Rheas (Rays) on N. May: THUG Magnet

[MikeOKC]

Note to self: Avoid places with Rays in the name.

Man, 18, Slain Outside Nightclub - Oklahoma City News Story - KOCO Oklahoma City

That's quite a coincidence. Sounds like the same kind of place though.

Couple of things I've noticed from past situations:
- Opponents of these sorts of clubs started with contacting the club owner. If not responsive, contact the property owner. If both unresponsive, I've seen some opponents publicly name the parties, post their information online as to shame them.
- Next step: I've seen people in the past not just call their council member, but show up on Tuesday and request a personal visit and show video of the offending parties. If that didn't work, the opposition then asked the council member to accompany them in watching the melee. OKC does have a public nuisance law.

Thanks for the thoughts, Steve. Trying to talk to the owner is like trying to talk to the President of the United States, as in seemingly impossible. No calls returned, no faxes returned, etc.

Several of us have done different things, but this is apparently the first time neighborhood property owners have got together to actually get something done. We have discussed the Council idea and your mentioning it here makes me think that it might be a next step.

We actually have about 30-45 minutes of video of the crazy scene on Friday nights, complete with the cops flying in with lights flashing and beeping their sirens to break up whatever is going on in the parking lot.

Chekkie, Yes, it's become worse. They still have a strict dress code and all that, but I'm not sure if that's not just part of the problem. These black guys (sorry if that offends some, but that's who we're talking about here) have their own culture to where dressing up to the nines with all the bling, and acting like a mafia boss, is considered oh so cool. I have seen them chauffeured up to the door and walk to the club doors with an entourage, I kid you not. I don't mean pull up in a limo like it's a special occasion or something, but pull up in a Lexus with tinted windows, several get out of other cars first and form a barrier of sorts before the Big Dude gets out of the Lexus with a coat that drags the parking lot. I know it sounds ridiculous, but that's the kind of thing I have personally seen.

The scene at closing is something straight from the movies. Cars idling outside, all lined up, obviously offering up a bazaar of whatever you want. A couple of Fridays ago, one of the cops we talked to said he was called a "racist pig" for walking up to a group of these thugs and admitted to being human and said they were a bit intimidated, by the time backup arrives, the thugs are gone. I've heard more than one officer say they hear that all the time out there. Several of us have wondered if that's part of why something hasn't been done, because of the fear of the "racist" label. The sad thing is, this kind of thing goes on at other clubs (even random parking lots) and most people are asleep and have no idea what goes on. Multiply this by dozens and dozens and dozens of cities (many worse than ours) and it's truly a cultural problem that can't be shrugged off lightly.

Sorry for rambling. It's so frustrating.

[RedDirt717]

For the past 6 months, I have been living near the Electro Lounge on May Avenue. Friday nights (especially) are pure HELL between 1:30 and 2:30am. The police have to actually come out here and disperse the crowd nearly every weekend. It's getting ridiculous and seems to have become worse lately. What's the story on this place? I have gone over and looked around during the chaos and see a lot of (call 'em what they are) THUGS and their booming Hip Hop crap. They are rude, have no bother that it's 2:00 in the morning and they're yelling and screaming, they taunt the cops and tear out of the parking lot. Seriously, the cars and their music can be heard from blocks away.

I hate to see the OCPD having to use their resources just to disperse rowdy crowds of young, thoughtless thugs who are disrupting the entire neighborhood.

I'm pretty damn liberal on a lot of issues, but on some of the cultural issues I find myself being what a lot of people here would call downright old fashioned. This is one of them. There's nothing "progressive" "open-minded" or anything else to see this kind of crap every weekend. The young black guys in that parking lot act like punks from Detroit and cry "racist!" to the cops just trying to get them to act halfway CIVIL. It makes me sick.

So really, what's the story on this thug magnet?

Racist.




Haah, kidding.

[kevinpate]

is this the place:

Rhea's Supper Club
5929 N. May Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
Phone: (405) 842-0124
E-mail: ray@rheassupperclub.com

not much regarding the website, though an odd image of vegas for whatever reason. Maybe cause what happens in Rheas stays in Rheas, or at least the PL

[MikeOKC]

is this the place:

Rhea's Supper Club
5929 N. May Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
Phone: (405) 842-0124
E-mail: ray@rheassupperclub.com

not much regarding the website, though an odd image of vegas for whatever reason. Maybe cause what happens in Rheas stays in Rheas, or at least the PL

That's the place. Does no good to try to contact them. They won't talk about any problems except them telling you on the phone what a "great crowd" they have. A neighbor of mine was told if he had problems with some of the crowd to come on up and talk to the individuals causing the trouble. HA! Remember in "Vacation" when Chevy Chase takes the wrong turn into East St. Louis?

I was told somebody WAS shot last year in the parking lot. This isn't the kind of place you could walk up to and rationally discuss anything (and of course, they know that).

