County considers Galardi license

Tuesday, April 26, 2005 | 9:38 a.m.

The Clark County Commission was expected to decide today whether or not booze can flow again at Leopard Lounge.

The strip club at 3500 West Naples Drive near West Tropicana Avenue was denied a liquor license last month amid Metro Police reports of solicitation of prostitution at owner Jack Galardi's topless clubs in other states.

Clark County commissioners, acting as the County Liquor and Gaming Licensing board, were expected to re-hear Galardi's application at a meeting this morning. Galardi appeared before the board March 22 to secure a liquor license, only to be shot down 6-0 by the commission.

Commissioners last month said their decision was based on reports that solicitation of prostitution and illegal touching between strippers and patrons occurred at Galardi's other clubs in Florida and Georgia.

Dominic Gentile, Galardi's attorney, said in March that they would fight the decision to deny the license in either district or federal court. Gentile did not return phone calls Monday.

Last month Gentile argued that the board failed to evaluate the club's performance during the year Galardi was in charge, instead focusing on events at other clubs. By late March, dancers at the Leopard Lounge recieved one citation and one warning, which is fewer than dancers at most other Southern Nevada clubs, Gentile said.

Jack Galardi is the father of Michael Galardi, who owned and ran the Jaguars and Cheetahs strip clubs in Las Vegas until September 2003. Prosecutors had alleged Michael Galardi paid local politicians thousands of dollars in exchange for favorable votes involving the Las Vegas clubs and sister properties in San Diego.

The younger Galardi was part owner of the Leopard Lounge in addition to the two other clubs before he sold his interests to his father. He later pleaded guilty to the bribery charges.