Club Velvet owner charged with ABC violations
Charges have been filed against Club Velvet owner, Sam Moore, for selling alcoholic beverages to minors and other illegal activities in the strip club. The charges are based on a late-night raid last year by several state agencies. The state charges could result in losing his license to sell alcoholic beverages. The RTD has more details:
“The place occupied by the licensee has become a meeting place or rendezvous for illegal users of narcotics, prostitutes, drunks, pimps, panderers or habitual law violators or has become a place where illegal drugs are regularly distributed,” states one of 11 charges issued against Velvet, citing a specific provision of state law.
Time to shut this guy down. Pretty easy to see why he is opposed to bringing wholesome, family entertainment to Shockoe Bottom.
@FanGuy – I whole heartily agree. His “business” is an eyesore on Shockoe Bottom and his poor streak with the law makes me wonder how he’s still in business.
Good Luck with that idea but somehow I don’t think that is going to happen overnight.
“…has become a meeting place or rendezvous for illegal users of narcotics, prostitutes, drunks, pimps, panderers or habitual law violators or has become a place where illegal drugs are regularly distributed,”
The same could be said of Richmond in general.
there’s a place for nerds like you guys, its called short pump. “wholesome family entertainment” sounds pretty boring to me, I’m much rather hang with the dealers and the pimps.
I can suggest about a dozen other places you could hang out with the dealers and pimps, but a bullet proof vest and some serious heat might come in handy along with a roll of twenties.
In the meantime SB could stand being a little less hip. Even a low body count discourages business.
My question is this: How much money does Sam have? He must have a ton of it…
A hundred years ago and two hundred ago and probably three hundred years ago, Shockoe Bottom had the same reputation for ‘adult entertainment’ and ‘speakeasy’s’.
Speakeasies were underground bars – not necessarily ‘seedy’ establishments like Club Velvet, and the city of Richmond wasn’t settled until the mid 18th century…you’re a little off, Burger.
Not according to Harry Kollatz,
http://shockoenews.com/2008/01/15/harry-kollatz-true-richmond-stories/
Don’t you have a corporate welfare baseball stadium to shill for, Anna?
Scott, why can’t you just engage people without insults? Is Anna too much of a “yuppie asshole,” as you put it, for you?
Why is it the most “liberal” and “progressive” people in our society tend to be the most intolerant of opposing viewpoints?
My point was that 300 years ago, 1709, the city of Richmond wasn’t even in existence. From what I read, it wasn’t settled until 1737. I gather it would take a little more demand to get anything started…and the prohibition era wasn’t until the 20th century. Sooo…it’s not that deep-seeded.
And even if brothels do define the bottom, as you’re suggesting, does that make it ok? Is that somewhere you would want your children to hang out? Or if they built a park in that area instead of the ballpark, would you want the playground built across the street from a place known to be a haven for drug dealers and underage drinkers?
Yeah, that’s your point, Anna, keep backpedaling…
I never said it was ok. I just stated FACTS to counter your b.s.
I am done with being tolerant of your constant “viewpoint”, ‘FanGuy’.
Would it be better if I had a “changing” viewpoint?
Or basically you are just saying that are you intolerant of the opposing view. Gotcha.
Backpedaling? I don’t think I backpedaled (sp?) there at all.
I’m not the one that stated brothels “probably” existed in Richmond 300 years ago, before the city of Richmond even existed. Nice facts.
And what was the point of your distorted history lesson if you don’t think its ‘ok’? So the bottom has always had some shadiness, according to you….so what? Does it always have to be shady? Should it always be shady? What’s the point?
Does it not bother anyone that tax dollars are going into the stadium idea, before any team has signed a committment?
Also, although Moore may not be anyone’s candidate for Citizen of the Year, the allegations made by the ABC Board are just that – allegations. Try to remember that even he has a right to a hearing.
It bothers me, Donna, but these people don’t care about anything except distorting any opposition and pushing their pet project through.
This is not about the ballpark, we were talking about Club Velvet. Is it possible to talk about anything here without devolving into a stone throwing pro and anti ballpark fight?
Let’s see, who introduced (quite rudely) the ballpark into this discussion? We should have a no ballpark comment rule, pro or against, on some threads. There are other things to talk about.
Well, if this thread is going to be a free-for-all: What about the schools? And the noise and lack of parking? What does the CHA think? And will there be a Slaughterama?
