Go Go Cabaret owner to fight revocation of liquor license

By Elise Franco

Township officials said they are confident they’ll win any appeals by Go Go Cabaret.

AUSTINTOWN — Go Go Cabaret owner Sebastian Rucci must file a new appeal with the Ohio Liquor Control Commission to be able to serve alcohol at his nightclub, the commission’s executive director said.

Jada Brady, executive director, said a federal stay issued earlier this year — stopping the state from revoking the Go Go’s liquor license — is for a separate appeals case. The commission issued notice to Rucci late last week that the revocation of his liquor permit would take effect Dec. 18 at noon.

“There was an appeals case, in which he went to federal court,” Brady said. “What took place in November was a citations hearing, which is separate.”

Rucci said he’s not surprised by the commission’s decision.

“We weren’t shocked from the liquor commission’s hearing,” he said.

Rucci previously said he would continue to serve alcohol at the club past Dec. 18 under that first federal stay.

But Brady said that stay has to do with an appeal on the decision not to renew the club’s liquor license — and has no effect on the recent revocation. She said Rucci will need to file a new appeal for the citations case.

The recent citations hearing was for nine violations, mostly related to illegal drug activities after a raid of the business by law enforcement in April.

The Go Go, located on Clarkins Drive in Austintown, has about three weeks to appeal the decision through a common pleas court, according to court documents.

Rucci said he plans to file an appeal this week.

“That’s a given, and actually it’ll be in two steps,” he said. “First a motion to reconsider and then a notice of appeal.”

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.