Steve Caruso, right, attorney for new Crazy Horse Too operator Mike Signorelli, talks to bartender Abel Manrique after the topless club reopened on Wednesday night. The Las Vegas City Council voted to grant Signorelli a liquor license for the club.
Photo by K.M. Cannon.
Nick Stefforn, right, confronts Mike Signorelli, center, as "Buffalo" Jim Barrier looks on Wednesday. Stefforn is a former business associate of Signorelli. Photo by Clint Karlsen.
New management busted out the booze and bare breasts Wednesday, as the Crazy Horse Too Gentlemen's Club reopened.
The Las Vegas City Council granted Mike Signorelli, owner of the Golden Steer Steakhouse, a new liquor license for the topless club earlier in the day. Club owner Rick Rizzolo and 16 employees who pleaded guilty to federal charges this summer will be barred from the property.
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Signorelli will pay Rizzolo $400,000 a month and has an option in the first six months to purchase the club for $45 million.
But a lawsuit looms over the club that could cause Signorelli's license to be revoked.
After Rizzolo's liquor license was revoked, Peter "Chris" Christoff opened a church in a rundown strip mall nearby. Christoff said city law prohibits a liquor license from being granted within 1,500 feet of a church. City Attorney Brad Jerbic disagreed and advised the council not to consider the church in making a decision on the Crazy Horse Too.
Christoff, who is Greek Orthodox though his church is nondenominational Christian, was seen the day the city revoked the liquor license giving the victory sign in front of the club with Steve Miller and "Buffalo" Jim Barrier, longtime foes of Rizzolo.
After Wednesday's decision by the council, Christoff warned of everything except fire and brimstone.
"God will punish those who are corrupt," Christoff said. Just to be sure, though, he said he was going to federal court to file a lawsuit.
Miller and Barrier, who were at the council meeting, called Signorelli a "straw man" for Rizzolo.
On Sept. 6, the City Council issued a $2.2 million fine and revoked Rizzolo's liquor license after federal plea agreements from Rizzolo, the company that owned Crazy Horse Too, and 16 employees. The fine was later reduced to up to $1 million by a judge.
The City Council on Wednesday first addressed the issue of Christoff's church.
Signorelli attorney Steve Caruso noted that the Little Church of Las Vegas is across the street from an adult bookstore and near another strip club. Indeed, the sign for Cheetah's is visible through a window.
Caruso said Signorelli was moved by the testimony of Amy Henry, whose husband, Kirk Henry, was paralyzed after disputing an $80 tab. Amy Henry asked the City Council to allow the club to keep its liquor license so that Rizzolo could sell it and her family could get the balance of the $10 million settlement that was part of the federal plea agreement.
Mayor Oscar Goodman recused himself from participating in the council's vote on Jerbic's advice.
Signorelli told the council that after reviewing audits, revenue at the club was about $11 million to $12 million a year. Caruso told the council that Signorelli had financing almost in place.
The temporary liquor license is good for three months, with a possible extension for up to an additional six months. Meanwhile, Las Vegas police will do a more thorough background check of Signorelli before a permanent liquor license is issued. That could take four to six months.
