Dream Nite Club to reopen in downtown Ann Arbor Friday night
Employees at Dream Nite Club are preparing for a reopening tonight in downtown Ann Arbor after a judge this week lifted a restraining order on operations that has kept the club closed for two weeks.
Washtenaw Circuit Court Judge Melinda Morris on Wednesday approved a motion to dissolve an injunction that shut the night club at 314 S. Fourth Ave. June 2. She did so on the condition that a receiver is put in place to handle security, City Attorney Stephen Postema said.
Postema and David Shand, an attorney representing the night club, agreed on John Phillips, a retired Washtenaw County Sheriff’s sergeant, to take on the role of receiver. An order to allow the club to reopen was signed Thursday and taken to the courthouse, Shand said.
Dream Nite Club will reopen Friday
For Shand and the club’s owners, Jeffrey Mangray and Vickash Mangray, the opportunity to reopen was a relief, though the club will remain under close watch.
As a receiver, Phillips will be at the club every night from open to close, monitoring the scene and enforcing security. He’ll keep track of what he sees, Shand said, and in four weeks he’ll submit a report to Morris for review.
“I talked to my clients and they were happy to do it,” Shand said, of putting the receiver in place. “They want to make sure they are doing everything right, and if they are not doing something right, they want it to be fixed.”
Postema filed a lawsuit against the troubled night club June 2, citing safety concerns after a stabbing and a shooting occurred there in May. That lawsuit, which seeks to have the club declared a nuisance and shut down, will still move forward even as the club reopens. A hearing is scheduled for early August.
Shand said Phillips’ salary as a receiver will come at the expense of Dream Nite Club. He will be paid $500 per week for his services, which will continue for at least the next four weeks. A judge at that point will review his report and decide what the next steps should be.
Shand interviewed two other people for the receiver position, but Phillips’ law enforcement background was what Morris had asked for and seemed to be the best fit, he said.
Phillips planned to be on site meeting with staff at the club Thursday night, making plans for Friday’s opening. To Shand’s knowledge, all staff members have remained with the club.
Heidi Fenton covers crime courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heidifenton@annarbor.com or 734-623-4673. You also can follow her on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
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Comments
Homeland Conspiracy
Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 6:18 a.m.
Friday Night Fights LIVE. Better than PPV!!!
mun
Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 2:27 a.m.
Why? Do we need more shootings outside the club?
RJA
Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 12:53 a.m.
Oh my, John Phillips wants to put his life on the line again for $500.00 a week? I wouldn't even stand near the building if I got a grand a week. Wish you well John!
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 5:17 p.m.
Mlive March 2009: <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/03/ann_arbor_city_officials_look.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/03/ann_arbor_city_officials_look.html</a> "The Ann Arbor City Council is investigating ways it can yank liquor licenses from problem bars, a move that is fueled in part by a downtown nightclub with a troubling pattern of fights and alcohol violations, officials say.:bar.The Ann Arbor City Council is investigating ways it can yank liquor licenses from problem bars, a move that is fueled in part by a downtown nightclub with a troubling pattern of fights and alcohol violations, officials say."
eyesofjustice
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 9:58 p.m.
Hooray to Dream Niteclub & attorney David Shand for getting their side of the story heard in front of Judge Morris! It seems that the City Attorney's Office is putting all of it's faith in AAPD reports & it seems that any club in the city of Ann Arbor that has a minority clientele is forced out of business by city officials. Remember the Bird of Paradise & the Fifth Quarter never recieved any assistance from AAPD. Recently, a gun was used to fire six shots outside of Necto's, but the city failed to file any charges against the club. Wasn't that incident outside of the club? It is a well known fact that eveidence of wrong doing at various clubs in Ann Arbor is suppresed. Wonder whose hands are being greased? Maybe the city needs a solid FBI investigation?
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 5:15 p.m.
Michigan Daily July 2008: <a href="http://www.michigandaily.com/content/studio-4-fined-liquor-license-suspended" rel='nofollow'>http://www.michigandaily.com/content/studio-4-fined-liquor-license-suspended</a> "The five most recent complaints, all filed against the club owner and employees between 2007 and 2008, include possession of illegal weapons, harassment of customers, selling liquor to intoxicated people and minors and assault and battery, according to Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Growth. One of the more severe violations involves a brawl outside the club last August that involved more than 200 people and resulted in the stabbing of an Ypsilanti man."
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 5:11 p.m.
<a href="http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008/01/manager_says_nightclub_was_try.html" rel='nofollow'>http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008/01/manager_says_nightclub_was_try.html</a> From the Ann Arbor News January 2008: "Mangray also emphasized that it was the added security that noticed the unusual situation in the booth, located in a dark corner of the club. Police reports said one of the men stood in front of the girl with his pants pulled slightly down, another stood in front of the booth facing the bar while talking on a cell phone and the third was sitting on the opposite side of the booth holding his head with his hands. The men were confronted by employees who saw the girl, later identified as a 17-year-old Pittsfield Township resident, passed out with vomit on her clothing, said Detective Sgt. Jeff Connelly." Class act.
stephenjendo
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 9:47 p.m.
