Cork and Thorn granted limited operating hours, owner faces eviction

The Las Vegas City Council approved a conditional reopening for Cork and Thorn, a nightclub in the Arts District, on Wednesday.

Council members established strict new operating parameters to address safety concerns. The club may now operate only between 8 a.m. and 1 a.m. Live entertainment must conclude by midnight. Additionally, the council suspended the venue's hookah license. All previous security requirements remain in effect. These rules mandate armed, licensed guards inside the business, on the exterior, and in the parking lot.

The decision follows a fatal stabbing that occurred in a city-run parking lot in September. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officials reported that officers found a man with a stab wound in a lot on the 70 block of West Imperial Avenue near Commerce Street just before 3 a.m. The victim died at a local hospital. Cork and Thorn is located across the street from that parking lot. The council reviewed three separate violent incidents involving two stabbings and a shooting. In those cases, one man lost a leg and another died. Police believe the disturbances began inside the club before moving into the lot.

Owner Randi Garrett told the council that her landlord, Gary Creagh, is currently seeking to evict her. Creagh submitted a letter asking the city to permanently close the business. In the letter, he described the arrangement as a path to death. Garrett countered that she has had no issues in nine years prior to recent events. She stated that Creagh has given her a few months to find a new location and move out.

Garrett noted that hookah generates a large portion of her profit. She expressed uncertainty about the sustainability of her business under the reduced hours. Dozens of supporters attended the hearing to advocate for the venue. William Taylor, a local poet, said he has worked with Garrett since 2016. He described the club as a place where artists can perform before they gain fame. Corey Lofton, a patron from Georgia, said the club offered a welcoming atmosphere that other downtown bars did not provide.

The council will review the club's license again in February to determine if further changes are necessary. Councilwoman Olivia Diaz, who represents Ward 3, stated during the hearing that the public's health, safety, and welfare are the top priorities. Garrett said she continues to support the staff, performers, and food trucks that rely on the club. She added that she no longer feels as welcome in the neighborhood as she did when she first arrived.