that Bax was “no longer interested in running the club.” Bax could also not be reached for comment.

In mid-September, Bax had unveiled plans to expand his influence in the entertainment district. In April, Bax and his sister, Kelly Hockett, entered into a lease agreement with owner Dan Vecchies to operate the former Shadow Restaurant and Martini Bar.

That restaurant and bar re-opened in June as the Ultra Lounge. Then Bax announced that he had reached a deal to run Cafe Etc. starting in November.

However, by mid November the Cafe Etc. deal was dead, leaving Bax with just the Ultra Lounge operation. Efforts to reach Vecchies to determine the future of his relationship with Bax were also unsuccessful.

Club New York was primarily an urban dance club that Bax had said catered to a crowd between 18 and 25, though the legal drinking age in New York is 21.

In interviews with the Gazette, Bax admitted there had been problems at Club New York, he said he believed most of the criticism of the club was unwarranted and many of the incidents had no firm connection to the club.

Still, other bar and nightclub operators in the entertainment district said the violence and other troubles at Club New York had impacted their business by keeping their clientele away.

“I think everyone is pleased (Club New York) is closed,” Hornung said. “It was an eyesore on Third Street. It’s nice to have it out of the way. Hopefully people will realize that Third Street is safe again.”

Hornung said in just the brief period that Club New York has been shuttered patrons who had stayed away out of concern for their safety have begun to return. He said other bar and nightclub owners had seen similar upticks in their business.

“If you get rid of the violence and the drama (associated with Club New York) business improves,” Hornung said. “My clientele is getting better and better. You can see the difference.”

Anderson’s spokesman did not rule out the possibility of a new operator taking over the former Club New York space. Falls police Superintendent John Chella said he expects someone will be doing business there at some point.

“It’s too nice a place to stay close,” Chella said. “I’d be surprised if it stays closed.”

Hornung also said he would welcome the return of the big club.

“I love having a club that can bring 500 people to (Third Street). That helps my business too,” he said. “I want to it open again, see Cafe Etc. open, see Whiskey Bar open. The more places you have (on Third Street) the better.”