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It started out as Utopia, a very cool rave club--the first in town. Then it closed and re-opened as Empire Ballroom. Now Empire has closed (just prior to memorial Day weekend '08).
Here's the word from Xania Woodman, a writer from Las Vegas Weekly Mag:
"FALL OF THE EMPIRE
Moments before Memorial Day Weekend, Empire Ballroom closes doors
"Everything happens for a reason." One exec at Empire Ballroom is handling the news relatively well--Empire has closed just hours before DJ duo Scooter & Lavelle were scheduled to perform. Memorial Day Weekend was already looking to be a dreary, drizzly one when managers received, on Thursday, May 22, an eviction letter from land-owner Metroflag, which stated that if back rent in the amount of over $400,000 was not paid in full that day, Empire Ballroom lease-holder Dan Makosky and his team would be evicted.
But this is news to much of the management team who for some time have been receiving notices of delinquency only to be assured, they say, by Makosky that all was well. Despite the fact that current management has made great strides since assuming the helm of the initially sinking Empire Ballroom ship--the property was reportedly $2 million in the hole--a debt of close to $1 million remains, a source reports, "and that's not even counting taxes." Go-go dancer invoices, liquor bills and rent continued to pile up, say additional sources, while Makosky insisted they were being taken care of.
Makosky has yet to comment except to say that he is not yet being represented by any particular lawyer or firm.
At 6:16 p.m. on Friday, May 23, a text blast went out from promoter Bo Karlen's camp stating simply, "EMPIRE AFTERHOURS MOVED 2NITE 2 ASIA NIGHTCLUB 1 BLK. SOUTH ON HARMAN (sic) & LV BLVD NEXT 2 KRAVE." Empire's managers were able to hire out Empire Ballroom's staff to Asia for the night to help absorb the crowd Scooter & Lavelle will no doubt bring. Saturday's afterhours performance by New York's DJ Danny Tenaglia has been moved to Prive while Sunday's Keyshia Cole appearance is still seeking a home."
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