Bar-time violence once again shook the King Street area Friday night, with several fights breaking out at Club Majestic.
Madison Police were called to the club shortly after 2 a.m. when a fight erupted inside the building. After an officer arrived and attempted to restore order, several more fights broke out within the club. Those fights then ""moved out on the street,"" according to a police statement released Saturday.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he spoke to club owner Nick Schiavo about the fighting. According to Schiavo, most of the club became involved in a number of fights before police were called.
""It was so crazy and out of control that not even the experienced Majestic security could handle it,"" Verveer said.
Verveer, who sits on the city's Alcohol License Review Committee, said Club Majestic could soon lose its liquor license as a result.
Club Majestic has been the target of repeated calls for safety in the downtown area in recent months. Police and city officials have publicly stated that the club is a problem following a handful of brawls this summer. In one altercation a man was stabbed and in another gunshots were reported.
However, owners Jim and Nick Schiavo maintain that club is safe and say racism is behind criticism of Club Majestic. The club, which routinely features live DJ shows on Friday and Saturday nights, draws a large black crowd and has established itself as a top hip-hop club in Madison.
Central District Police Captain Mary Schauf is responsible for overseeing policing of the King Street area. She said much of the violence around Club Majestic is hard to prosecute, given the high level of animosity toward police.
""Even the people that get hurt in these situations usually aren't very forthcoming,"" Schauf said. ""And there's not a whole lot we can do when nobody will tell us what happened.""
The number of officers on duty during bar time on weekends was recently doubled in response to off-campus muggings and violence at Club Majestic. However, there are only 18 police officers to cover all of downtown Madison, Schauf noted.
Schauf said heavy policing of Club Majestic would only amount to a ""short-term intervention,"" adding that the city needs to develop a long-term plan to stop future violence before it starts. In particular, she pointed to the high density of bars and clubs in the downtown area.
Jaime McCarville, an executive member of Capitol Neighborhoods Inc., also said too many liquor licenses have lead to increased violence on and around King Street.
""The city hasn't developed a responsible strategy for downtown bars,"" McCarville said. ""This violence really calls for a complete moratorium on issuing new licenses.""
McCarville added that the large number of bars and clubs downtown creates a ""criminal zone of opportunity"" at bar time.
""It's easy pickings down here,"" she said.
