Cops Frustrated As Night Clubs Here Close, Then Quickly Re-Open
By Charles Rogers

The former Club Large at 1205 Rockaway Avenue, has reopened as The Rock. Police say they are “watching it” closely to see that no laws are broken. Charles Rogers

"It’s frustrating," said Lieutenant Michael Renna, who heads the 69th Precinct’s Special Operations Unit, as he spoke about the recent closing — and then immediate re-opening of a notorious local night club.

"You close them one day because they’re obviously operating illegally and they’re open the next night under other pretenses — sometimes new owners and even a new name."

The establishment he was talking about was the former Club Large, now called The Rock, at 1205 Rockaway Avenue, just a block from the precinct station house.

Just as frustrated was Deputy Inspector Robert Johnsen, Renna’s boss and 69th Precinct commanding officer.

"There are a lot of people who say they don’t want night clubs here and are asking us to close them down," he said, "but we can’t do that randomly or just because people don’t like them. We have to have a reason. That’s where Renna and his crew come in. They’ve been persistent and conscientious in checking up on the many clubs in the area and, yes, closing them when necessary and appropriate."

"If you want reasons, we’ve got reasons," Renna said. He cited recent shootings and assaults at and near various clubs. "Within the past year there were two shootings inside Club Large and one outside, where the guy shot himself in the foot," he said.

He noted another instance where a man was arrested on a gun charge there, even though there was a metal detector near the entrance. There were felony assaults, including one where a man was hit with a bottle and another when a man was beaten by ten others.

"A few weeks ago the Fire Department got a call that there was a fire at the Club Large and we went to see what was going on. Turns out it was a minor fire, but firefighters couldn’t even get in the door because it was so crowded."

Renna said he and his Special Operations officers handled closing the club, not because of the shooting, gun-related or assault incidents, but by checking those fine points, like whether the certificates of business were up to date.

"We bring up other violations to the club owners, like whether their bouncers have licenses. That will close them down," Renna said. "We can also close them, with the Fire Department’s agreement, for breaking rules as far as overcrowding goes."

He said that, when Club Large closed one night, "hundreds" of glassine bags that once contained alleged marijuana were found on the floor.

Johnsen said he has a problem with resistance from local electedofficials, but did not specify anyone in particular.

State Senator John Sampson’s chief of staff, Lisa Falcone, told the Canarsie Courier the legislator is not averse to allowing clubs here.

"These club owners and employees are hard working people who deserve to run a business if they want to," she said. "I welcome the entertainment industry to our community, as long as they take security measures and as long as they’re safe. They (the police) can’t just close down every business" She added: "This is America, after all."

Through Chief of Staff Alan Maisel, Assemblyman Frank Seddio, whose district covers parts of Canarsie, said he too feels clubs may operate, "as long as they meet all the requirements and obey the law."

In a statement to the Courier, City Councilman Lew Fidler wrote: "Obviously, we have taken a firm stance against those clubs that have been operating illegally over the past couple of years, and we’ll continue to do so. Such illegal clubs, especially those operating in the midst of residential areas, are a direct affront to the quality of life throughout our community." In 2002, Fidler was instrumental in having a club on lower Remsen Avenue — a strictly residential area — closed after he had received complaints and a huge petition from local residents.

"It’s the trouble some of these clubs breed that pushes us to try to close them," Johnsen said. "Of course we get complaints from local activists and community leaders, as well as parents who are wondering where their children are at all times of the night, and we want to do something about it."

The precinct commander concluded: "We’d like to close them all, but, if we see they just open again under another name, then Lieutenant Renna and his group will visit them so they know they must toe the mark."

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