April 01--A South Loop nightclub that was the site of a fatal shooting over the weekend has closed its doors temporarily, according to the city.
Staffers at the Riff Music Lounge, 2239 S. Michigan Ave., voluntarily closed the venue after the early Saturday attack. On Monday they were closed after an agreement with the city, according to a statement from the city.
The club can continue to use the recording studio and the party room that holds 50, but they can't have any promoters for the party room. All events must be booked with a verifiable contract and the lounge has to provide the city with a list of the events, according to the statement.
An argument over a woman led to one man being killed and another wounded during a shooting inside the club about 1:20 a.m. Saturday, police said. One of the men involved in the dispute was escorted out but later returned with a gun, police said, shooting the man he had argued with.
Thirty-six year-old Michael Ricks of South State Street was killed and a 39-year-old man who police said was not involved in the argument was also wounded in the attack, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner's office.
The club agreed to close for a minimum of 30 days and after that, they will be closed until they can give the city an acceptable business model and plan of operation, according to the city's statement.
The plan would not be approved by the city until it is vetted by the community through the alderman, who would address their concerns, the statement said.
"First and foremost safety is our number one priority, therefore we need to ensure license applicant(s) are compliant with licensing requirements so that we can ensure safety for residents and maintain quality of life in our neighborhoods,'' according to the statement.
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