Renting Space to a BYOB Strip Club
I've got some retail commercial property up for rent in Columbus, OH. A tenant is interested in renting the space and putting in a BYOB strip club (the property is in a rough part of town). He wants to set it up as a private club for members only. Members will pay an annual membership fee, bring their own alcohol, and pay a cover charge. From what I understand, he does not need to get a liquor license as long as his clients bring their own alcohol. He also does not need a food permit as he will not be selling any food. The location is zoned C-4 commercial, and in the city code a night club is listed as one of the allowed uses. Two questions:
1. What licenses, if any, does he need to obtain to open this thing? It seems unbelievable to me that he could just open this up immediately without some type of paperwork being filed.
2. As the property owner, am I putting myself and this asset in financial jeopardy by renting to this person? The property is held in a trust, which is owned by an LLC.
If, for example, the place is shut down because of prostitution or drug activity, how does this affect me? Assuming he can't run the place anymore and his lease is terminated, will I be able to lease it out within a timely manner? Or can the authorities "freeze" the location somehow? Also, if a customer gets shot/injured in or outside the building could I, as the building owner, face any lawsuits?