LANSING, Mich. — City leaders in Lansing are taking action against a local gentlemen’s club, Centerfolds, following a series of violent incidents at the establishment, the latest of which involved a fatal shooting. Ryan Kost, president of the Lansing City Council, confirmed that the city is seeking to revoke the club’s cabaret license, a move that has not been attempted before despite years of reported issues at the venue.
“Centerfolds has had a litany of issues over the last 20 years,” said Kost, highlighting the long-standing concerns surrounding the club’s operations. Kost’s comments come in the wake of a recent tragedy at the club, where 45-year-old Christopher Bonilla Sr. was shot and killed on Sunday. This marks the third violent incident at the club in recent years—two people were shot in 2016, and in 2013, a 21-year-old man was also fatally shot on the premises.
The latest violence, which city officials have described as a “big red flag,” has prompted the city to take decisive action. Kost noted that while the club has faced numerous issues over the years, the recent shooting has underscored the urgency of addressing public safety concerns at Centerfolds.
The city’s attorney is already in the process of gathering information about the club, including service call records provided by the Lansing Police Department. Following this, city leaders will schedule a hearing where the council will vote on whether to revoke the club’s license. Kost emphasized the city’s commitment to prioritizing the safety of residents, particularly those living near the establishment.
“We take the safety of the folks in this neighborhood seriously,” Kost stated. “When something like this happens, we take it seriously.”
Although the Lansing Police Department has stated that calls to Centerfolds are not frequent, officers have reported encountering crimes at the club that often go unreported. Kost indicated that this unreported activity, combined with the violent incidents, has led the city to move forward with the license revocation process.
The decision is expected to have significant implications for the future of Centerfolds and could serve as a precedent for addressing similar issues at other businesses in the area. As the city works to ensure safety, residents of south Lansing are watching closely to see if this action will lead to meaningful change or push the ongoing issues elsewhere.