Sounds like Mr. Goldsmith works for the City Atroney's Office. :) It appears as if he has extensive knowledge of all the events regarding Studio 4/Dream Niteclub. It is a known fact that all these stories are pulled from AAPD reports. Can we really trust these reports? There are always two sides to every story. It is also a fact that,"Truth is a flamming torch in the darkness of our lives." Do not jump to the obvious conclusions.
Roadman
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 4:18 p.m.
This actually a very good outcome. The receiver appointed by the court is not merely a"secutity guard" but exercises plenary control over all matters. He has the power to hire and fire employees, retain security guards and security companies and oversee the general operations of the club. The receiver is an arm of the court itself and reports to the circuit judge. Earlier I suggested someone like Dan Minzey would have been a good choice but another retired Sheriff's Department employee is a good fit given the considerable problems at the club and the experience needed to address these problems. Many persons depend on the club for their livliehood and it is important this club operates.
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 7:40 p.m.
I thought that response was perfectly valid. You really should be consistent when enforcing your guidelines - sometimes I think I'm targeted solely because I've gotten on Jen's case a few times, and she's rather thin-skinned.
Sarcastic1
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
I would like to the the costs incurred by the city to respond to the incidents at the Dream. It must cost several thousands dollars to call people in at 2am to investigate.
Wolf's Bane
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 2:56 p.m.
Clearly, the owners have deep pockets and some pretty powerful connections. Too bad somebody will most likely have to get seriously injured before they shut the place down. Oh well.
Bellicoster
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 2:36 p.m.
That place is a vacuum for miscreants. The police don't seem to care. I walk that way at night sometimes and I almost never see an a patrol car. It took the police several minutes to respond to last battle royal. Everyone knows that a fight will occur around 2:00 A.M. at "Dream." If I were a cop, I'd want to be where the action is, not in Kerrytown.
diagbum
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 2:25 p.m.
Ummm, didn't the shooting happen outside the club in a City owned parking lot? It seems to me that would be the AAPD's jurisdiction... Perhaps building a shiny new police station while laying off cops wasn't such a great idea after all?
Sarcastic1
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 3:10 p.m.
No, it happened in a federal government parking lot, not a city lot.
Berda Green
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 2:21 p.m.
we will see who get shot or beat up tonite why did the judge reopen that hole
st.julian
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 2:01 p.m.
How many police incidents does it take to make the club a public nusiance? How is it possible that once closed as a publc nuisance, the same owner was allowed to retain the liqypr license and open without pause? Apparently neither the state licensing authorities or city council cares about the public welfare or safety? Apparently only the club's owners economic interest is paramount.
Joe DeMatio
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 1:35 p.m.
Oh, God. I work in the Pretzel Bell Building right next door and I have observed the drama unfolding at this dump for years. Seriously, Melinda Morris? Judge Morris should be forced to spend one evening on the sidewalk outside this club, and she'll change her tune. What will it take to close down this menace? Will Deputy John Phillips have to be shot by one of the club's customers? Is that what it will take? Honestly, folks, this place needs to be razed. Who will bribe one of the crane operators from the library project to move their equipment over one block and knock this ugly building down and end this ugly saga once and for all?
Arboriginal
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 12:47 p.m.
SWEET! I can't wait to read all about it tomorrow on AnnArbor.com!!!! Let's hope there are no fatalities.
smokeblwr
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 12:47 p.m.
You'd have to pay me a lot more than $500/week to put up with that awful music and low-class clientele.
eyesofjustice
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 10:10 p.m.
Your comments smell of bigotry! Maybe it's okay to go to the Stadium & applaud the "low class" players for bringing millions in revenue to the city coffers, as well as the Chrysler Arena, & cheer for the same "low class" players that bring noteriety to the famous U of M. I am a minority & can tell you that Dream Niteclub has the most varied clientele in the entire city. Isn't this what Ann Arbor claims to be? The city is clammoring to close down an establishment that caters to people of every race, color, & creed.
Bertha Venation
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
Well, I guess one person's "Dream" is another person's "nightmare."
derek
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 11:59 a.m.
This place should be shut down ....nothing but trouble for years now.
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 10:31 a.m.
The overstaffed Ann Arbor City Attorney's Office has bungled this fiasco since day one. Congrats to everyone on City Council for renewing the liquor license too Brilliant!
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 10:21 a.m.
So hiring a security guard at $500/week is all they have to do to satisfy Melinda? That's not going to solve anything. This will require a coordinated approach from professionals. It really will take someone dying before Melinda even looks up from behind her comfy desk.