The Columbus City Attorney’s office has filed suit against the owners of The Doll House strip club in the Northland neighborhood, asking the court for a preliminary injunction to shut down the club after a January shooting that left one man dead and three injured.
City Attorney Zach Klein’s office wants the court to declare the strip club a public nuisance, and said in a release that it wants to close The Doll House in the near term until the owners can demonstrate they can address safety and security problems or face closure of up to a year.
“The level of violence and criminal conduct at this business is unacceptable, and while owners have indicated they want to step up to make changes, this lawsuit allows the city to step in as needed to hold owners accountable,” Klein said in an emailed statement. “The city needs to see a real commitment to substantially improve safety and security, and will not hesitate to take appropriate legal action if those benchmarks aren’t met.”
The most recent violent incident at the club happened around 2:15 a.m. on Jan. 29, when Charles T. Smith, 37, was shot and killed. Columbus police have an arrest warrant out for Travis Ingram, 21, of Canton.
Two women, ages 23 and 24, were also shot and taken to a local hospital in stable condition. A fourth victim suffered a graze wound.
On Sept. 28, Columbus police responded to the strip club after five people were wounded in a shooting just outside the club after a large fight. Two men were charged in that shooting.
The city attorney’s office said that according to court documents, Columbus police have taken 51 incident reports at the Doll House, 1680 Karl Ct., since January 2021 for the homicide, plus shootings, a robbery, felony assaults, overdoses and motor vehicle thefts.
In addition, emergency responders have gone to the club just south of Route 161 (East Dublin-Granville Road) some 180 times for fights, shootings, sex crimes, overdoses, a burglary and a stabbing.
In December, the Columbus City Council objected to the renewal of The Doll House’s liquor permit. There will be a hearing later this year before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission.
The city’s lawsuit said Yelena Nersesian and Armenak Stepanian, both of Reynoldsburg, and Raisa Gunkina, of Columbus, own the property through 1680 Properties Ltd. Operator Greg Flaig of Gahanna was also named.
The owners and operator could not immediately be reached for comment. No one answered the phone at the club Thursday and there was no means to leave a message.
The lawyer listed in the suit representing the ownership group, Keith Golden of Columbus, told The Dispatch that he doesn’t represent the club now.