(Photo by Christina Estes - KJZZ)

The Phoenix City Council voted against a new liquor license application at a strip club where a bouncer was charged in the beating death of a patron.

Less than four months after a bouncer at a Phoenix strip club was charged with beating a customer to death and the club’s liquor license revoked, a new owner is trying to serve alcohol. But, Phoenix council members voted down the idea Wednesday siding with local business owners.

Discussing a liquor license for a strip club is not the typical topic for the lawyer representing PING golf clubs.

“This affects us greatly,” Lance Van Houten told council members. “And, and we’re strongly opposed.”

Van Houten said PING covers about 50 acres near 21st and Peoria avenues with its main entrance right across from Centerfolds Cabaret. Before the club closed last January, he said they dealt with trespassers, graffiti and other crime.  

“We’ve seen a dramatic improvement since this business has been closed,” Van Houten said. “Doing the math, we’ve gone from about five incidents a month to less than one.”

Marcia Veidmark with the North Mountain Business Alliance told council members she witnessed indescribable events on her property. 

“It was sick,” she said, “And to think that this could come back again is so destructive. We don’t need that.” 

A police detective agreed and told council members that granting a liquor license would not be in the community’s best interest. He reported several people with ownership interest also own other clubs with past and pending liquor violations, including prohibited sex acts. 

A spokesman for the applicant, Peoria Ave, LLC., said Peoria Ave is capable, reliable and a qualified entity, managed by professional citizens from Arizona.

The council voted against the application, but Peoria Ave, LLC. can still ask the state liquor board, which has the final say. 

In March, the Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control said West Coast Sports, Inc., the company that owned Centerfolds Cabaret at the time, voluntarily agreed to a liquor license revocation but did not admit to any of the factual allegations outlined by the Director. 

Last January, the club’s bouncer was charged with second-degree murder in the beating death of a patron. The club’s manager was charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution.