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Circa got their liqour licence
didn't see a thread about this.. thought it was worthy of one
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/serv...tional/Ontario/
NYC club king setting up shop in T.O.
Peter Gatien's 3,000-person capacity venue wins liquor licence amid strong opposition
UNNATI GANDHI
July 28, 2007
The king shall reign again.
Peter Gatien, who ruled New York's nightclub scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s until a murder and drugs scandal destroyed his business and he went to jail for tax evasion, has finally obtained a licence to open a massive new club in the heart of downtown's entertainment district.
His 3,000-person capacity Circa nightclub at John and Richmond Streets has seen several scheduled opening dates come and go since last summer. He's also been fighting for a liquor licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario since April.
In a decision issued yesterday, the AGCO board agreed to license the venue under certain conditions. Circa cannot have an outdoor patio, cannot play or transmit music outside, and must have a clearly visible security staff member for every 75 patrons during its hours of operation.
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At the hearings into the licence application held in May and June, a veteran OPP officer seconded to the AGCO, Terry Bender, testified that he spent a year searching for evidence that would have disqualified Mr. Gatien, but turned up nothing.
"Despite the thorough nature of his investigation," the board members wrote in their decision, "... the officer testified that he had reached no conclusions regarding Mr. Gatien's suitability for a liquor licence and was not prepared to recommend that he be denied a licence. The Board considers this highly significant."
Among the long list of witnesses who testified against Mr. Gatien's application were police and local city Councillor Adam Vaughan, on the grounds that the club district is already out of control.
"The sponge is full," said 52 Division Superintendent Hugh Ferguson, in charge of keeping peace in the club district, which has the highest rate of violent crime in the city with an average of 20 to 30 people arrested every Saturday night. That's despite having as many as 60 officers assigned to the area during those times.
During his testimony, Mr. Vaughan asked for a pause in granting any new licences in the area until the city, the police and the public can "get a handle" on the problem.
But supporters of Mr. Gatien, who is originally from Cornwall, Ont., said the new venue would raise the cultural profile of Toronto's entertainment district. An area resident who works near the district said he hasn't frequented many of the existing clubs because they all seem the same. Another called Circa "way ahead of the curve."
Circa is slated to be an eclectic cultural space featuring six different rooms and a DJ booth in each bathroom. Mr. Gatien, who at one time owned New York City's top three nightclubs, once said he would also feature museum-like displays that would be rotated through the nightclub.
In its decision, the AGCO board ultimately found that the reasons cited by objectors were not enough to deny Mr. Gatien a licence.
In 1996, a party promoter with one of Mr. Gatien's New York clubs, Limelight, was arrested for the murder of a drug dealer. Three years later, a club-goer overdosed on ecstasy inside another one of his clubs, Tunnel.
While drug charges against Mr. Gatien, as owner of the venues, were eventually dropped, he was caught for evading $1.3-million in U.S. taxes. He was jailed for 45 days, then released and deported to Canada.
haha...my gf's mom was telling me that yesterday!
Re: Circa got their liqour licence
| quote: |
| Originally posted by activate Circa is slated to be an eclectic cultural space featuring six different rooms and a DJ booth in each bathroom. |
| quote: |
| Deported to Canada. |
Re: Re: Circa got their liqour licence
| quote: |
| Originally posted by smuncky wtf, i would hate to be the dj in the bathroom. |
I went to the tunnel back in the day.. which is the place where he first did the DJ in the washroom thing. The DJ wasn't actually in the washroom washroom.. you enter a door to the washrooms and enter a small room that was tiled and had sinks(i think).. and then to each side around a corner was the toilets etc..
| quote: |
| Originally posted by activate I went to the tunnel back in the day.. which is the place where he first did the DJ in the washroom thing. The DJ wasn't actually in the washroom washroom.. you enter a door to the washrooms and enter a small room that was tiled and had sinks(i think).. and then to each side around a corner was the toilets etc.. |
Just yesterday I walked by and was convinced this place wouldn't open.
Had about 10 people come up to me all 'hush hush' like at The Docks on Sunday with the news. It will be very interesting how it all pans out, from the sounds of it - this club is insane......
And my guess is we'll be seeing (or hearing) a lot more from Mr. Tiesto.
Re: Re: Circa got their liqour licence
| quote: |
| Originally posted by smuncky wtf, i would hate to be the dj in the bathroom. btw, i heard its really really nice inside. the entrance is going to be through the underground parking lot apparently, which is kinda wierd to me. but at least people will be warm in the winter and the police won't be having any problems with overcrowding on the street. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Jeff Button And my guess is we'll be seeing (or hearing) a lot more from Mr. Tiesto. |
As awesome as this club is gonna be its gonna be the tightest can of sardines in Toronto
the club wont last i give it 2 years max
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Jeff Button Had about 10 people come up to me all 'hush hush' like at The Docks on Sunday with the news. |
I recall checking this place out on grand opening night back in 2004. It is still one of the hottest clubs I've seen so I'll be ecstatic to see it up and running again!!! 
..
| quote: |
| Originally posted by The Next Level .. |
but i'm really looking forward to seeing this place when its done 
i have a feeling that this place will book huge names if its as amazing as it claims to be
| quote: |
| Originally posted by MikeyN i have a feeling that this place will book huge names if its as amazing as it claims to be |
DANNY T
| quote: |
| Originally posted by rabbitjoker DANNY T |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by OutcastTO There was also a full sized bar in the washroom and it was co-ed. That place was pretty dope. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Cosmic Fur They seem to be very committed to keeping people in the bathrooms. Why? |
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