Popular M2 UltraLounge in Manhattan Closed

The ultra-popular M2 UltraLounge in New York City was shut down on April 16, meaning the thousands of party patrons that visited it will need to find a new stomping ground. Back in March, the M2 was under scrutiny for failing to adhere to the city's indoor smoking ban.

At the center of the earlier smoking controversy were claims by the city that undercover inspectors saw several patrons smoking inside of the club. There were even allegations that the undercover inspectors were told where to buy cigarettes within the club and where they could smoke them, per bouncers' instructions. All of this violates the strict ban that New York City places on indoor smoking, and placed the M2 at risk of being closed down and having its operating license revoked.

M2's lawyers claimed that the allegations were not true, and that the sheer capacity of the club of nearly 3,000 would make it very difficult to monitor every patron. That point became moot as of April 16, however, as the already scrutinized club was shut down for other reasons, despite still being under trial for the smoking violations.

This time, the allegations are much more fierce, as the M2 was closed for accusations of allowing drug dealing and excessive violence on the premises. The Pink Elephant, a related club nearby, was also shut down.

The verdict on the indoor smoking violations is still in the air, although the M2 UltraLounge now has a much tougher uphill battle to fight if it wants to open its doors again to the various celebrities and other guests that frequented it.