Agreed, Paul (though Donna is pretty underinformed about the status of the whole baseball team thing), I am arguing against standing for somebody who has ELEVEN counts brought against him (an investigation that has clearly taken some time and effort since they’re throwing it all at him at once) because “history” dictates that this type of business is suitable. No, I’m not saying that the type of business is wrong as he is perfectly allowed to conduct such a business IF he abides by the law.
Sure, there’s ‘innocent until proven guilty,’ but really? Would you be standing so strongly in defense of say, the Highwoods lead developer? Or the Echo Harbor developer?
The hostility toward Velvet and the push to Disneyfy the Bottom with Wholesome Family Entertainment are two faces of the same coin.
The allegations leveled against Moore by the ABC Board more than a year after their investigation reek of a deeper agenda. Especially the allegation of an “offense involving moral turpitude”- c’mon, that’s really grasping at straws. They’re desperate to find any reason to shut down this profitable business in order to change the perception of the Bottom as a sleazy place.
Of course it has everything to do with the Highwoods land deal and the welfare stadium. Velvet’s got a 25 foot tall banner on its wall that says “NO STADIUM IN THE BOTTOM.” No wonder the they’re trumping up more allegations against Sam Moore.
Yes, I guess you are right Stuart. It’s all about an effort to co opt the bottom and turn it into a theme park. Moore is not a perverted (is that word still allowed) creep and he runs an upstanding business any neighborhood would be proud of.
I can’t think of any reason the SB business community would want change the perception of sleaziness. Clearly it’s good for business, at least for Club Velvet. Scott’s probably right, we should restore the historical past as a full fledged red light district, maybe throw in a casino. It would give the yuppie assholes something to do.
I personally don’t care that Club Velvet is there since I’ve never been in there. I just wish he’d put back the mural with Princess Di.
Paul at least we agree that this is about pursuing a vendetta against an unpopular individual rather than legitimate criminal charges. There is no new evidence on the table here, just a new line of harassment by the attack dog ABC board.
If Moore could only get a powerful city council “consultant” on his payroll he could have the ABC harassment stopped overnight.
Anna, the last I had read things were still in negotiations. If you can point me to the source of where a team has signed and is coming (as opposed to saying they will sign if we build a stadium), then I’ll stand corrected.
Stuart I think he is a creep and I wouldn’t miss him one bit. You must of missed the sarcasm. I’m an old fogie and think strip clubs are degenerate. Based on several source, Sam Moore is a qualified creep. It would be OK with me if he just moved on. Nothing to do with a ballpark. I find the whole place somewhat of an embarassment. Sadly the reconciliation statue and minipark stand caty corner to it.
Paul- sure, I don’t disagree with what you’re saying, but I do disagree with vindictive government agencies bent on destroying legitimate businesses.
Bust some real crimes or leave people alone to operate legal businesses. If ABC claims their are drug dealers and pimps etc at Velvet, then they should bust them.
I think the reconciliation statue is an embarassment.
Well, it’s about time God weighed in on this. To some degree I agree with Him, but probably for different reasons.
Stuart, it is such a rare thing, I think I’ll stand in agreement with you. It kind of makes me feel good inside.
“The place occupied by the licensee has become a meeting place or rendezvous for illegal users of narcotics, prostitutes, drunks, pimps, panderers or habitual law violators or has become a place where illegal drugs are regularly distributed.”
If the above is true (which is the text from one of the charges being leveled at the Velvet), would you really want that type of business in your neighborhood, whether it be a topless bar or just a dance club?
Of course, it is hard to make judgements until the trial, but I believe the city would have to have proof to be able to file charges. And if the proof is deemed in adequate, the Grand Jury will not let the case go forward. So it is wait and see.
lil known facts: sam collects beanie babies(186 to date) favorite band: air supply, favorite snack: celary, mentored: by alistair cooke, prays daily: world peace, strapped w/9″ piece.
I think that everyone against sam has lost their mind club velvet has its reputation as does any other adult club around. Sam runs one of the safest clubs in the richmond area and because of one female the whole club has to take the fall. Sam Moore has cleaned the club atmosphere up as if it were ever bad anyway. Most of your regular night clubs have more prostitution in them than club velvet could ever have. And because they are not adult entertainment and the owners have not been put in the spot light by jealous morons you leave all of them alone. I have been to what looks like a family establishment and watched the owner sell drugs and pass them over the bar. I personally think everyone should just leave Sam Moore alone and if you do not wish to come to a place like the Club Velvet then stay the heck away. Its all a matter of personal opinion. As I always say Opinions are like buttholes everybody has one.