Fight Spurs Dogz to Adopt a New Dress Code

Editor's Note: Responding to an earlier story based on a reader's report of two fights that required police response in and outside Dogz Bar and Grill at closing time, Dogz co-owner Norm Turley provided the following account to LBReport.com of what happened about 2 a.m. Sunday. We reprint it with permission of publisher Bill Pearl:

Reached by cellphone this afternoon (Aug. 7), Dogz co-owner Norm Turley told LBReport.com that the incident arose when some people -- who he said didn't appear to be from the local area -- were told it was time to leave (2 a.m.) and didn't do so.

"It was approaching 2 a.m. and a couple of people were asked to leave the bar and didn't do so. They also didn't agree with our directive to stop drinking. We confiscated their alcohol, which they didn't like, and one person was escorted out.

"The individuals didn't cause much of a ruckus inside the bar but they did so outside. We [Dogz] called the police also flagged down a police unit, which was already in the area, so the response was very quick."

Was there a second fight and anyone arrested inside the bar? "No. One person was handcuffed by arriving police until they determined that he was one of our local patrons and was helping our security personnel; the ones who caused the trouble ran off and got away."

 Mr. Turley said, "The individuals [who precipitated the incident] were out of towners that nobody recognzied. They weren't regulars."

Mr. Turley said that as a result of what took place, Dogz is implemeting a new rule starting Monday [Aug. 8]:

"We're not going to allow what I guess you could call the 'L.A. bad boy' look.

Asked if this is related to what happened on last night (Sunday morning 2 a.m.), Mr. Tueley said "yes."

"We noticed this weekend that we were getting a group of people who weren't regulars. Our dress code will say no gang attire. We don't want people wearing levis below their butt; our policy will be either pull your pants up and put your hat on straight or don't come in."

Mr. Turley said Dogz will put a dress code notice up at the door, that the doorman will be able to implement pointing at the sign. "These aren't locals who are causing these issues and we want our bar and grill to be for Belmont Shore area residents."

He said "We haven't had these issues until this past weekend. We had a staff meeting this morning [Aug. 7] and our crew agreed that we don't mind if we lose their business. We're not going to allow that in our place."

Mr. Turley added that -- separate from Dogz new dress code policy -- a new "Red Flag" system was recently implemented by five restaurants/bars in the area: Dogz, Panama Joes, Legends, Acapulco and Shannon's (Bay Shore).

Patch will have a story on this and other Dogz measures later Monday.