SEATTLE — The owner of Waid’s nightclub, often accused of being a hub for illegal activity, said a state judge has moved to revoke his liquor license.
The final decision by the Washington State Liquor Control Board, however, may not happen until next month.
Waid Sainvil said he has been pleading his case in court regarding three 19-year-olds who came in with fake ID cards he said were provided to them by Seattle police.
“The judge actually ruled against me, saying it’s my fault,” Sainvil said.
But that’s not the only case he’s contesting. On another occasion, Sainvil said undercover officers came into Waid’s and bought marijuana days before it became legal in the state of Washington.
“If you do any sting operation anywhere in Seattle, you’re going to have that,” Sainvil said.
KIRO 7 asked if that then means his club and other establishments should all do better at keeping drugs and underage customers out.
Sainvil said his security guards have all been properly trained.
He told KIRO 7 he does not serve minors. Regarding the teens with fake IDs, he said, “It’s really hard to differentiate. Is it that girl or is it not?”
But a woman living near Waid’s said the establishment has a reputation for serving underage patrons.
“I just have friends that may or may not have fake IDs. I just don’t think they’re all that convincing,” said Alyssa Sanchez de la Vega.
She said on Sunday nights, the noise is from Waid’s is so loud she has to go to the library to study late, knowing she cannot sleep until the early morning hours when club patrons go home.
She said one time when she was walking near Waid’s, she heard “someone screaming, like repeatedly, ‘I’m going to f-ing kill you.’”
Another neighbor, Carissa Perkins, called the police about two weeks ago when she gunfire on 13th Avenue.
Perkins said, “I know there’s a community of people that centers around that place, and I don’t want them to lose that. But it’s just a matter of being a good neighbor.”
But Sainvil said he made sure to confirm that those people were not actually at his club that night.
Sainvil said no matter what happens, he will fight all the way. He said if he loses his liquor license, he may change the club to a hookah lounge.
KIRO
