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The ShowBar, at 240 Chestnut St., Springfield, is among several bars seeking late-night entertainment licenses, currently faced with a 1 a.m. curfew..

(Mark M. Murray / The Republican)

SPRINGFIELD - Several bars including two strip clubs, now faced with a 1 a.m. curfew that forces them to shut off music, dancing and even billiards at that hour, are now seeking to lift that restriction.

Those applying for the late-night entertainment permits, to allow entertainment to continue to their closing hour at 2 a.m., include: the Oz nightclub at 397-399 Dwight St.; the Fifth Alarm strip club at 775 Worthington St.; the ShowBar strip club at 240 Chestnut St.; and Smith's Billiards at 27 Worthington St.

The late night permits need approval from Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, and are considered on a case-by-case basis, under city procedures. The mayor assigns a hearing officer for each case. The hearing officer forwards a recommendation to the mayor.

Several bars had challenged the 1 a.m. entertainment curfew in a 2012 lawsuit in U.S. District Court, alleging it was unconstitutional.

A pre-trial settlement was reached between the bars and city in November of 2012. The agreement required some of the bars to comply to the 1 a.m. curfew and others were permitted to keep entertainment going until 2 a.m.

The Fifth Alarm and Oz were among bars kept to the 1 a.m. curfew, but were allowed by the settlement to re-apply for the late-night permit in 2015, under the agreement.

Plaintiffs including Mardi Gras, Center Stage and Xstatic were allowed to keep entertainment going to the 2 a.m. hour. Xstatic subsequently closed.

Daniel Kelly, a Springfield lawyer, will be representing the Fifth Alarm, Show Bar and Oz, now seeking late-night entertainment permits. Hearings are expected to be scheduled next week, he said.

Since the date of the settlement, they have had no problems," Kelly said. "We would like to see the (late night) license granted."

The restaurant-bar, 350 Grill, is also seeking renewal of its late-night entertainment license, by showing that it continues to meet the requirements for a waiver of the 1 a.m. entertainment curfew, Kelly said. Clubs are exempt if they can show that the sale of food is in excess of 40 percent of the revenues, he said.

Other clubs seeking the late night entertainment licenses include: Potbelly's Pub, 153 Main St.; Paddy's Irish Bar, 1060 Wilbraham Road; and McCarthy's Tavern, 811 Cottage St., according to the city.