News

Beleaguered nightclub up for sale

The owners of Madison's infamous Club Majestic officially put the property up for sale at a price of $1.6 million this weekend. Their announcement comes after a series of dangerous events caused police to put restrictions on the club's liquor license earlier this month.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the Schiavo family bought the building in 2002 to convert it from a movie theater to a nightclub. Yet in recent months, Verveer said, the Majestic has sparked serious crimes and assaults nearby.

Verveer, whose district includes the Majestic property, said since the whole property is up for sale, it will be up to the buyer to do what they want with the building. If the next owner did wish to keep the property as a nightclub, all charges against the Majestic would be dropped, he added.

Though the Majestic is currently under heavy scrutiny from both the city and the Madison Police Department, officials at this point are unsure of the effect new owners will have.

Mary Carbine, Madison's central business improvement district executive director, said there are other facts which contribute to the safety of the area.

"I know the city has a process in place it believes is the way to effect the needed changes," she said. "And I think we really can't say whether selling the club will necessarily contribute to safety."

Verveer said he hopes the Majestic, an official historic landmark, continues to be used for entertainment under the new owner. He also commended the Schiavo family for their hard work in transforming the old theater into a central place of entertainment for downtown Madison.

"My first choice … would be to use it as an entertainment venue — I actually wish they could show more films there," Verveer said. "I think a lot of people would really be sad if the interior of the club was gutted for another use."