Strip Joint In Tolland Loses Provisional Liquor License, Town Manager Says

TOLLAND, CT — The infamy of 62 Merrow Road in Tolland reached another chapter Friday as the new version of the strip joint at the location is in hot water.

Tolland Town Manager Brian Foley said he was informed Tuesday of this week by the Department of Consumer Protection that the provisional liquor license for The Den Cabaret expired on April 21, a day earlier."

It cannot serve alcohol at the present time, Foley said.

"Some of our Tolland town residents had previously filed a remonstrance petition against the liquor license, which is still scheduled for a hearing on May 7," Foley said. "The town has also received complaints from citizens regarding the newly opened club. Those complaints were forwarded to the CT State Police. We are extremely thankful to DCP, particularly the CT Liquor Control and the Connecticut State Police for their assistance and rapid response to those citizen complaints."

Foley continued, "We currently do not know what operations were conducted by CT DCP and the Connecticut State Police and what violations were found in said operations. We look forward to learning more at the hearing."

Foley added that town officials will be evaluating "any additional evidence to see if there is anything that violates Chapter 51 of the Tolland Town Code. In summary, that code says:

"There are adult-oriented establishments located in the Town of Tolland which require special supervision from the Town's public safety agencies in order to protect and preserve the health, safety and welfare of the patrons of such establishments, as well as the health, safety and welfare of the Town's citizens."

Foley said town officials are requesting that the Resident State Trooper's Office monitor the facility "to ensure that alcohol is not being sold by the club."

The Den is the newest version of the strips joints occupying the parcel. Just about a year ago to the day, what was first called "The Lions Den" began taking the place of the Electric Blue, which met its demise after a raid by state and federal authorities.

A sign on the door, fabricated with a black marker and a sheet of white paper, shown in a photo provided by Foley, simply said, "closed for repairs."