MIAMI, FL (WRMT) – Owners of several businesses, including, Ball and Chain, filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Miami, alleging they weaponized city departments to run those once-booming businesses out of town. The jury selection process begins on Monday regarding a 2019 civil lawsuit by a nightclub co-owner who accused Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo of illegally targeting his businesses after the co-owner supported Carollo’s political rival.
Ball and Chain is a historic nightclub and live music venue located in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, Florida. The venue originally opened in 1935 and became a popular spot for live music and dancing, featuring many famous musicians and performers over the years, including Billie Holiday, Count Basie, and Chet Baker.
In the 1950s, the venue was purchased by Cuban immigrant Luis Puig, who renamed it “Ball and Chain” and made it a hub for Afro-Cuban and Latin music. Puig was born in Cuba in 1918 and immigrated to the United States in 1949. He initially settled in New York City but eventually moved to Miami, where he became a prominent figure in the local music and nightlife scene. With his purchase of Ball and Chain, Puig helped to establish Little Havana as a cultural and entertainment hub, and he played an important role in promoting Afro-Cuban and Latin music in the United States.
Puig passed away in 2002 at the age of 83, but his legacy lives on through Ball and Chain and the many musicians and performers who have played there over the years. The venue was restored and reopened in 2014, and it remains a popular spot for locals and tourists looking for a taste of Miami’s vibrant music and nightlife scene.
The venue eventually closed in the 1960s due to the decline of the neighborhood and the rise of the rock and roll scene, but it was later restored and reopened in 2014 as a modern-day interpretation of the original venue.
THIS WEEK in #LittleHavana:#MamboMondays#Bachatuesday#CarameloWednesday
— Ball & Chain (@BallAndChainBar) April 17, 2023
Thu - #SalsaNight
Fri - @MiamiBoheme Night
Sat - #LaPachanga #SalseroSunday
DAILY: #LiveSalsa (noon to 6 p.m.) + #LiveJazz
5X / week: a FREE #DanceClass#supportlocal https://t.co/kBdwIKRQzT
🍍💚 pic.twitter.com/RykxDj5YfA
In 2014, Ball and Chain was restored and reopened as a modern-day interpretation of the original venue. Today, it features a mix of live music, DJs, and salsa dancing, as well as a full-service bar and restaurant serving Cuban-inspired cuisine. The venue has become a cultural landmark in the Miami music and nightlife scene, and it continues to draw crowds of locals and visitors looking for a fun night out.
Today, Ball and Chain features a mix of live music, DJs, and salsa dancing, as well as a full-service bar and restaurant serving Cuban-inspired cuisine. The venue is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, and it has become a cultural landmark in the Miami music and nightlife scene.
The lawsuit from Ball & Chain co-owner Bill Fuller against the commissioner seeks about $8.2 million in damages, plus $10 million in punitive damages.
Fuller, along with his wife, Zak the Baker founder Zak Stern, and his business partner, Ben Bush, purchased the venue in 2014 and oversaw its restoration and reopening.
Fuller is a Miami native who has been involved in the local restaurant and hospitality industry for many years. Prior to his ownership of Ball & Chain, he owned and operated several successful restaurants in the Miami area, including the Blue Door at the Delano and Café Prima Pasta.
Since taking over Ball & Chain, Fuller and his partners have worked to maintain the venue’s historic charm and cultural significance while also updating it for modern audiences. They have brought in a mix of live music, DJs, and salsa dancing, as well as a full-service bar and restaurant serving Cuban-inspired cuisine. The venue has become a popular spot for locals and tourists looking for a fun night out in Miami’s vibrant music and nightlife scene.
Ball and Chain has had previous legal disputes with the city of Miami. In 2018, the club over the renewal of the venue’s liquor license. The dispute arose after the city cited the venue for a violation of noise ordinances in 2017, which led to a suspension of its liquor license.
The owners of Ball and Chain disputed the citation, arguing that the noise levels were not excessive and that the venue was not in violation of the city’s noise ordinances. They also claimed that the city was unfairly targeting the venue, which had become a popular spot in a rapidly gentrifying area of Miami.
The dispute ultimately went to court, and in 2018, a judge ruled in favor of Ball and Chain, allowing the venue to keep its liquor license and continue operating. The ruling was seen as a victory for the owners of the venue and for supporters of Miami’s local music and nightlife scene.
In a separate court filing Carollo’s response said, “The actions were not retaliatory and were legal and proper official actions intended to protect the health, safety, and welfare of City residents.”
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