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The Dayton Daily News has covered Heat Nightclub’s troubles since Huber Heights City Council first objected to its liquor license renewal in March 2012. We will continue to follow this story closely and bring you the latest updates as they develop.
A nightclub plagued with troubles, including a double homicide last month and more than 600 police calls, appears to be closing for good.
Heat Nightclub in Huber Heights is closing its "doors forever," according to the online auction website Got2Bid.com, and bidding is open for items that were in the 6115 Brandt Pike establishment, which has been closed since May 14 when a judge issued a temporary restraining order.
Heat Nightclub owner and manager Jessica Kennedy did not return a message seeking comment.
Mike Bly, a member of the city’s legal counsel, said the club’s landlord has communicated to the city that the club intends to not renew its lease at the end of the month.
“We’re obviously very pleased that the problem that was the Heat Nightclub is no longer going to be affecting the city of Huber Heights and its residents,” Bly said. “We proved in court it was a nuisance, and that it substantially interfered with the public’s health, safety and welfare.”
The online auction closes at 7 p.m. Monday, and the removal of the items will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19. Among the items listed include sound and lighting equipment, refrigeration, seating, tables and bar equipment.
The auction liaison listed on the site could not be reached for comment. The club’s landlord, CR Dayton with offices in Dover, Del., and South Barrington, Ill., has not returned multiple calls for comment during the past month.
“It’s a great accomplishment for the city staff, police department, legal staff — everybody,” Mayor Ron Fisher said. “I will always feel the liquor board made a bad decision on this case, and it caused us to spend a lot of money and resources, and unfortunately, it cost two lives.”
On May 28, Huber Heights was granted a preliminary injunction against Heat Nightclub by Judge Mary Wiseman in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.
A permanent injunction hearing has not been scheduled, and Bly said both parties are awaiting a meeting with Judge Dennis J. Adkins to schedule the hearing. Adkins granted Huber Heights the temporary restraining order on May 14.
“It may be a moot point if in fact they are out of business,” Bly said.
Since Heat Nightclub opened in November 2010, there have been 635 calls for police service.
Charles W. Bell III, 25, of Dayton, and Keenan Hall, 20, of Dayton, died from gunshot wounds they suffered outside the club after a fight inside spilled into the parking lot before 3 a.m. May 11. Another unidentified man was injured.
Huber Heights Police Chief Robert Schommer said the department has “people of interest,” but nobody has been charged.
“We’re pretty sure we have the finger pointed in the right direction,” Schommer said. “But what it comes down to is eyewitnesses and evidence. We need people to help us point the finger. Situationally, we’ve got it figured out. But we’ve got to have a little bit more.”
Kennedy previously said that the city was unfairly targeting her club. During the hearing May 28, she said that the building is zoned for entertainment purposes and her business is her source of income.
The city has been trying to stop the club from renewing its liquor license for more than the past year, spending more than $11,000 in the process.
The Ohio Division of Liquor Control agreed with Huber Heights' objection to the liquor license renewal, but the three-person Ohio Liquor Control Commission overturned that decision and said the bar should keep its license. The city appealed to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, but lost in April.
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