UPFRONT CLEVELAND CONCERT VENUES ANNOUNCE MANDATORY VAX POLICY MORE THAN A DOZEN REGIONAL music clubs and theaters including the Agora, the Beachland, the Bop Stop, Grog Shop, Happy Dog, Jilly’s Music Room, Mahall’s, Music Box, Musica, the Nightlight, the Rialto Theatre, Westside Bowl and the Winchester, have jointly decided to require proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 tests for entry into their venues. “Many national touring bands are now requiring that venues have a policy of only vaccinated staff members on site during their show and that patrons also prove they have been vaccinated or are COVID negative,” says Beachland Ballroom & Tavern co-owner Cindy Barber in a press release. “And some may still require masks, but this policy may help keep our schedules mostly intact. As Northeast Ohio venues, we all want to have the same base policy so our fans can understand and feel protected when they come out to support live music.” The new policy will be in full effect no later than Tuesday, Sept. 7. Patrons will be required to show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test within 48 hours of entry at venues throughout Northeast Ohio. These restrictions will remain in place indefinitely and are subject to change with current public health conditions and as guidance is reevaluated. “As regional venue owners and operators, we are united in prioritizing the health and safety of our patrons, staff, artists — and our businesses,” says Jilly’s Music Room owner Jill Bacon Madden. “We were thrilled to reopen and invite people to gather and celebrate live music, performances, and film again. The rise in COVID cases coupled with vaccine hesitancy is a threat to the live entertainment economy. We are committed to taking positive action to get through and rise above it.” Happy Dog co-owner Sean Watterson agrees with Madden. “Venues locally and across the country just re-opened after over a year of being closed due to COVID safety concern,” he says. “We need to do what we can to operate safely and realize these are imperfect solutions to problems that are largely
Owners of local clubs outside the Happy Dog.
out of our control. We are working with local partners on solutions to continually improve safety for audiences, performers and staff, and we recognize that, as conditions change, we will need to adapt and adjust our efforts.” Acceptable documentation may be a physical or digital copy of a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or other proof as permitted locally that can be matched with a Driver’s License or State ID. A test result must be in the form of written documentation. Guests are strongly encouraged to wear masks regardless of vaccination status except while actively eating and drinking. The Agora, owned by AEG Presents, will accept negative Covid tests through Oct. 1, but only vaccinations afterward. -Jeff Niesel
Emanuel Wallace
Former Mobster who Scammed Flats East Bank with Phony Restaurants Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges Frank Capri, a former mobster turned government witness turned developer who scammed the East Bank of the Flats with Toby Keith and Rascal Flatts-branded restaurants that never opened, pleaded guilty last week in Arizona to federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and tax evasion. Capri’s scheme, which began in 2011 and continued through 2015 both in Cleveland and around the country, involved inflating revenue projections for the planned restaurants to convince developers to increase tenant improvement funds for the properties. Capri’s company would then reduce actual construction costs — including
creating fake contractors, acting as their own contractor, creating false documents, submitting fake invoices — to pocket the difference between the developer’s outlay and their costs. Twenty to 40 franchises were sold to developers, but most never opened after lengthy, intentional construction delays. Capri’s company (Boomtown) failed to pay taxes, racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax liens and faced some $30 million in lawsuits. (That number had climbed to $65 million in judgments by 2017.) The Feds say between 2011 and 2015, Capri collected some $12.9 million for Toby Keith restaurants that never sold a thing. Meanwhile, Capri transferred millions from Boomtown’s bank account to his personal one, spent at least $2.7 million of the illegal funds on jewelry alone, and underreported his income
August 25-September 7, 2021 | clevescene.com |
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