Well, I was there. Lights come on and it's announced that the Fire Marshall is there and that they're over capacity. "Everybody please put your drinks down and leave the building. You'll be let back in shortly." Just as everyone finishes exiting, more JSO cars show up and they announce that unless you are entering to close your tab, no one is is being granted reentry.
I'm sure more details will follow. It sure looked well orchestrated, though. JSO cop cars had blocked off all points of entry to the streets leading to the Pearl as I was leaving.
I wonder what they'll find this time around...
Nothing in the news about it....at least not as of this morning....am curious as to the bar being targeted again...and if it was in fact, over capacity.
If it was just a capacity thing, any idea how long they'd be closed? Was this a straight up fire marshall raid, or was it DART again?
from what the original poster said, it sounds like this didn't involve it being DART'd...so I'm assuming it was strictly the Fire Marshall.
Would the fire marshall go in alone or have lots of JSO along? A friend of mine who was there only mentioned seeing lots of JSO when they turned everyone outside.
I would imagine that JSO was there to assist with having the patrons leave the building, and that otherwise, it would be strictly the Fire Marshall handling it.
Can anyone estimate how many people were inside? Did there appear to be any underage drinking going on? Did there appear to be any other illegal activity (drug usage) inside? Just curious...
::) Merry freeking Christmas... ???
The original issues that caused them to be shut down last time should have been fixed and certified by the city right??? What will the city explanation be this time?? Business is down quite a bit since they were DARTED. I would be surprised if they were over capacity. What is the capacity at Mark's? You can hardly move in there on a weekend night with one exit door. I don't see Peyton's Nightlife Nazis blocking off streets and raiding them.
Unbelievable!!!!
The bar was well patronized last night. I wouldn't begin to offer an estimate as to the number of people there as I've never been very good at it. It was not nearly as crowded as I have seen it, however--it always seems much worse when it's raining outside, as people do not go on the back porch.
As I said, it was definitely well orchestrated by JSO. There were MANY cars parked outside, but they were not nearly as rude as when it was DARTed (I got a "f*** you, man" from one of the cops that night).
As before, there wasn't any overt drug use or underage drinking. Granted, at any bar you'll find some person with something in his pocket or someone underage sneaking sips of their legal friend's drink. It happens, but not to any level worth raiding a place.
This is what the Pearl posted as a bulletin on MySpace:
"We want to apologize to our patrons for having to leave early tonight. The fire marshal came in and saw we were over capacity with over 150 people in line. He made the decision to close the club down for the night due to the fact not everybody would be able to get back in.
This was not a raid in any way, shape or form
This has absolutely nothing to do with underage drinking, drugs or any other reason they might come into a club. This was only the fire marshal with a few policemen to make sure it was done in an orderly fashion.
we want to thank you for being so nice and patient under the circumstance. We hope we will see all of you this weekend.
WE WILL BE OPEN TOMORROW NIGHT.
BUSINESS AS USUAL!!!!!!!!!!"
So, per the Pearl, seems it was just an over-capacity issue? Glad they'll be back to business as usual.
What determines capacity? Is it purely square footage?
Too bad there aren't more businesses on Main Street that are TOO successful!!
This is selectively enforced. I am going to do some research on what determines capacity limit. The Pearl has been shut down twice in three months. The first time for code violations and two underage drinkers turned over by security staff. The second time for being over capacity. I need to call the city and give them a long list of other places that are more crowded than The Pearl but don't have streets blocked off, lights turned on and patrons told to leave. Do you think JSO would do this at Square One, Mark's or Ocean Club??? Probably not. Before long we won't have to worry about The Pearl being overcrowded. The patrons will be sick of being harrassed and won't spend their dollars in Springfield. The Pearl is one of the few bright spots on Main Street. Please email the city about this. Lunican posted an email address that forwarded the information to city leaders. I will see if I can find it.
COJ responds to one thing and one thing only: Being sued. When I had my rental properties in springfield, I was constantly running into issues with DART and code enforcement, and the only way to get them to do the right thing is to sue them. Actually, I'm still on that merry-go-round as we speak.
But ya, the owner of the Pearl needs to 1: Get door attendants who can actually count, and 2: Hire a lawyer to see what they can do to stop the harassment. Once the city gets you on their radar screen, they don't quit on their own, they will keep hassling you over every little thing.
