Rochester Police Chief Michael Ciminelli
has notified the Water Street Music that it must stop hosting events
immediately. The popular live music venue, located at 204 North Water Street,
was denied renewal of its entertainment license, because “there are justifiable
concerns” regarding its ability to operate in compliance with all State and
Local laws,” Ciminelli wrote.
The letter listed eight points of violation of the Code of
the City of Rochester and the Police Chief’s Rules and Regulations. These
include “failure to maintain control of the premise” on March 14, 2015, when
shots were fired in the area of the establishment and “nearly struck a person
standing in front of the venue,” and failure to maintain control again on June
15, 2015, when a male standing in front of the venue “refused to comply with
police orders to disperse and became combative with police, resulting in an
arrest for disorderly conduct.” The counts of violations continue through
February 27 of this year.
Water Street Music Hall – one of Rochester’s only mid-sized
music venues, capable of hosting 1,000 patrons – has hosted a wide range of
musical acts, including St. Vincent, The Buddhahood, and YoGotti. It has also been the venue for numerous
benefit concerts. But it has been plagued with shifts in management and booking
over the past couple of years.
Water Street’s owners may appeal by responding to the letter
within 10 days of receipt (the police chief’s letter was dated March 1). The venue’s previous entertainment license expired
on January 31, 2016, and thus it is currently unable to host any public events.
This article appears in Mar 2-8, 2016.
