MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Summer Avenue nightclub is back open after it was declared a public nuisance and shut down multiple times within the last year.
The club is on Summer near Pope Street.
The district attorney’s office said James Lounge Club has dealt in drug trafficking, prostitution, assaults, weapons and gang activity.
“Always commotion here, even if you pass sometimes before it gets dark. Police up in there in the late evening before it gets dark,” said Charles Jackson, who works on Summer.
He and others who live and work in the area are raising concerns, considering it wasn’t even a year ago when the place was shut down and declared a public nuisance.
Police said gang members constantly hung out inside and there were reports of drug activity, assaults and even shootings.
WREG pulled court documents that show the owners went to court and were told they could reopen if they follow a strict set of rules like installing new cameras, hiring security and hanging signs.
Turns out, the owners broke the rules last month when detectives cited a number of problems like drugs in the club.
However, the James Lounge was able to open again this weekend with the owner promising he’s cleaning up his business.
The owner, James Little, told WREG while he had health issues over the past year and a half, some managers took advantage and did things that didn’t benefit the club.
He vowed the place has changed.
MPD said they’ve responded to 15 calls there within the past six months.
“If the owners are truly trying to clean it up then I expect there not to be anymore crime on that property,” said County Commissioner Heidi Shafer.
Summer Avenue is in her district, and she said so many people are working to clean up the crime and blight and trying to turn things around.
“These are things people are curious about. Why is it that something that has been declared a public nuisance can keep opening?” she asked.
The Commissioner said she is working with MPD and city leaders to monitor the business and others along Summer Avenue.
The owner is due back in Environmental Court next week.