Months after closing because of violence, bankruptcy and a suspicious fire, Diamond’s Gentleman’s Club will get a new look and extended hours in time for the Super Bowl.

The drama involving a North Miami Beach strip club continued last week, when the city granted Diamond’s Gentleman’s Club a license to operate until dawn.

The deal comes just in time for it to ostensibly welcome Colts and Saints fans and assorted celebrities coming into town for Super Bowl XLIV.

With a 5-1 vote, the city council granted the club owner’s request for a license to operate until 6 a.m. but only for a three-month trial. Councilman Frantz Pierre was the lone no vote; Councilman John Patrick Julien was not present at the Jan. 19 meeting.

The city last year revoked the club’s license because the former owners of the club, then called Diamond’s Cabaret, failed to maintain an escrow account used to pay off-duty police to provide security. The business — known for fights, shootings, stabbings and rowdy customers — closed last summer after a bankruptcy and a subsequent fire investigators said was arson.

The club’s new owner, Lenny Moore, pleaded with the council at last week’s meeting that he would maintain an escrow account and keep the business running clean. Moore also invested $750,000 to repair the building and give the place a new look.

“My club’s more of a social club where you happen to have nudity,” he assured the council.

Several residents and Councilwoman Beth Spiegel expressed concerns that the club will be paying for two to six uniformed off-duty police to provide club security, noting that if the officers get hurt, taxpayers will have to pay their pensions.

Joseph Paglino, a local attorney who frequents city meetings, told council members he disapproves of North Miami Beach officers working at strip clubs to earn off-duty pay.

“Don’t you understand that you’re taking part in this operation? You’re subsidizing this,” he said.

But council members had a more prominent worry: that the city would get stuck with another bill for off-duty police officers.

Moore, who was a part owner of the club before it ran afoul of city leaders, promised that wouldn’t be the case.

Moore said he agreed to pay $25,057 owed to the city by the previous owner in order to reopen.

Hiring off-duty cops to work security detail will cost the club about $18,000 a month, Moore said.

A deal signed by Moore and the police department states Diamond’s will maintain a $10,000 escrow account, which the city can tap into if the bill is late.

Another incentive to pay on time: Police Chief Rafael Hernandez warned Moore after the council vote he would arrest him if the money is late.

Source: North Miami Herald posted Tuesday 01-26-10