When Tharol Branch leased the old Paramount Theatre from the late Ted Sampley in 2008, he was simply trying to own a successful business.
Five years later, through many critical comments, violations, ordinances and even one condemnation, Branch — the owner of the Platinum Club on N. Queen Street — is still here, shocking many, himself included.
“To this day, I’m surprised I’m still here,” Branch said. “It seems like I’ve been attacked in every type of way, but the club is still open.”
The club, usually open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m., had a small crowd on a recent Thursday night. Kinston resident David Bell was there, saying there was a very good vibe in the atmosphere.
“I came out here to support my friend, have a few drinks and listen to hip-hop music in a relaxed environment,” said Bell, a local political activist and founder of IndyLeft PAC. “I feel more comfortable in this club than any other in Kinston, so when it’s open, I’m out here showing.”
Not everyone has the same sentiment. Pride of Kinston Executive Director Adrian King showed his displeasure for the club at a city council meeting in November, saying the place was “an eyesore in the heart of downtown.”
King hasn’t been as vitriolic with his feelings about the Platinum Club since then — but hasn’t altered his opinion either.
“There have been people on the board who have supported my position,” King said. “It wasn’t about whoever was in the building; it was about people getting shot, stabbed and the mayhem taking place. We do not have a daily campaign to undermine the club. It’s up to others to take action if they see fit, but I’m not backing off of my position and there are quite a few people who agree with me.”
Christopher Maroules, the owner of the club’s Queen Street neighbor Christopher’s Café, said he hasn’t seen this much activity in the downtown area since 1981 and felt the club didn’t fit in with the current renovations and improvements to downtown.
“Considering the progression of the downtown area, it’s not the right fit,” Maroules said. “What kind of message does it present to you?”
Maroules also pointed out the amount of liquor and beer bottles scattered in a nearby parking lot. Although he said he wasn’t completely sure it came from the Platinum Club, Maroules noted there isn’t another place in the area with a liquor license.
“I know it isn’t coming from here and they aren’t Mother Earth bottles,” Maroules said. “Maybe it’s not (Branch’s) fault. Maybe it’s the city’s responsibility to clean up. Whatever the case, there are bars across the city that don’t have the same amount of litter or violence.”
Representatives with the Kinston Department of Public Safety Law Enforcement Division said The Platinum Club has generated 39 reports since 2010. In five incidents, the club received a “white card,” meaning police came to inspect the area, but no report was filed.
Also, there were nine incidents occurring past 4 a.m., at least one hour after the club is closed. Five of those incidents came in the afternoon, including one in 2011 where a suspect stole a television from the club.
“I had a meeting with Lt. Annette Boyd several months ago about the club’s record,” Branch said. “We talked for about two and a half hours, and only four or five cases held weight to them, and those weren’t even major issues. Some of the incidents counted two or three times in the reports as well.”
Boyd was not available for comment for this report.
After viewing the police reports provided to him by The Free Press, Branch couldn’t determine how many incidents happened in his club, but said some happened around the area.
“I can control the people inside of the club,” Branch said. “Outside of the club, sometimes, it can be a different story.”
KDPS Director Bill Johnson went through the Platinum Club’s 39 reports. Johnson said 26 of the reports happened outside of the club.
Included with the reports of instances inside the club were the five white cards, lowering the amount of cases to eight. Still, the amount of reported incidents around the Platinum Club has given the spot a bad reputation, hurting the integrity of the place and the amount of money it brought in.
“In 2010, I was doing well and the club was making a great amount of money,” Branch said. “I haven’t seen anything close to what I was making back then.”
Branch’s biggest blow came in February. Returning from his annual birthday trip to Atlantic City with club patrons, Branch came back to Kinston and saw several signs on his building stating it was condemned, with a barricade around it. Branch contacted the building owner, Lane Sampley, who was surprised to hear about the notices.
“I didn’t even receive a notice in the mail that it was condemned,” Sampley said. “Basically, the inspector said the building didn’t have a good foundation and the marquee was in danger of collapsing. I quickly sent a contractor, who informed me the only thing on the marquee was a little bit of storm water and the drain needed to be fixed. Some of the paneling was loose, and all of that was immediately taken care of.
“The marquee couldn’t collapse. There are four steel beams connected into the building itself. There are also chains connected to the wall and if that had collapsed, so would the building. Why it was condemned, I don’t know.”
Branch decided to keep the club running through the weekend, with patrons still coming in to enjoy themselves.
“I was told I could still open up the club, but I just couldn’t take down the signs,” Branch said. “I moved the barricades to the side where people could get to the doors and ran things like I normally would. People would ask about the signs, and when I told them, they would say things like ‘the building is good’ and walk in.”
With the steady stream of support, Branch is still on a path for full ownership of the building, which he believes he’ll acquire in about five years.
“Right now, my focus is being the first black owner of The Paramount Theatre,” Branch said. “For me, to own such a historic building coming from where I’ve come from, it’s a huge deal to me.”
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.