Niraj Warikoo

Detroit Free Press

With live broadcasts by Detroit radio station WJLB-FM (97.9), Liv Lounge in Dearborn has become a popular nightclub spot for many who enjoy grooving to the latest hip-hop beats.

But for some nearby residents, the club on Michigan Avenue has become a growing nuisance, with fights, gang activity, and a shooting last month. And now, they're calling for the city to shut it down by revoking its liquor license. They worry that an area along Michigan Avenue in the western section of Dearborn with several clubs is turning into a rowdy area, especially on the weekend.

On Wednesday, Dearborn Police announced they arrested a 28-year-old Sterling Heights woman they said fired a gun twice Sunday at about 2 a.m. in a parking lot outside the Post Bar, which is a block over from Liv Lounge. The woman fired a gun after a dispute and did not strike anyone, police said.

An attorney for Liv Lounge, Amir Makled, said the club is being unfairly targeted and wants to work with the city to improve security and stay open. The dispute is part of a larger debate in the city over how to attract business while creating a peaceful environment.

"The residents of west Dearborn and especially the ones living near the Liv Lounge" and nearby establishments "are furious at the criminal and drug activity taking place at these establishments," said Regan Ford, a Dearborn resident. "From shootings, to gang fights, to loud music, to drug abuse, to parking issues, it is nothing but a nuisance that must be stopped."

Two public hearings were held this week before Dearborn City Council and another is planned for Monday. The City Council decides whether to recommend to the state Liquor Control Commission to revoke their license, said city spokeswoman Mary Laundroche. Businesses generally get their liquor licenses renewed every year from March 1 to April 30, when licenses expire.

"This is a very extensive process, with multiple police officers outlining their contacts at the Liv Lounge," Laundroche said.

At a council meeting last month before the council, Dearborn Police talked about problems they've observed at Liv Lounge, said Ford.

"Nothing but constant problems," Ford said. "They also prepared and showed a video of dash cam footage showing a gun fight, a gang fight and a vehicle actually ramming a police cruiser. They had a list of around 20 police calls in the last year alone. And these did not account for all the calls from residents."

According to a city notice of the hearings, there has been "a pattern of patron conduct in the neighborhood of the licensed premises which is in violation of the law and/or disturbs the peace, order and tranquility of the neighborhood."

Revoking the license would effectively shut down Liv Lounge since its depends on those sales to keep open, said Makled.

Liv Lounge opened after a previous bar in its location, Silky's Martini & Music Cafe, closed in 2014. It sat next to Kiernan's Steakhouse, a popular restaurant that also closed. The new club features alcohol and hookahs, and has had live radio broadcasts.

Makled said the city began cracking down on Liv Lounge last summer, increasing patrols and targeting patrons as they left the club.

"We tried to reach out to the city to alleviate their concerns and put together a plan," he said. "We offered to close the facility for a short while to meet with the city regularly to increase security, to have a security component approved by Dearborn Police."

Makled said that Liv Lounge is also offering to stop having promoted parties that feature live broadcasts with radio stations.

Ford and others say the city needs to be more aggressive with the situation.

"Our mayor and our police chief have both failed to effectively address this issue and now it has fallen to our City Council," Ford said. "Because our leadership has not worked to quell the violence and criminal activity, our council is now forced in a position to revoke their liquor licenses."

Dearborn resident Majed Moughni agreed with revoking the license.

"These establishments have become a public nuisance and the only enforcement arm the city has is to revoke their liquor license," Moughni said. "I support these revocations against businesses that can't keep their customers under control."

Contact Niraj Warikoo: 313-223-4792 or nwarikoo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @nwarikoo