It was the shot heard 'round Chelsea last weekend when a clubgoer opened fire in the streets just outside of the popular West 28th Street nightclub Shadow around 4 a.m Saturday. The round, which blasted through a metal gate and destroyed a neighboring storefront, is the most recent bout of violence to occur in the area (in January, a man was stabbed and beaten over the head with a beer bottle there), prompting community members' complaints about noise, drug dealing, and other turbulence in the club's vicinity.
Chelsea Residents Blame Nightclub For Crime, Public Peeing
Man Shot Inside West 28th Street Club
A man was shot inside Quo nightclub earlier this morning. The Post reports, "The 29-year-old victim, Theodore Merchant, of 270 Clarkson Ave., was shot in the torso inside Club Quo at 511 W. 28th St. at 3:42 a.m., police sources said. He’s in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital. Cops have a 25-year-old Brooklyn man in custody but no charges have been filed." It's unclear whether there was a motive. Last year, after a stabbing on West 28th between 8th and 9th Avenues, neighbors said, "There's always something going on, always a problem, always police coming by, being called."
Neighbors Sense Something Shady About New Limelight
The business group spearheading what they hope to be the next era of the Limelight—retail—presented its plans to a local community board this week and were met with a great deal of skepticism and suspicion. The Limelight Marketplace group is hoping to put a mini-mall into the onetime church whose eye-catching building along Sixth Avenue in the Chelsea is only eclipsed by the stories of the drug-fueled and freak-filled nights that went on inside its walls during its era as one of clubland meccas of the '80s and early '90s. But instead of being eager to welcome in retail stores to replace the bad reputation of Peter Gatien's club, the Flatiron community board instead came off sounding like Reverend Moore in , expressing fears that the new plan was a ruse to return to days past. The Board Landmark Chairman recommended rejecting the proposal because he worried that the retail proposal is "one big dodge to get a club going there." He also pointed to a large empty space in the floor plan that would be "perfect for dancing." The development group denied they had any intention of shaking up their plans, only saying about the new space, "There's going to be nothing else like it."
Latest Nightclub Drug Wars Reveal Return of 'Ludes
Clubland may have shed a Visine-assisted tear upon news that the church that once housed the Limelight will soon be turned into a boring store, but at least partygoers are apparently able to turn to some familiar coping mechanisms making their first appearance in years—drugs like quaaludes that the DA's office says are back on the scene. Prosecutors tell the Post that recent busts have turned up "designer drugs rarely seen since the hippie era" that also include ecstasy-like BZP and the short-term trip-inducing DMT. A rep from the DA's office tells the paper, "We're seeing the emergence, particularly, of hallucinatory drugs. It's definitely related to the club scene, and targeted at selling to college students." The drugs have been particularly prominent at Asian night clubs and Flushing karaoke bars. Cops who busted a ring that sold at clubs such as Pacha, Rebel and Suzie Wong's say that the drugs from eras past have found their way into new packages, such as being disguised as Transformer figures and Obama campaign pins.
Neighbors Say West 28th Trouble Is Normal, Unfortunately
A few more details on the early Sunday morning stabbing outside Chelsea nightclub Promenade, located on West 28th between 7th and 8th Avenues. The Daily News says that a patron who "objected to leaving at closing time...pulled a knife and began slashing." Four employees were stabbed and Abdul Taylor was arrested for attempted murder, assault, criminal mischief and criminal possession of a weapon. One neighbor told the News, "There is always noise on this street. We've had [problems] in this club before." WCBS 2 spoke to another resident, who was also frustrated, "There's always something going on, always a problem, always police coming by, being called," but the club's patrons say the club prevent such incidents, "They search you strictly. Guys get it worse than the females."
Four Stabbed At Chelsea Nightclub
Another weekend, another violent incident at a nightclub. Earlier this morning, four people were stabbed at Chelsea nightclub Promenade, on West 28th between 7th and 8th Avenues. The AP reports, "Police say four men were stabbed during a dispute that broke out at about 4:30 Sunday morning," and WABC 7 has a few more details: "Two patrons and four of the club's workers got into some sort of scuffle as the patrons exited the club...A fight broke out, and police say one patron stabbed four of the workers." The victims are in stable conditions while two suspects were arrested. Charges are pending.
BED Rooftop Reawakens Under New Name
Just in time for Sex and the City's big screen release: BED is back. The club was one of the many featured in the HBO series, and is housed, of course, in the Meatpacking District. Last year when a man died there, it was put under a dark spotlight and ended up shutting its doors.
Silence at Shuttered Nightclub Stereo
Stereo, the scene where just two days ago Brione Schneider was shot and killed, is now closed. Sorry clubland kids! The Daily News reports that last night "a police van and five unmarked cars rolled onto W.29th St. at 9 p.m., did a 30-minute sweep of the open but empty nightspot, posted the closing notice and bolted the club's doors." WABC was also on the scene, and has a video of their report here.
Death by Stereo, More Violent Crime in Clubland
Early yesterday morning a 32-year old man was shot and killed outside of Stereo, a so-called hotspot and celeb-touted club at 512 W 29th Street. The dispute leading up to the shooting began inside, but was eventually taken to the street, where Queens resident Brione Schneider was shot and was later pronounced dead at St. Vincent's Hospital. He was the father of a 6-year old boy, managed a Finish Line sports in Brooklyn and was described by his mother as "a very laid-back guy who was about going to work and taking care of his son...[he] was never a problem."

