One of Albuquerque's hottest nightspots has disappeared, leaving several unpaid bills and even more unanswered questions.
Banana Joe's Nightclub, which moved into the 600 block of Central Avenue more than two years ago, was considered a victory in the city's efforts to revitalize downtown.
The club employed numerous UNM students who were left looking for another job after the club's last night of business - Aug. 24, the night of Fall Crawl.
"It is a blow to Albuquerque's downtown district," Deborah James, spokeswoman for the mayor's office, said. "It's a shock that these kinds of actions take place, but we are confident that if any wrongdoings are determined to have occurred that those responsible will be found."
Several managers at the Launchpad bar, located next door, said they saw moving trucks arrive at Banana Joe's after the club closed that night, and employees gutted the three-story building before leaving and never returning.
Brian Loughridge, one of the nightclub's former managers, said at the time they were told the business was being temporarily closed for renovations but the bills went unpaid and they were never contacted about reopening the business.
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"I left after that," Loughridge said. "I didn't want to be involved with a business that conducted itself like that."
Several notices are posted on the building's doors, including a past-due power bill and postings from creditors.
Several local publications, including the Alibi, are seeking more than $4,000 owed by the franchise bar for weeks of advertising.
Field Development Group, the business in Columbus, Ohio, that formed Banana Joe's, has several lawsuits pending against it for similar incidents in other states in which the club's franchises met similar fates, according to independent Web sites.
Joel and John Field, brothers from Columbus, Ohio, who started the Field Development Group, did not return telephone calls Tuesday. Danny Banks, the group's lawyer, also did not return phone calls. The Field Development Group's phone line has been disconnected.
Nashville, Tenn., Minneapolis, Minn., Portland, Ore., and Raleigh, N.C. are just a few of the cities where Banana Joe's franchises have suddenly closed after little more than two years of business.
Joe Anderson, a manager at the Launchpad, said for the last several months business at the club had dwindled and he was not surprised at its sudden closing.
"All of these businesses benefit from having more people downtown, so Banana Joe's will be missed," Anderson said. "It was a popular club, it's a shame the city will have to make do without it."
Anderson said he doesn't expect any downtown nightclubs to suffer from the closing of Banana Joe's.
"Every bar has its own following, and different kinds of people frequent every place," he said. "I really don't think that any other club is going to suffer as a result of this. It is unfortunate though."