And when they finally do drive a place out of business, I wonder if the JSO and JFRD will be as worried about whether the capacity cap is being honored by all the homeless vagrants who will take over the building and start trashcan fires. Lol. The city agencies here are total idiots, and routinely have problems with seeing the forest as more than just the trees.
Sounds like some great properties you had there Chris.
I'm with you, alta. It's also forgotten that the back patio which is almost as big as the inside of the bar is open, with very easy egress. That's where at least 1/3 of the people hang out at the bar, provided good weather. I've felt more worried watching a Jags away game at the Landing than I have felt on the back patio.
In any case, alta, I'm willing to make some noise. Lord knows I was doing just that when they announced the police announced that no one would be let back in. Mostly things about the Sheriff and conservative Jaxons... :D
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on December 19, 2008, 04:44:19 PM
COJ responds to one thing and one thing only: Being sued. When I had my rental properties in springfield, I was constantly running into issues with DART and code enforcement, and the only way to get them to do the right thing is to sue them. Actually, I'm still on that merry-go-round as we speak.
But ya, the owner of the Pearl needs to 1: Get door attendants who can actually count, and 2: Hire a lawyer to see what they can do to stop the harassment. Once the city gets you on their radar screen, they don't quit on their own, they will keep hassling you over every little thing.
And when they finally do drive a place out of business, I wonder if the JSO and JFRD will be as worried about whether the capacity cap is being honored by all the homeless vagrants who will take over the building and start trashcan fires. Lol. The city agencies here are total idiots, and routinely have problems with seeing the forest as more than just the trees.
Well said. Then after they shut down a legitimate business, allocate all kinds of city resources to shutting down streets, doing two week investigations that turn up nothing, cause people to loose their jobs they will complain about loosing tax revenue.
I couldn't agree with you more, ChriswUFGator....
Quotethe owner of the Pearl needs to 1: Get door attendants who can actually count, and 2: Hire a lawyer to see what they can do to stop the harassment. Once the city gets you on their radar screen, they don't quit on their own, they will keep hassling you over every little thing.
Lunican Can you please post the email that then forwards to the mayor, city council and department heads? I will make sure to save it this time.
The city isn't doing this on their own accord. Who is behind this? That is the question that needs to be asked.
We will probably never find out. If they are going to enforce maximum capacities they need to do it city wide.
Sure you can find out. It is surprisingly easy.
Look a couple of blocks north
Give me a break. SPAR didnt have anything to do with it.
Quote from: downtownparks on December 19, 2008, 10:25:23 PM
Give me a break. SPAR didnt have anything to do with it.
Do you know that to be true? Like it has been said already, it is something that can easily be determined. As we know that most of these types of actions are complaint driven, it is most likely someone from this community.
Whomever it is, it seems that they've got a personal grudge with the owner...and in all honesty, I don't get the feeling that spar's the driving force behind it.
I called JSO this morning to report the gang graffiti that appeared several days ago at 937 Main St. and on the utility box at 1st and Main.
I was told to call this in and report it to the anti-gang unit so they can take pictures and work on cleaning it up. But unknown to me they only work Monday-Friday. When the officer arrived he asked me where the graffiti was located. The next question was "Do you think the kids at The Pearl did it"? We politely told the officer we go to The Pearl and the people that frequent them aren't gangbangers.
I saw the same graffiti painted at the Raceway gas station and utility box at Atlantic Blvd. and Hart Bridge expressway.
The posts discussing the issues of rental properties and conditions in Springfield have been split into it's own thread.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,4127.0.html (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,4127.0.html)
Isn't that the truth...which is why there's got to be someone behind this issue with the Pearl.
I just found this online:
http://www.news4jax.com/news/17755993/detail.html (http://www.news4jax.com/news/17755993/detail.html)
But I can't believe the City is willing to tolerate THIS, and then they go gangbusters to harass the Pearl? Makes no sense.
Yeah, that sounds like a real reputable establishment....NOT
Well they got shut down again tonight. There is definately someone out to get them. There has to be someone behind this.
You're kidding...was it the Fire Marshall again? Someone really has it in for this place. >:(
Interesting...
http://jaxscene.blogspot.com/