Marque loses lease at Gateway Center Marque loses lease at Gateway Center (October 04, 2002)

Nightclub to close by Nov. 30
by Jeb Bing

The controversial Marque Nightclub in the Gateway Square Center on Hopyard Road has lost its lease and will close by Nov. 30, it was announced this week.

Beverly Howell of the Gibson Speno Management Co. said the facilities that house the Marque were actually leased years ago by Tommy Thompson for the Cadillac nightclub. Other clubs followed, but Thompson retained the lease, which he allowed to expire this year.

Without a lease, the Marque will be forced to move, ending a year-long plea by neighbors, police and others to close the club. A police video shown to the Planning Commission and council members recently contained scenes of 100 or more patrons of the Marque in the Gateway Center parking lot at 1:30 a.m. Police and homeowners across Hopyard in the Val Vista community said the crowds were loud, occasionally unruly, and posed noise and safety hazards to the neighborhood.

Although the Planning Commission had recommended revoking a conditional use permit that the city granted years ago for a nightclub operation there, the Marque owners successfully asked the council for time to calm things down. They held several neighborhood meetings but never won the confidence of Val Vista residents that they would improve their operation. After one recent meeting, residents heard a Marque radio commercial that promoted strippers at its nightclub. There were no strippers and a Marque spokesman said it was part of an advertising ploy to gain more customers.

Last Tuesday, Councilwoman Sharrell Michelotti asked for quick action taken to revoke the use permit before another nightclub could occupy the facility. The council agreed with City Attorney Michael Roush, however, who suggested taking no actions that could encourage a lawsuit against the city. Once the Marque is off the property, Roush said the permit issue could be considered.

The Marque, with its front windows painted dark, is located near Sweet Tomatoes and faces Hopyard Road.