City attributes closure of Aura Latin Club on Ann Street to illegal activities and strip shows

CHARLESTON, SC (WCBD) – The doors of the Aura Latin Club at 28 Ann Street in downtown Charleston are permanently closed after city officials shut the venue down last month.

“There was a pattern of behavior that included assault, including underage drinking,” said Tim Domin, an attorney with Clawson & Staubes.

Domin, who represented the city of Charleston in the matter, said the facility’s more than year-long problems reached their peak on January 27, 2024.

“There was a fight between several people who were streaming out of the club just before closing time. When police attempted to break up the fight, the fighting men turned on the police and began attacking them,” Domin told News 2.

Ann Street Brand LLC, the operator of Aura, had its business license revoked on June 14 during a hearing of the City of Charleston’s licensing board.

Touted on social media as “the first and only Latin club in Downtown Charleston,” Aura replaced the previous venue, DECO, in September 2023.

According to a written decision and order from the hearing, Aura was also found to regularly host strip shows featuring men, which is outside of its jurisdiction.

“Such activities are only permitted in light or heavy industrial zones. And because they were operating there, we added that to the reasons for revoking the license,” Domin added.

The document also states that the committee received evidence showing “multiple incidents of assault, disturbing the peace, drug offenses, underage drinking, and public intoxication in 2023 and 2024” allegedly related to the company’s business activities.

“The police testified that a disproportionate amount of police activity was associated with this club and that they were not able to devote as many resources to other people because this club was taking up all of the police resources,” Domin said.

According to Aura’s Instagram page, their events are now held on the rooftop of Ink on King Street and it is described as the “new rooftop Latin club.”

Domin said he believes it is operating under a different company name.

“To my knowledge, Ann Street Brand cannot and does not operate in the City of Charleston. If they attempt to operate in the City of Charleston under the name of this revoked business, the City will take immediate action to stop them,” Domin said.

News 2 has contacted Aura by phone and social media, but we have not received a response. We have also called Ink and are awaiting a response. Contact information for Ann Street Brand LLC was not found.