Crazy Horse Too Closes

03:24 PM PT, Sep 13 2006

Rick Rizzolo and Crazy Horse Too lost their court challenge to the city's revocation of the club's liquor license. Though the club could continue to offer topless entertainment and serve pop, water and juice, Rizzolo elected to close the club two days after losing his right to serve alcohol.

No mention has been made of any punishment for the period when Rizzolo appeared to have allowed liquor service after the revocation. Revealed in the court process though was that while the club had a liquor license, there was a sale in place for a Stuart Cadwell to purchase Crazy Horse Too for $45 million. But Caldwell told the Review-Journal that the deal would be no longer binding if Crazy Horse Too lost its license.

Mayor Goodman testified in the hearing, mentioning his "social relationship" with Rizzolo as well as an attorney-client one in the past. As for his abstention from voting on whether to revoke Crazy Horse Too's liquor license, the Review-Journal reports: "Goodman said he has also since concluded he never did have a conflict of interest in the matter."

Rizzolo's next move is to go back to the City Council and ask them to reconsider. He can also try more court actions. But my guess is that Rizzolo will return to the Council, where Oscar Goodman and so many others have in the past always been so friendly to Crazy Horse Too and its owner.

(Photo: Rhonda Churchill / AP)

For years, the city's examinations of Rizzolo's propensity to hire people rumored to have organized crime connections and criminal backgrounds have been a joke. Rizzolo's Christmas parties have always been a favorite invite for local bigwigs.

But now with Rizzolo and 16 others currently or formerly connected to him or the club accepting criminal plea deals in June to federal cases the city council's decision to revoke the licence was not hasty: it was belated. There is no reason to revisit it.

Rizzolo's company pleaded guilty to a racketeering-related charge while Rizzolo pleaded guilty on a felony involving taxes. Why should the city compromise with Rizzolo or in some other way help to preserve the club's sale by guaranteeing the new owner the license? It is not the job of Las Vegas to keep the plea deal together or to assist Rizzolo in getting the optimum price for his club. But I suspect the that the City Council deep down still has a soft spot for Rizzolo and will be there for him in this hour of need. I hope I am wrong about that.

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