Cloud 9 shuts after brouhaha

The party's over for Cloud 9.The Roseville restaurant and "ultra lounge" voluntarily shut its doors on Saturday, after several warnings that the business was operating illegally as a nightclub. Mark Larson, an investor in the business, said he was closing Cloud 9 for good and had removed all the equipment inside."I cannot continue to operate a business when police continue to show up and cite us," Larson said Monday.The brouhaha started after police cracked down on the popular hotspot, at 963 Pleasant Grove Blvd., several times in the past month because it didn't have permitting to have dancing and other nightclub activities.And because city regulations prohibit operating nightclubs within 500 feet of homes, Cloud 9 wouldn't even be eligible, Police Spokeswoman Dee Dee Gunther said.That – plus intense media coverage of the dispute after The Press Tribune reported on it first last week – put a crimp in business and damaged the company's reputation, Larson said.Brandon Frere, franchisee of the Planet Beach spa next door, said he wasn't happy to see the business close."They were a good positive establishment in the center and brought quite a big of foot traffic," Frere said. "They had great food, and were real affordable."Still, Cloud 9 had also drawn some concerns over crime. Earlier this year, robbers tied up a manager after closing and made off with thousands of dollars in cash. "We've had a number of calls out there," Gunther said.But Larson said his business has been operating as-is for months without much trouble."It says Cloud 9 Restaurant and Ultra Lounge. Everyone knows what 'ultra lounge' means. It's entertainment," he said. "They've allowed it for a year. Where were you a year ago?"City officials said the outfit previously had a dance permit, but the former owner pulled it when he transferred business operations to new operators late last year."We're supportive of Cloud 9's success as a restaurant, which is what their zoning and use permit is for. Operating as a nightclub is in violation of that," said city spokeswoman Megan MacPherson.Larson said he preferred to negotiate with the city, and was planning on moving into another location – away from homes – anyway. "You don't pull up to a business with six cop cars and go inside and harass your customers," he said, referencing a recent police inspection.City officials said their intent was not to shut the business down but rather ensure it was operating according to the law.Larson was scheduled to have a meeting with the city on Tuesday, but it's unknown what agreements could be reached after Larson shuttered the establishment.The closure will mean 31 people are out of a job effective immediately, Larson said.