NYC club plans Tuesday reopening after celeb brawl
NEW YORK (AP) — A nightclub that was shuttered after a bottle-tossing fracas sent glass flying amid famous faces has gotten back its liquor license and plans to reopen Tuesday — with plastic cups.
The club, Greenhouse, has been closed since shortly after R&B singer Chris Brown and members of rapper Drake's entourage squared off last month in the trendy club's basement lounge, called W.i.P. Brown, his girlfriend, NBA star Tony Parker and others were injured.
The city later agreed to let Greenhouse reopen with enhanced security. But the club has stayed closed because the State Liquor Authority has suspended its liquor license, saying it has a history of fights and assaults.
The club said it wasn't fair to be essentially put out of business while hearings play out over the ultimate fate of its liquor license. Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Wright agreed in a Monday ruling that cited the Lewis Carroll classic "Alice in Wonderland," in which a topsy-turvy legal proceeding is "sentence first — verdict afterwards."
Greenhouse, which counts 250 employees, said it was thankful to be able to get them back to work.
"We will be focused on providing a safe and fun atmosphere for our customers," the club said in a statement.
That atmosphere will include inspecting bags and replacing glasses with plastic cups, according to the judge's ruling.
A liquor authority spokesman didn't immediately respond to phone and email messages seeking comment.
The June 14 melee began after members of Drake's entourage stopped Brown as he was leaving, police said. Brown ended up with a cut on his chin.
Drake's representatives have said he was on his way out when the fight began and didn't injure anyone.
The episode briefly threw into question whether Parker, who suffered a scratched cornea when shards of flying glass caught his left eye, would be able to play for France in the upcoming Olympic Games. The French Basketball Federation said Friday that doctors concluded the San Antonio Spurs guard was recovered and can play.
Parker is suing Greenhouse for $20 million.
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