The Greensboro Police Department is seeking to close Nikitas Play Room based on what they deem to be an excessive number of crimes and calls to police at that address since 2007. I find it rather interesting that it took them so long as the previous operator of a club at that same property was a long standing white local thug who along with his wife was convicted for abandoning their own children in a hotel room with 2 complete strangers in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina some years back.
Mr McCarroll points to something that I've heard Greensboro club owners of all types, not just strip club owners, express concern about countless times over the years:
"McCarroll said many of the calls were made by club security about people nearby, who were not necessarily associated with the club.
"When we see something that's inappropriately happening, we call the police," he said. "
Which brings about a few questions:
Are club owners risking being shut down by calling Greensboro Police to quell disturbances? Ever? Even once?
Does GPD have a means to differiate between calls that came from the club and calls that came from elsewhere? Do they use it?
Are all the calls lumped together on the affidavit? Based on having seen these sorts of documents before you can almost bet they have done so.
Who is interested in the property? Remember: It sits alongside Interstates 40 and 85. Perhaps someone should call Clarence Ray Jernigan and ask if anyone has approached him about buying the property at 510 Farragut St as such a sale might nessitate the closing of a club in order to break the terms of the lease. Hey, pretty much the same trick was just accomplished at a popular Downtown club. It could happen again.
Then there's this:
"In the last six months calls for police to McCarroll's club have decreased. During that time, he added security measures including screening and a limit on hanging out in the parking lot."
If calls are decreasing then why are police still perusing nuisance abatement? Because someone wants Nikitas Play Room closed no matter how or what they do. Here's a tip for you Mr McCarroll, announce to the media that you plan to convert the building to a mixed-use office and shopping center and they'll trade you a shopping center for it just like the did the owners of the Greensboro Inn.
