The party’s over at notorious NV club

By Lauren Dzura

On May 27 the heavy wooden doors of the nightclub NV on the corner of Hudson and Spring Sts. closed for the last time. After making the location its home for 10 years, the club lost its lease and many residents are happily bidding it good riddance.

“The place was a total hellhole. We’re very happy to see it go,” said David Reck, a Community Board 2 member and president of Friends of Hudson Sq.

According to Reck, NV was deceptive in their application to the community board, claiming it would be a small bar on the first floor only and would close at midnight. However, once the community board approved its application under these circumstances, NV submitted an application as a club to the State Liquor Authority and expanded to two floors. About eight months after the nightclub opened, a string of violent behavior began.

“We’re very familiar with NV and the trouble that we’ve been responding to there for the past few years,” said Lieutenant Rob Christie, First Precinct operations officer. Most recently, on April 28, rapper Memphis Bleek and a friend were arrested and charged with second-degree assault in connection with beating an NV busboy. In April 2002 a man was stabbed in the leg after being attacked by six to eight men, and another man was slashed across the forehead in an incident in March 2003.

Residents have long complained about noise outside the club and finding condoms and drug paraphernalia outside.

However, employees of the club thought they were respectful to neighbors. “We tried to keep the neighborhood in mind. There was no smoking outside or inside,” said Victor Wilkinson, an NV worker.

Residents’ worries may finally be put to rest because Trinity Real Estate Group, owner of the building on 304 Hudson St. that housed NV says it is not looking to put another bar/club in the space.

“We want to put something more upscale in that area,” said Thomas Lynch, assistant director of leasing at Trinity Real Estate. Ideas for the vacant space include an art gallery or restaurant. Lynch said these are “easier tenants” than a bar or nightclub.

On June 6 the club, having lost its lease, held an open auction to get rid of everything inside. The white walls, floors and couches were stripped bare and everything was laid out with bright orange stickers indicating the auction number. Speakers, couches, glasses, refrigerators, dishwashing machines and sinks were among things being auctioned off.

The event mainly drew people who go to auctions as a hobby, as well as to get items for personal use or for business. Arthur Gregory, owner of A&M Roadhouse bar and restaurant on Murray St., said one has to be careful when there is a crowd.

“Agents bid up to almost-new prices,” he said of auctioneers who take advantage of inexperienced bidders.

Some of the items sold by Vincent J. Casale Auctioneers were a stainless steel working dishwasher went for $125, an ice machine with ice still in it for $800, a sink for $40 and a bottle cooler for $125. Everything purchased was for immediate removal, permanently emptying any remains of the club.