Privé files for license after staff changes

The shuttered Privé nightclub and its ultralounge, the Living Room, could reopen sometime this week under a temporary liquor license after the ownership of the location inside Planet Hollywood Resort replaced the management and key employees.

Clark County's Business and License Department revoked the club's liquor license last month, the same day Planet Hollywood Resort agreed to pay a $500,000 fine to Nevada gaming regulators for not properly overseeing activities inside the nightclubs.

An appeal of that ruling had been scheduled to be heard today by Clark County commissioners, but the club's representatives withdrew the request last week and filed new liquor license applications with changes in management and ownership.

A legal source close to the matter said a temporary license could be issued this week.

Privé and Living Room are owned by the Miami-based Opium Group, which leases the space at Planet Hollywood Resort.

In a memorandum to commissioners e-mailed Monday, Clark County Business and License Director Jacqueline Holloway said the new application included the removal Opium Group manager Justin Levine from ownership of Privé. Applications for two new key employees and a security director had been submitted for suitability.

Holloway said the application was complete and could proceed for processing. Safety inspections and a compliance conference by the department, Metropolitan Police, Planet Hollywood Resort and Privé management would need to be conducted.

Once the requirements are met, Privé could be given a 90-day temporary liquor license with 11 different conditions that would expire on Nov. 20. One of the conditions was that the previous managers, Greg Jarmolowich and Frank Tucker, have no involvement in the clubs' operation.

Planet Hollywood Resort, in settling a nine-count complaint with state gaming regulators that charged the resort with being lax in policing illegal activities inside the nightclubs, agreed to exert more control over the operation, including re-working the lease that allows Planet Hollywood Resort to terminate the agreement if illegal activity is discovered.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871.