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Date: 4/4/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Some people loathed it; other people loved it, but all would agree it is the end of an era.
The Mardi Gras Gentlemen’s Club reportedly closed on March 30 after the city block that houses the club and other businesses was sold to a developer based in Queens, New York, named Zahoor Riaz.
The transaction for $2.3 million was recorded on March 27 at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds between Ibrahim Holdings LLC and B.S.C. Realty founded in 1991 and owned by James Santaniello of Longmeadow.
People who rent monthly parking at the block’s parking lot were notified this week they needed to find a new parking location after March 31.
Riaz toured the building and met tenants of the building on March 29. Those include the owners of Smokey Joe’s Cigar Lounge, the 350 Grille, Cajun-on-the-Go, The X Room at the Mardi Gras and CreepSheek Studio hair salon.
The owners of Cajun-On-the-Go, Smokey Joe’s Cigar Lounge and CreepSheek Studio told Reminder Publishing they were informed their current rental/lease arrangements remain intact. They all intend to continue doing business in their present location.
"Nothing has changed for us,” Lisa Hooker of Cajun-on-the-Go said.
A sheriff’s deputy delivered eviction notices to the handful of people who live in the building on March 29.
The property has 66,028 square feet of space on 1.59 acres in downtown Springfield. The parking lot is designed for more than 138 vehicles. According to real estate listings, the property is located in an Opportunity Zone and qualifies for tax incentives.
The listing noted the strip club could be sold on its own. “The business can be acquired separately and could include the name, all furniture, fixtures, bars, stages, equipment and all licenses for the operation of the business including the liquor license,” the listing read.
When asked by Reminder Publishing what are the plans for the building, Attorney Richard Herbert said, “We have ideas.”
He added the rumors the developer would turn at least part of the building into housing was “a thought.”
He added, “There is a lot of preliminary stuff that has not been done yet [for potential housing].”
He explained that Riaz is interested in keeping the business tenants on the property and wants to maintain “the status quo.”
Speaking about the strip club he said, “Right now as we speak there aren’t any efforts to oust them.”
Despite that statement, employees at the club have said they have been told the club will be closing on April 8. For several weeks prior to this week’s announcement several large dumpsters were in the parking lot filled with items cleaned from the four-story building. Performers were told to clean out their lockers.
Rumors about the future of the property have been circulating for several years when the block was put up for sale with an asking price of $4 million as noted on a realtor’s website. It was later reduced to $3 million.
The property was built in 1888 as a factory building. At one point a women’s clothing company there manufactured apparel.
From 1980 to 1996, the second floor of the building accessible from its 395 Dwight St. entrance was the home of the Zone Arts Center, which presented music events and gallery showing, among other arts offerings.
The strip club has seen its share of notoriety. There have been shootings in the club as well as in the parking lot. In 2018, it hosted adult film star Stormy Daniels after her revelation of a one-night stand with former President Donald Trump.
In 2019, the Massachusetts State Police, the FBI and the IRS raided the club and removed boxes of evidence, which to date have not resulted in any further action.