DETROIT – Neighbors near the Wall Street Ultra Lounge on Detroit’s west side say late-night activity around the club has escalated from noisy crowds to fights and gunfire, and they want city leaders to intervene.
One neighbor said, “I have been hearing a lot of gunshots.”
Tuesday (March 17) afternoon, the Detroit Police Department shut down the establishment located on James Couzens near Schaefer.
“We are sick and tired of our community members feeling unsafe because of establishments like this. Our message to all bar owners is get y’all stuff together or y’all getting shutdown,” DPD Director of Media Relations Jasmin Barmore said.
None of the nearby residents interviewed before the business was shut down wanted to appear on camera, but they did want to speak out about what they’re seeing and hearing during the overnight hours.
One described crowds spilling into the street late at night.
“By 11, 11:30 p.m., that’s when they spill out, and they’re out here on the screaming, hollering, acting fool,” said a long-time resident on the block.
Neighbors said this past weekend, they once again heard gunshots.
Detroit police said they are investigating the weekend incident, but they could not confirm whether anyone was injured.
Community group New Era Detroit also weighed in online, posting about the latest incident and reiterating its view that Detroit should reevaluate how neighborhood bars are structured and regulated.
Earlier this month, the group appeared before the Detroit City Council after the killing of Michael Brown — also known as Mike B — outside of Suite 100, about 1.5 miles from the Wall Street Ultra Lounge.
Council member Angela Whitfield Calloway is now exploring an ordinance targeting after-hours establishments.
Neighbors said tighter oversight is needed.
One resident said, “They’re going to have to be better regulated.”
Management at the Wall Street Ultra Lounge told Local 4 that there are no problems on their property.