Columbus Files Nuisance Lawsuit to Shutter East Side Bars at Crossroads Center
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein seeks an injunction against Skyboxxx Lounge and The Social Lounge following liquor permit revocations and 66 police responses.
The City of Columbus filed a public nuisance lawsuit on Friday, Oct. 9, seeking a court order to shut down three East Side bar spaces operating in the Crossroads Shopping Center off South Hamilton Road. The civil complaint, filed by City Attorney Zach Klein's Property Action Team in Franklin County Municipal Court, targets commercial spaces operating as Skyboxxx Lounge and The Social Lounge at 4419, 4421 and 4427 Crossroad Center.
City officials said state regulators revoked the bars' liquor permits in August. Despite the revocation, the Columbus Division of Police PACT Unit launched a covert investigation in late September, during which officers observed bar staff selling alcohol illegally and cited management and bar staff.
Beyond documented licensing violations, the city's complaint alleges that the properties have become persistent sites of criminal activity and disorder. City records indicate officers have taken 66 police reports at the properties over two years. According to court documents, police have also responded to unruly, underage parties at the premises, large fights in the parking lot, and reports of hundreds of individuals jumping on cars around the property, alongside recurring reports of shootings, assaults and illicit narcotics.
The complaint details an incident from August in which Columbus police received a report of street racing in the parking lot, with more than 20 cars appearing to participate in a takeover event. A few weeks later, authorities were called to the scene following multiple reports of shots fired at the property, where officers saw hundreds of cars leaving the parking lot.
City Attorney Zach Klein emphasized that the city filed the lawsuit to protect neighboring residents and patrons.
Franklin County Municipal Court has set a preliminary injunction hearing for Oct. 14, when a judge will consider the city's request to padlock the storefronts. Bar operators could not be reached immediately for comment outside regular business hours.
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The City of Columbus filed a public nuisance lawsuit on Friday, Oct. 9, seeking a court order to shut down three East Side bar spaces operating in the Crossroads Shopping Center off South Hamilton Road. The civil complaint, filed by City Attorney Zach Klein's Property Action Team in Franklin County Municipal Court, targets commercial spaces operating as Skyboxxx Lounge and The Social Lounge at 4419, 4421 and 4427 Crossroad Center.
City officials said state regulators revoked the bars' liquor permits in August. Despite the revocation, the Columbus Division of Police PACT Unit launched a covert investigation in late September, during which officers observed bar staff selling alcohol illegally and cited management and bar staff.
Beyond documented licensing violations, the city's complaint alleges that the properties have become persistent sites of criminal activity and disorder. City records indicate officers have taken 66 police reports at the properties over two years. According to court documents, police have also responded to unruly, underage parties at the premises, large fights in the parking lot, and reports of hundreds of individuals jumping on cars around the property, alongside recurring reports of shootings, assaults and illicit narcotics.
The complaint details an incident from August in which Columbus police received a report of street racing in the parking lot, with more than 20 cars appearing to participate in a takeover event. A few weeks later, authorities were called to the scene following multiple reports of shots fired at the property, where officers saw hundreds of cars leaving the parking lot.
City Attorney Zach Klein emphasized that the city filed the lawsuit to protect neighboring residents and patrons.
Franklin County Municipal Court has set a preliminary injunction hearing for Oct. 14, when a judge will consider the city's request to padlock the storefronts. Bar operators could not be reached immediately for comment outside regular business hours.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
City aims to shut down three east Columbus bars amid violence, illegal sales
Supporting evidence (1)
The City of Columbus filed a public nuisance lawsuit on Friday, Oct. 9, seeking a court order to shut down three East Side bar spaces operating in the Crossroads Shopping Center off South Hamilton Road.
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the property action team filed a lawsuit against the operators of three bars in the Crossroads Shopping Center off of South Hamilton Road
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/east-columbus-bar-owners-sued-153622300.html
Supporting evidence (7)
The civil complaint, filed by City Attorney Zach Klein's Property Action Team in Franklin County Municipal Court, targets commercial spaces operating as Skyboxxx Lounge and The Social Lounge at 4419, 4421 and 4427 Crossroad Center.
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The establishments, located at 4419, 4421 and 4427 Crossroad Center, are known as the Skyboxx Lounge or The Social Lounge.
City officials said state regulators revoked the bars' liquor permits in August.
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Klein said the bars' liquor permits were revoked in August.
City records indicate officers have taken 66 police reports at the properties over two years.
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Over two years, Klein said officers have taken 66 reports at the properties.
The complaint details an incident from August in which Columbus police received a report of street racing in the parking lot, with more than 20 cars appearing to participate in a takeover event.
Read supporting passage
In August, Columbus police received a report of street racing in the parking lot, with more than 20 cars appearing to participate in a takeover event.
A few weeks later, authorities were called to the scene following multiple reports of shots fired at the property, where officers saw hundreds of cars leaving the parking lot.
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A few weeks later, Klein said police received multiple reports of shots fired at the property, and officers saw hundreds of cars leaving the parking lot.
"Nightlife is important, but safety is our top priority.
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"Nightlife is important, but safety is our top priority. When bar operators break the law and allow violence and criminal conduct to go unchecked, the City will not hesitate to step in to get things cleaned up or shut these establishments down," Klein said in a news release. "We're using every tool we have to hold these owners accountable and send a message that crime and disorder will not be tolerated."
Retained video evidence
Supporting evidence (4)
Despite the revocation, the Columbus Division of Police PACT Unit launched a covert investigation in late September, during which officers observed bar staff selling alcohol illegally and cited management and bar staff.
Read supporting passage
In late September, the Columbus Division of Police PACT Unit conducted a covert investigation where officers observed bar staff selling alcohol illegally and cited management and bar staff.
According to court documents, police have also responded to unruly, underage parties at the premises, large fights in the parking lot, and reports of hundreds of individuals jumping on cars around the property, alongside recurring reports of shootings, assaults and illicit narcotics.
Read supporting passage
Police have also responded to "unruly, underage parties at the premises, large fights in the parking lot, and reports of hundreds of individuals jumping on cars around the property," according to court documents.
Franklin County Municipal Court has set a preliminary injunction hearing for Oct. 14, when a judge will consider the city's request to padlock the storefronts.
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A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14.
Retained video evidence