[fuzzytoad]

That's the place. Does no good to try to contact them. They won't talk about any problems except them telling you on the phone what a "great crowd" they have. A neighbor of mine was told if he had problems with some of the crowd to come on up and talk to the individuals causing the trouble. HA! Remember in "Vacation" when Steve Martin takes the wrong turn into East St. Louis?

ITYM Chevy Chase

[MikeOKC]

ITYM Chevy Chase

FIXED!
Thanks!

[RealJimbo]

Remember in "Vacation" when Chevy Chase takes the wrong turn into East St. Louis?

This is funny...I actually made a wrong turn into East Saint Louis about 25 years ago. It isn't funny when you do it, though. That is one scary place. I've done the same stupid thing in Houston, West Memphis and somewhere in Little Rock. So much worse when you have a family with you...

[bretthexum]

This is funny...I actually made a wrong turn into East Saint Louis about 25 years ago. It isn't funny when you do it, though. That is one scary place. I've done the same stupid thing in Houston, West Memphis and somewhere in Little Rock. So much worse when you have a family with you...

Yeah I got lost after an Astros game a few years ago. Not fun...

[gen70]

I know of a club that was closed in OKC under the public nusiance law. Don't know what has to be done to make this happen.

[PennyQuilts]

This is funny...I actually made a wrong turn into East Saint Louis about 25 years ago. It isn't funny when you do it, though. That is one scary place. I've done the same stupid thing in Houston, West Memphis and somewhere in Little Rock. So much worse when you have a family with you...

Good god, man. Get a GPS.

[Bunty]

It may sound too much like what a small town would do but maybe it would be a good idea to park two or three manned police cars near the troubled place before trouble time starts, and it would work to discourage trouble makers. But then to hear the description, police aren't getting much respect when they are around.

[Bunty]

We actually have about 30-45 minutes of video of the crazy scene on Friday nights, complete with the cops flying in with lights flashing and beeping their sirens to break up whatever is going on in the parking lot.

Chekkie, Yes, it's become worse. They still have a strict dress code and all that, but I'm not sure if that's not just part of the problem. These black guys (sorry if that offends some, but that's who we're talking about here) have their own culture to where dressing up to the nines with all the bling, and acting like a mafia boss, is considered oh so cool. I have seen them chauffeured up to the door and walk to the club doors with an entourage, I kid you not. I don't mean pull up in a limo like it's a special occasion or something, but pull up in a Lexus with tinted windows, several get out of other cars first and form a barrier of sorts before the Big Dude gets out of the Lexus with a coat that drags the parking lot. I know it sounds ridiculous, but that's the kind of thing I have personally seen.

The scene at closing is something straight from the movies. Cars idling outside, all lined up, obviously offering up a bazaar of whatever you want. A couple of Fridays ago, one of the cops we talked to said he was called a "racist pig" for walking up to a group of these thugs and admitted to being human and said they were a bit intimidated, by the time backup arrives, the thugs are gone. I've heard more than one officer say they hear that all the time out there. Several of us have wondered if that's part of why something hasn't been done, because of the fear of the "racist" label. The sad thing is, this kind of thing goes on at other clubs (even random parking lots) and most people are asleep and have no idea what goes on. Multiply this by dozens and dozens and dozens of cities (many worse than ours) and it's truly a cultural problem that can't be shrugged off lightly.

Sorry for rambling. It's so frustrating.

These scenes need to be up on youtube.

[MikeOKC]

Another bad night at the ghetto club. I am out of town but got the lowdown from neighbors who said it was a typical night. This time...no police. But they said they all left at the same time, so maybe had a heads up they were on the way. One group took their fights to a side street near 59th and Brookline...yelling, screaming...

We've been told that our best shot at actual law enforcement (that brings it to an end) might be to call John Whetsel at the OKlahoma County Sheriff's office. We were told, though I know nothing about him, that he has no fear of the thug element and has acted on things when, for whatever reason, OCPD would not. Anybody know if there's any truth to this?

Nobody wants their name used (and if you saw these creeps you would understand), there is FEAR of these people and it's getting real old.

Bunty, GREAT IDEA about YouTube!

[soonerguru]

I went there years ago and had a nice time. At the time it was an upscale black club. I had no problems and no one there seemed thuggish to me.

Perhaps it's changed?

[mugofbeer]

I know of a club that was closed in OKC under the public nusiance law. Don't know what has to be done to make this happen.

I would have to think there are avenue's to pursue down this line. You can file a noise complaint against an individual and its basically a guilty-until-proven-innocent type of deal. Perhaps it can be done against a business, too.

[bluedogok]

I know down here in Texas the easiest way is to get an ABLE commission hearing where a liquor license can be pulled due to nuisance complaints, most are shut down that way rather than through city methods. I don't know if there is a similar process in Oklahoma.

[ddavidson8]

Was Rheas around during THE OKC gangwar of the 1980's? I heard that's where all the participants met after the shootout at THE Frontier City.

