The scene at Allure Gentlemen's Club on Cheshire Bridge Road has been one of not just late-night revelry, but also of illicit operations, as per Atlanta Police Department (APD). After responding to a shooting that left two injured in the club's parking lot on Jan. 13, APD delved deeper, uncovering the club's lack of proper permits. The news, broken by FOX 5 Atlanta, detailed how the establishment was running after hours without the necessary adult entertainment permits.
Investigators found that not only was the venue keeping its doors open past permitted hours, but the business was also lacking an adult entertainment permit according to the APD, an accusation that led to a larger operation. On Jan. 26, a coalition of Zone 2 crime suppression units, officers from other zones, APD License and Permit detectives, and a representative of the City of Atlanta Solicitor’s Office came together to execute a search warrant at Allure.
Allure’s manager, identified as Michael Davis by FOX 5 Atlanta, found himself facing charges related to firearms and drugs. The extent of the club's permit violations was expounded upon in a report by Atlanta News First, adding that Michael Lewis, who they described as the club's manager, and six other employees were without the necessary adult entertainment licenses. The report went further, disclosing the seizure of two DVRs and the nature of evidence APD sought which included after-hour alcohol transactions and other related documents.
Lewis faces charges for the possession of marijuana over one ounce and possession of a firearm during certain crimes. While no fatalities occurred due to the shootings, the APD’s findings have raised considerable concern surrounding city establishments flouting the law. The six other employees cited for lacking an adult entertainment license now find themselves part of a broader narrative - that of Atlanta's nightlife caught in the crosshairs of legal oversight.
