Remember when Club La Vela was closing down "for good" to make way for condos? Was that a big hoax to get more customers in the club??

No, it was all due to drugs, heres a quote from the New Herald. Was posted back in July of 01

"Club La Vela was raided in early 2000, and police turned up a variety of drugs -- although they found no evidence that the owners themselves were selling illegal substances. On May 5, 2001, Club La Vela owners Patrick and Thorston Pfeffer were slapped with an indictment for allowing drug trafficking at their club. Like the New Orleans case, a federal grand jury indicted the nightclub owners under the crack-house statute; unlike the New Orleans case, the government also seized the assets of Club La Vela and forbade the owners from leaving the state. (Club La Vela's owners, in turn, are suing the local law enforcement agencies for defamation and depriving them of their right to public assembly.) The case is set to go to trial in July."

The owners of Club La Vela were found innocent of all those charges.

BUT that had nothing to do with La Vela announcing they were closing.

In 2004, they had a contract selling their property to a developer who was going to build a resort. The resort had a website and a temp office in the CLV parking lot selling units. We heard there was either a contract dispute or there weren't enough presales and the deal fell through.

It was all legit. It wasn't some kind of marketing scheme by La Vela.

My bad for the step out. Didn't even bother to read the subject line.

No worries. Those guys at La Vela are legit. That club has always had a strict anti-drug policy... even before 2001. I've seen many ppl get thrown out for being wasted on illegal drugs or arrested because security caught them with drugs.

Interestingly enough, they were going to open a new La Vela after the resort deal went through. I saw the plans for the new club and it looked awesome! BUT since the resort deal fell through, all of that is on hold indefinitely. Unless someone else ponies up enough to buy La Vela.

Speaking of La Vela...

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a club that was close by that could actually provide some competition? What is it about La Vela that allows them to charge $25-$40 a person? If they really have "thousands" pile into their club every night, that's AT LEAST $25K off of cover charge alone...per night. Not to mention the money they make off of alcohol.

I'm sure that spring break and 4th of July are their money makers. But holy crap...why can't any of the other clubs compete at lower prices??

I think Spinnaker next door does a pretty good job competing with la vela. I remember awhile back tho when they were gonna close la vela also and build a new la vela back by walmart somewhere. What ever happened to Harpoon harry's closing also. I think before last spring break there was a rumor that they were getting tore down also.

Harpoon Harry's property did sell, but the developer decided to delay building the condos and is leasing the building back to Harpoon Harry's for now. (includes Hooters and Latitudes property also... I think...)

And yes, Spinnaker is a popular alternative to Club La Vela. Personally, I usually don't visit one without visiting the other. They are next door to each other... it's just too convenient. That and the fact I can always get in free at both places.

I worked at Club La Vela doing security for about a year, so I can vouch for the "No Tolerance" policy. If anybody was ever caught with drugs at the club, the entire security team was immediately notified and the criminal was then siezed until the police arrived. The owners are both great guys!

One thing that I liked about La Vela's sercuirty, is that they weren't overly-intrusive on people having fun. Sure a few of them were testosterone filled, but the bouncers were suprisingly relaxed and not eager to fight. They usually handled incidents in a discreet manner. I've only seen one incident get out of hand about 4 years ago. One bouncer held a guy that was about 5'8" 140lbs, while the other bouncer kept punching him in the face as they were kicking him out. Since then, I haven't seen such activity. Over the last few years, security has played the roll of blending into the background and letting people have their fun.

Spinnakers is good competition, but that place is WAY too small. If it could compete in size with La Vela, I think it could force La Vela to relax a little bit with their prices.

Well during Spring Break, La Vela hires over 75 local people for security. some are college students trying to meet girls, some are older and do it for a career, and you always get the 2 or 3 meat heads trying to compensate =]

agreed. more rooms & big pool.

What ever happened to the pool at spinnaker?? I think it was there the first 2 years i went on spring break but then they filled it in. Was that just to make room for people? Def agree the place is pretty small and would be alot better if bigger.