Club 33, a restaurant and dance club in the downtown core, has been shut down.
The City of Hamilton said, in a press release Thursday, that the Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted the city’s request for an urgent injunction order against Club 33, which came days after Hamilton police shut it down along with Sankofa Bars, for failing to comply with the Liquor License Control Act (LLCA).
“These premises have been the focal point of numerous violent incidents in the area, including several shootings, recovered firearms, assaults, and bar disturbances,” police said in a news release on Tuesday.
The statement by the city said Club 33 was “in contravention of the City’s by-laws.”
CBC Hamilton called the restaurant and club phone numbers for Club 33 and both were out of order.
The injunction order, which takes effect immediately until Sept. 12, bans Club 33 from “conducting any business requiring a license, including as a bar, nightclub, after-hours club, restaurant, or entertainment venue, without first obtaining the necessary license,” the city says.
“It also permits the Hamilton Police Service to take all reasonable measures to enforce the Order, including arresting, detaining, and removing anyone contravening the Order,” read the statement by the city.
On Aug. 31, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario issued a press release saying it had issued an “immediate liquor licence suspension” for Club 33.
According to police, Club 33 was served a notice of liquor license suspension “effective immediately and indefinitely,” on Aug. 30, which prohibited the pub from serving alcohol.
When police went back on the early morning of Aug. 31, however, they say they were still serving alcohol and letting patrons smoke on the premises.
“Later that day, Police returned to Club 33 with a Provincial Offence Act search warrant … Police seized all alcohol found on the premises. Additionally, a small quantity of cocaine and methamphetamine was located and seized,” read the release.
Police visited Sankofa Bar at 92 Jackson St E on Aug. 31, where conditions were also being violated, “including failing to remove signs of alcohol service by 2:45 a.m.”
LLCA investigations into both bars are ongoing, police said, and charges are pending.