Emergency License Suspension Issued for Seattle’s Foundation Nightclub

Criminal activity presents threat to public safety

OLYMPIA, WA - The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Wednesday issued an emergency liquor license suspension of 180 days for Foundation Nightclub, located at 2218 Western Ave, Seattle. The suspension is effective for 180 days beginning April 8, 2018 until February 4, 2019. During that time the WSLCB will seek permanent revocation of the license.

Emergency suspensions represent an extraordinary exercise of the state’s power and the WSLCB is mandated to ensure that an emergency suspension is reasonable, justifiable and legal in every way.

The emergency suspension is the result of evidence provided to the WSLCB of criminal activity conducted by employees of Foundation Nightclub. During multiple undercover operations officers with Seattle Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations-Seattle were able to purchase narcotics including cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA and GHB from waitresses, bouncers and club management of the business.

On multiple occasions officers observed Foundation Nightclub management allow known drug traffickers to bypass security to bring drugs into the club. Management also provided employee uniform apparel to the dealers, used their likenesses in promotional materials, and allowed them free reign of the club’s VIP section. All of the controlled buys occurred on the licensed premises and were conducted by employees or drug dealers known to employees who allowed the activity.

Based on the threat to public safety, the WSLCB is imposing an immediate suspension of the licensee’s liquor license to be followed by an administrative proceeding seeking revocation of the liquor license. The WSLCB is authorized by state law to issue an emergency suspension of up to 180 days of a liquor license when it believes the “health, safety or welfare” of the general public is in danger. The WSLCB issued one emergency suspension in 2017, and three in 2018.