[dismayed]

I know down here in Texas the easiest way is to get an ABLE commission hearing where a liquor license can be pulled due to nuisance complaints, most are shut down that way rather than through city methods. I don't know if there is a similar process in Oklahoma.

Actually that is a great idea. Go after their liquor license. Hit 'em where it hurts.

[bluedogok]

Was Rheas around during THE OKC gangwar of the 1980's? I heard that's where all the participants met after the shootout at THE Frontier City.

It wasn't in that location, it was called Face's and nowhere near an "urban" club at the time (I had some friends who worked there). It was where Joker's Comedy Club moved after leaving the old Shotgun Sam's building at Britton & May. So Rhea's came there much later, in fact I don't even remember them being there when I lived in the Mayfair West neighborhood before moving to Austin in 2003.

[MikeOKC]

UPDATE!

For awhile the Oklahoma City police were making an appearance every Friday night and dispersing the crowd quickly. However, for three weeks now, NO POLICE. I have talked to Hefner Station and have been told - and I quote - "I can't talk about it." When I asked another supervisor I was met with silence and then, "I really don't know what to say right now." I asked if there was pressure to back off. He could easily have said, "No." He did not. He said, and I quote again, "I wish I could talk to you about it, but I can't say anything. Is there anything else I can help you with today?" I asked an officer at 7-11 last Friday night (a mile or two away) and he said, "Call 911 and bug the hell out of them. Call Hefner Station and bug the hell out of them. Let's just say their friends are more powerful than the rest of us." When I asked him if they were being told to "stand down" he just took a deep breath and said, "This whole mess just needs to go away and I wish I knew what to tell you."

These aren't normal responses. Something is going on.

This Rays (Rhea's) nightclub is as loud and crazy as ever. At 2 AM (Friday night/Saturday morning) it's like someone unlocked a jail and let the restless punks out. Car alarms go off all over, they walk into the neighborhoods and walk close to the houses, the cars stay in the parking lot idling. Last Friday the lot was not empty until 2:45 AM! The constant bassy thump of the hip hop crap that blast at full-volume from the cars just sitting there is just horrible.

But the question: What happened to the police dispersing the crowd and citing "public nuisance" laws as to how they had the power to do so? Three weeks now and no police. It's another Friday. Our reaction when Friday night rolls around is DAMN. How and why are they allowed to disrupt the neighborhood this way? The owners won't talk to us. The building owner won't return calls. The police are intimidated (read earlier in the thread) and now I am afraid they've been run off.

Oklahoma City's own little Detroit, Cleveland, Newark, whatever at 50th and North May every Friday night.

Any thoughts/ideas on why the cops have backed off? The Sheriff's office won't get involved. We've tried. Why Sheriff Whetsel can run roadblocks just a couple of miles from here but allow this dope-dealing open market out here in the Best Buy, Gordman's, Home Depot parking lot (which fills up as Thug Central) is a mystery. Who's paying who? The citizens to receive protection and law enforcement, or Ray's throwing around some weight with an intimidating factor that makes law enforcement look weak and inept.

[mugofbeer]

I feel badly for your situation. Perhaps it may be time for you and your neighbors to become a nuisance to your city councilman. If that doesn't work I can't think of another alternative but to hire an attorney (you and your neighbors).

[redrunner]

Sounds like a job for KFOR investigative reporter Scott Hines.

[mugofbeer]

I wonder what the legalities and costs might be to set up a few hidden cameras and recording devices?

[Steve]

Alright. I've forwarded this on to an editor. You can let the police know you've been contacted by Steve Lackmeyer at The Oklahoman.

[bradzilla]

This Rays (Rhea's) nightclub is as loud and crazy as ever. At 2 AM (Friday night/Saturday morning) it's like someone unlocked a jail and let the restless punks out. Car alarms go off all over, they walk into the neighborhoods and walk close to the houses, the cars stay in the parking lot idling. Last Friday the lot was not empty until 2:45 AM! The constant bassy thump of the hip hop crap that blast at full-volume from the cars just sitting there is just horrible.

I dont even know where to start....But until something illegal happens they arent going to do anything about it. This really is no different than a 'white' (country music or dance ) club, people stick around after it closes, blast music, people talk loudly, guys try to show of their car/truck, and take home girls.

I haven't been in awhile but ive been to club rodeo here or caravan co. in tulsa and ive seen people hang around till 3am
- blasting music
-fights break out numerous times
- beer being consumed
- beer bottles thrown at vehicles
-etc......
How is that different than what these people are doing, well besides that their black....

So of course the cops are going to back down when they constantly sit outside of a 'black' club when nothing major has happened in a long period of time. Would you like to go to your favorite hangout place to have police helicopters fly over and cops treating you like you've done something wrong when you havent ?

The massive conspiracy that your searching for is that its illegal and a waste of police resources to swarm a place just because the partrons arent the same color, culture, or lifestyle as some of the neighborhood people.