Hamilton’s Club 33 closed for serving alcohol a day after liquor licence revoked: police

A downtown Hamilton nightclub has been shut down for serving alcohol just one day after it had its liquor licence revoked.

Hamilton police and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario suspended the liquor licence of Club 33 last Friday following a shooting that left three people injured near the establishment the weekend before.

“These premises have been the focal point of numerous violent incidents in the area, including several shootings, recovered firearms, assaults, and bar disturbances,” reads a police statement issued Tuesday.

However, it was discovered that Club 33 was violating the order early Saturday morning when police saw patrons were being served alcohol and smoking on the property.

READ MORE: AGCO suspends liquor license of Club 33 in Hamilton

Officers then shut down the nightclub located at 33 Bowen St., and had all bar staff and patrons leave the building.

Later that day, police say they seized alcohol and a small amount of cocaine and methamphetamine when they were executing a search warrant at Club 33.

Authorities say the nightclub remained closed for the rest of the weekend and charges are pending.

“Club 33 has been in the centre of a number of violent incidents in the city over the past couple of years,” Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk told CHCH News.

“We have a number of incidents that we can relate back to the bar, whether it be calls for bar disturbances, assaults inside the bar, assaults outside the bar, shootings inside the bar, shootings outside the bar — these are patrons that are frequenting that particular establishment,” he added.

READ MORE: 6 injured across Hamilton over weekend of violence

Hamilton police also shut down nearby Sankofa Lounge and Restaurant overnight Saturday because they didn’t remove signs of alcohol service by 2:45 a.m. An investigation into that incident remains ongoing.