At a packed Las Vegas City Council meeting on Wednesday, community members and performers rallied to keep the popular Arts District spot Cork & Thorn open. The venue, known for open‑mic poetry, comedy and karaoke nights, serves as a gathering place for people of color who say they have few similar options in downtown Las Vegas.
Council approves conditional reopening
After a deadly stabbing in the nearby parking lot in September, the city shut the nightclub down. Less than a month later, council members voted to allow the business to operate again, but only under stricter conditions. The new requirements include mandatory on‑site security personnel, reduced operating hours, a strict no‑weapons policy and a city‑approved safety plan that must be followed at all times.
Supporters argue the venue is unfairly blamed
Comedian Sixx8 Tha Gr68t, a regular performer, praised Cork & Thorn for giving emerging artists a stage to share their stories. “When I first started doing comedy, Cork & Thorn was one of the first places that allowed us to have an open mic,” he said. He added that the space provides a rare venue where people of color can laugh at their pain, struggles and victories together.
Kiki Harris, co‑host of the venue’s karaoke night, questioned why the establishment is being held responsible for violence that occurred in a city‑run parking lot. “If it was any business downtown, no matter what the demographic is, they’re not shutting the casinos down because they bring money,” she argued.
Police and city officials explain the restrictions
Metro Police Lieutenant explained two prior incidents that prompted the city’s caution. In March, a gun was brandished in the parking lot, leading a patron who saw the weapon to believe he had been shot, and he was subsequently stabbed. A separate incident in May involved a shooting in the lot after an interior fight, prompting an emergency closure at that time.
Owner Randi Garrett acknowledged the incidents but emphasized that the venue responded quickly and that the stabbing occurred outside the building. “The first time actually was not an incident inside. Yes, he got stabbed in the parking lot but he came back to us for protection,” Garrett said.
Council members weigh in on public safety
Councilmember Shondra Summers‑Armstrong suggested that the city consider deploying U.S. Marshals to monitor the city‑run parking area, noting staffing constraints for Metro Police. Councilmember Olivia Diaz, whose district includes Cork & Thorn, voted to keep the venue open while adding further restrictions, such as additional hour reductions and a temporary suspension of the business’s hookah license.
Diaz stressed the council’s duty to protect public health and safety. “It’s our responsibility to ensure the public’s health, safety and welfare above everything else,” she said.
Financial impact and next steps
Garrett expressed concern that the new rules could strain the venue’s finances. “Again, I’m grateful that I’m open. It’s not so much for me, it’s for the people that come in, for my employees, the joy that it brings,” she said.
The venue will appear before the City Council again in February for a review of compliance with the new safety measures. The council also indicated that the hookah license could be reconsidered based on the venue’s adherence to the restrictions.
Community response
Local residents and performers continue to advocate for a balanced approach that protects public safety without silencing a cultural hub that supports artistic expression and community cohesion. The ongoing dialogue reflects the city’s broader effort to maintain a vibrant downtown while addressing legitimate safety concerns.
Original reporting: News 3 KSNV Las Vegas (local) — read the source article.
