SEATTLE — The city of Seattle says a Belltown bar and nightclub has a laundry list of violations, including lacking an automatic fire sprinkler system.
It filed court documents on Nov. 14 asking a municipal court judge to require the Ampersand Lounge to pay civil penalties or even shut down until it is in compliance.
The city also cites a “pattern of violating the Seattle Fire Code,” including going over capacity.
“I'm very frustrated with city, fire marshal, and police,” manager Dhiresh Tewari said. “There are more problems that they need to take care of rather than this Mickey Mouse [business].”
KIRO 7 was the first to show Tewari the city’s complaint.
It states that the business has failed to install an automatic sprinkler system, as required in a Notice of Violation from the Seattle Fire Department from 2012.
“They're saying basically in this that they've given you time,” KIRO 7 said.
“No, we need more time!” Tewari said. “This is a $200,000 investment.”
The city also states that the lounge is only allowed to have 94 people inside but has, on several occasions, allowed hundreds more, including approximately 300 people on Oct. 12, 2014.
Tewari said he didn’t recall the event. He said the club will not be going over capacity again.
“If I have violated it, I have corrected it,” he said.
The complaint also states that the business failed to have a fire separation wall inspected or approved.
The Ampersand Lounge isn’t the only Belltown bar Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes is eyeing.
In October, his office asked the Washington Liquor Control Board to suspend the liquor license at Cellars restaurant and bar after a shooting outside and other alleged problems.
The liquor board has not made a decision.
Tewari said his landlord is already taking steps to install sprinklers.
Sarah Gilmore, a customer inside the lounge on Tuesday night, said she wasn’t worried.
“It's not something that I’m overly concerned about,” she said.
But Kyle Kennedy, who lives nearby, said he is. He recalled the New Year’s arson at Neighbours, where a sprinkler system was essential.
“If something goes wrong, you want to know that everyone's going to be safe and protected,” he said.
The city attorney’s office said it doesn’t expect a ruling from the judge until the Ampersand Lounge files an answer to the complaint.