Nightclubs allowed to reopen following violence, hearings pushed to next week

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – Three Providence nightclubs will have to wait another week before their show-cause hearings in front of the Board of Licenses.

The city, at Wednesday’s meeting, asked for more time to come up with a resolution for each.

In just one week, violent crimes took place inside or nearby the clubs, starting with a patron shot in the back on the dancefloor at Flow on Monday, August 19.

On Saturday, August 24, four men were stabbed outside Noah Lounge.

Both nightclubs have been given the go-ahead to open while they await their hearing, but with one condition. They must hire police detail on the weekends.

The most recent incident was on Sunday morning when someone was stabbed outside the Rooftop at Providence G. They were allowed to open Tuesday after Providence Police detectives reviewed surveillance video and found there to be no public threat.

Rooftop is not required to hire police detail, but their security will be keeping their eyes open.

“They’re aware of the people who were involved. If they see anybody that was involved in that particular altercation, they will contact us immediately,” said associate city solicitor Mario Martone.

Dylan Conley, Chairman of the Board of Licenses said it’s hard to regulate clubs, but he’s in talks with city leaders to help stop the trend of violence.

“I’m certainly frustrated because there is violence in the city, and you aspire to have no violence. Whether or not that’s an attainable goal is one thing, but it is the aspiration,” said Conley.

The hearings will take place next Wednesday at 12:30.

© WLNE-TV 2019