Fremont club loses liquor license

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Apr 22, 2007 | by Ben Aguirre Jr

FREMONT -- A popular nightclub where several violent acts have taken place during the last few years had its liquor license revoked this week after authorities found the business violating several laws, officials said.

Investigators for the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or ABC, posted a notice of liquor license revocation Thursday afternoon at Mango's Sports Bar and Night Club on State Street. Almost a year ago, the agency determined that the business had sold illegally obtained alcohol, refilled bottles and served contaminated drinks.

The revocation means the business, also known as Club Mango's, Club 510 and Club Remix, cannot sell alcohol for at least a year, said John Carr, spokesman for the agency.

A joint investigation involving ABC and the Fremont Police Department found that the business was a nuisance to the public, and listed at least 26 criminal acts by its patrons in ABC documents.

In addition, the investigation revealed that the business's owner, Alejandro Aguilar, had purchased alcohol from Costco for resale, bought liquor from unlicensed dealers for resale, refilled bottles and sold drinks that contained dead insects, Carr said.

Aguilar could not be reached by phone, and his attorney, Sam Rudolph, did not return phone messages seeking comment.

The state agency filed a complaint in May 2006, and had several hearings with Aguilar and his attorney. On March 27, the two sides were to meet again, but Aguilar failed to appear, and ABC Chief Deputy Director David Goss decided to revoke the license, according to records.

Agents went to the business Thursday and posted the sign on the door.

The revocation is the latest action involving the club, which is also involved in a lawsuit with the city of Fremont, Senior Deputy City Attorney Scott Rennie said. The club has been a thorn in the city's side because of more than 35 violent and criminal acts since 2004, incidents that have caused a public nuisance and drained police resources, Rennie said.

Among the acts -- all of which are documented in court records -- are gun shots being fired outside the club, fights, near riots, drug use, public intoxication, vandalism, sideshow-like activity and attacks on police officers.

The city had discussed several issues with the club's owner for many years about his business being a nuisance, Rennie said. But the city filed suit in March 2006 asking that the club be closed for good.

The case is scheduled to return to court April 27 and could go to trial later this year.

Staff writer Ben Aguirre Jr. covers police and the courts for The Argus. He can be reached at (510) 353-7011 or baguirre@angnewspapers.com.