Overcrowded Club Lavish closed pending hearing

A Wilmington club was shut down Sunday night after not allowing a city firefighter inside the building already overcrowded with people, according to the city Fire Marshal.

Club Lavish, located in the 1200 block of North Union Street, received multiple violations Sunday night by the Fire Marshal's Office, License and Inspection, Wilmington police, and Delaware Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement, said City Fire Marshal James Jobes. The original complaint to Wilmington police reported overcrowding inside the club, Jobes said, which prompted first a city License and Inspection inspector to respond, as well as a fire marshal.

Just before 7:30 p.m., Wilmington firefighters were sent to the club to determine whether the fire marshal was needed, Jobes said. When a firefighter tried to enter the building, he was stopped by an armed security guard and denied entry, he said.

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This violation alone prompted the closure of the club, but conditions inside added to the violations, Jobes said.

In addition to not allowing a uniformed officer inside during business hours, the club was found to be overcrowded and also had an ATV parked inside. Liquor license violations were also recorded, as well as issues with the building, Jobes added.

The nightclub was given a ”stop work order,” Jobes said, and nightclub operators were advised that Club Lavish would remain closed until a hearing was set.

Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.