Is liquor now a no-no at Austintown’s Go Go?

Photo

Sebastian Rucci

By Elise Franco

efranco@vindy.com

Austintown

Whether the Go Go Girls Cabaret on Clarkins Drive still holds a valid liquor permit depends on whom you ask.

The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control issued a letter Monday to owner Sebastian Rucci stating that the club’s liquor license is revoked.

“All administrative and legal remedies have concluded with regard to the [Go Go] liquor permit,” the letter states. “As a result, your liquor permit is no longer in force, and you no longer have privileges to sell alcoholic beverages.”

Rucci signed the notice, acknowledging that he received it, but he wouldn’t turn over the liquor license.

Rucci wrote on the notice and signed with his initials: “Refused to tender license. See appeal attached. Agreed to close pending resolution.”

Dan Tierney, spokesman for the Department of Commerce, said the license is revoked, and the club is not on the state’s list of establishments with valid permits.

Tierney said the list, which can be found on the Department of Commerce website under liquor control, is up to date. The Go Go Girls Cabaret is not listed.

Police Chief Robert Gavalier said he is aware of the matter but declined to comment.

Despite his response to the notice, Rucci said the club will remain open and operational. When contacted Wednesday night, a Go Go spokeswoman said the club was open and serving liquor.

Over the past three years, Rucci has been in and out of state and federal courts appealing attempts to revoke the club’s permit.

Rucci said Atty. James Vitullo will file a motion today with the Franklin County Court of Appeals in Columbus. It would seek a stay of the license revocation until a separate appeal, which was filed Wednesday, is resolved.

Vitullo on Wednesday filed, in the same court, an appeal of the Dec. 22, 2010, judgment entry that denied the club’s motion to dismiss the case.

Rucci said after the Dec. 22 decision that the court clerk failed to serve him a final notice of the judgment, making his appeal — though six months later — valid and timely. Rucci said he stands by his appeal.