Authorities Take Action Against Area Nightclub

Following a weekend raid that drew some cheers from neighbors, state and local authorities are considering a host of charges against the owner and employees of the Showgirls nightclub, including allegations of lewd conduct and liquor law violations.

The dozen or so city, county and state officials who swooped into the Reseda Boulevard nightclub last weekend found a number of illegal activities at the bar, authorities said. The bar was closed down Friday night, they said.

Los Angeles police made several arrests, including one for suspicion of lewd conduct and two for suspicion of drug possession. The state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control issued 15 violations to the owner for serving alcohol while dancers simulated sex acts, authorities said. Also, the state Board of Equalization levied nearly $35,000 in fines for the owner’s failure to provide workers’ compensation, officials said.

The owner of the Showgirls nightclub is 7238 Reseda Boulevard Inc. Its president is listed as Abdollah Haji Sadeghi. Efforts to reach Sadeghi Wednesday were unsuccessful.

The weekend raid was part of the state’s employment enforcement task force, created nearly two years ago by Gov. Pete Wilson to ensure businesses meet a host of laws and labor codes.

Los Angeles Councilwoman Laura Chick, who said she has been deluged with complaints from neighbors upset over the nightclub, had requested the enforcement effort.

“Clearly, they were in violation of a whole range of things, and that only adds to my conviction that this is an inappropriate business” for the location, Chick said.

Police echoed that view.

“They were a bad operator and a nuisance to the community,” said Sgt. Kris Pitcher, who supervised the operation for the Police Department’s Administrative Vice unit.

Neighbors and some local business owners have held protests twice a month at the nightclub, situated in the 7200 block of Reseda Boulevard. The demonstrators, including Neighborhood Watch leaders and two local church groups, say Showgirls does not fit in with the bookstores, aquarium sellerss, art stores and other retail shops in the neighborhood.

“Reseda really has a bad reputation that’s not entirely deserved,” said Steve Aufhauser, who runs Continental Art Supplies nearby. “Personally and professionally, I’ve worked really hard in this community for 15 years trying to improve the quality of business in Reseda. I don’t see this as a family oriented business appropriate for this community.”

The alcohol violations, among the most severe for the nightclub, included the serving of adulterated beverages, serving liquor to an intoxicated patron and accusations concerning conduct of the dancers, authorities said.

Dale Rasmussen, ABC district administrator for the San Fernando Valley, said the accusations against the nightclub are serious enough to warrant suspension of the club’s liquor license.

“In a case as serious as this one, there would undoubtedly not be an opportunity to pay a fine,” Rasmussen said. “There would be a suspension of some sort.”

But Rasmussen said the club has the right to an administrative hearing on the charges.

The club owner also is accused of failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance for employees, as well as paying some employees without withholding tax deductions, officials said. Those labor code violations forced the club to close Friday night.