The shuttering of an infamous Franklin County after-hours club, which had become synonymous with violence and disorder, has been celebrated by local law enforcement. Kaze Lounge, once located at a former auto-body shop on Westerville Road, drew curtains following a concerted effort by multiple agencies. An investigation spearheaded by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, alongside local police departments and the Ohio Investigative Unit, led to the club’s closure after repeated incidents, one tragically ending in a fatality.
A detail obtained from the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office reveals that on November 19, the property’s owner, 3190-92 Westerville Rd. LLC, and its sole member, Randolph Maynard, agreed to a preliminary injunction. This decision promptly halted operations at the Kaze Lounge and prohibited its operators from returning. A hearing for a permanent injunction is slated on January 15, 2026, where former operators might face stringent penalties if found persisting in illicit activities.
The bar had operated sans a liquor permit, a fact that county officials say escalated the risks to public safety. “After-hours establishments that operate outside the law create extraordinarily dangerous conditions,” Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Shayla Favor commented in a statement released by her office. Sheriff Dallas Baldwin vibed similarly, “This nightclub was operating without a liquor license and putting the people of Franklin County at risk,” emphasizing the significant effort put in by investigators and partnering agencies in achieving the shutdown…