Adelaide CBD nightclub stoush: Precinct, Red Square and Zhivago trade blows after venue closes down
Beloved nightclub is relentlessly besieged by rival venues after going bankrupt, leaving 70 employees out of work: ‘Not something to joke about’
- Bar row in Adelaide after rival clubs closed
- Precinct closed its doors this month with outstanding rent
Business can be brutal, but an Australian nightclub has reprimanded its competitors for going too far.
The Precinct Nightclub in Adelaide’s CBD opened in February 2021 and was locked out by their landlord on February 28 this year due to tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid rent.
Rival clubs Red Square and Zhivago posted memes on social media last week of a man looking elated over a graveyard with a logo taped to the headstone.
“Tonight we pay our respects, with vodkas from $3 to noon,” the message read on Red Square.
“We honor all Precinct drinking cards. For all the staff who haven’t left yet, feel free to apply here with us.’
Popular Adelaide club Precinct closed its doors last week with outstanding rent debts
Competitor Red Square posted a meme mocking the company closing its doors as another club Zhivago also piled up
Precinct said it was low to mock the staff who were now unemployed
Zhivago wrote, “Red Square and I are currently attending a funeral automaton. See you all tonight from 9 p.m.
The Precinct, a hip-hop venue run by registered company Precinct27 Pty Ltd, owed $37,786.07 in outstanding rent to landlords Duke King William Pty Ltd, reports The Adelaide Advertiser.
On Saturday night, the entrepreneurs issued a statement to their supporters and beat their rivals over their pointy poles.
“We are saddened to let all of our wonderful customers know that Precinct is closed this week,” Precinct said.
“We are saddened that a venue is mocking the fact that our staff are now unemployed.
“We would like to thank (fellow CBD venue) Dog and Duck for showing respect at a very difficult time for many people. I think all the staff and DJs will be at Dogs tonight.’
Dog and Duck had drawn its line in the sand earlier in the day when it posted a message in support of the club and the slamming of Red Square.
“We’d like to think that customers who liked Precinct would be as upset as Precinct’s ex-staff to see this kind of message,” it wrote.
“Any location that thinks the loss of 70 jobs is something to joke about is showing complete disregard for all staff who have lost their jobs.”
Commentators on the post sided with their favorite clubs.
Some disagreed with the “unpleasant” messages from Red Square and Zhivago.
“What’s the problem with Red Square?” one person said.
“It’s Red Square, what else did you expect? If only they would close their doors for good,” added another.
“Wow, that sucks. Precinct nightclub was the best club in Adelaide to miss the place,” a third added.
“I really enjoyed working with all of you, the best team I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with,” said a fourth.
The Precinct billed itself as Adelaide’s premier hip-hop superclub
In another location, the Dog and Duck showed their support for Precinct
But others disagreed that some Precinct employees had not been told they had personally lost their jobs.
“We know an employee who only found out through the messages,” one person said.
“Precinct has no one to blame but himself,” added another.
Another said closing a club was a blow to the city.
“Regardless of your favorite club bartenders, glassies and security personnel, it’s never fun to lose shifts,” one person wrote.
“Everyone who works in this industry has something in common and that is the passion and love we all have for our work.
‘Get out and support the clubs, because we all want a vibrant nightlife in Adelaide.’