State allows El Tropical to stay open pending appeal
by Chuck Hoven

(Plain Press, June 2008) Residents of the area around the El Tropical at W. 44th and Storer Avenue are learning just how difficult and time consuming it is to close a troublesome nightclub.  As reported in last month’s Plain Press, the State of Ohio Division of Liquor Control decided not to renew the liquor permit of the troublesome club. However, El Tropical has appealed that decision to the Liquor Control Commission. In addition, El Tropical requested a stay order to allow the club to remain open, pending the appeal.

Despite concern expressed by the City of Cleveland that “a stay order would be and has been detrimental to the neighborhood where this permit is located, “ the stay was granted. El Tropical remains open, pending the appeal. The hearing at the Liquor Control Commission is scheduled for June 25th at 1:30 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio.

In the meantime residents report a continuation of problems associated with El Tropical on Friday and Saturday nights. Reported activities include loud music, drug dealing directly in front of the club, cars blocking the street, people drinking outside, loud crowds, traffic problems and parking problems.  Residents report a large fight involving about 30 women leaving El Tropical on April 26. The fight reportedly spilled out onto W. 45th Street.

A W. 45th Street resident reported that on Friday May 9th that after motioning for the driver of a car not to turn around in her driveway, the driver hit her with the car. When she alerted him to the fact he had hit her with the vehicle. He exited the car and began to assault her. When her husband came to her assistance. The passenger then exited the car and began beating on her husband. Another car stopped and two additional individuals exited that car and also proceeded to beat on her husband.

The resident reported that both she and her husband were bruised and her husband’s ear was split open. She called police to make a police report. She had recorded the license plate of the first vehicle. The resident says the police refused to take a police report, claiming the plate number did not seem real.

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