Although the crowds have been smaller since Platinum Club owner Tharol Branch had to defend himself against what he called “negative publicity” about his establishment late last year, he remains open for business.
“It’s open as usual,” Branch said of the downtown Kinston nightspot, which is in the former Paramount Theater.
The Platinum Club hosted a Mardi Gras-theme party last weekend.
The club opened in 2008, and has gained a reputation for being a site of violent and nuisance crimes — several shootings have taken place near the club in recent years, and the establishment has been in the crosshairs of Kinston business and civic leaders.
Pride of Kinston Executive Director Adrian King went before the Kinston City Council in November and asked city officials to remove what he called “this scar on our downtown.”
“It has decimated my crowds, all of the negative publicity,” Branch said.
City leaders discussed what options they had during the November meeting, but City Manager Tony Sears said the city did not have statutory authority to shut the business down.
Kinston Department of Public Safety Director Bill Johnson said police had been called to the club 12 times in 2012.
Johnson said Tuesday “things have been relatively good” recently.
“They actually called and requested that we be in the area when they do dispersals, but we have not had any issues,” he said of the club’s management.
King said Tuesday he and Pride board members had not embarked on a “campaign” to close the Platinum Club.
“We don’t change our option about it, but we’re not going to purposefully go around all the corners and try to wedge somebody to take action,” he said.
King added: “The place is not a very positive, role model neighbor.”
Branch leased the building from the late Ted Sampley, the owner of a number of downtown properties and businesses.
The property, along with several others downtown, was inherited by Sampley’s two children when he passed away in 2009.
Owen Lane Sampley, who owns the Paramount Theater with his sister Wendy, declined to comment for this story.
The Sampleys had posted an eviction notice on the club door after the November council meeting, giving Branch until Dec. 23 to leave, but Branch remains open and expects to be open in the future.
“Obviously, it’s resolved,” he said. “I have paid my bills.”
Branch said he had lost at least one major gospel party due to the negative publicity. He also struggled to bring in holiday crowds.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are critical times for club owners, as they are some of the most popular times of the year for going out.
“I’ve struggled all the way through the holiday,” he said.
Branch said he is working to bring in more church groups and have parties for children at the club.
“I’d like to do kids’ parties and things like that,” he said.
David Anderson can be reached at 252-559-1077 or David.Anderson@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at DavidFreePress.