Ducey Administration Gets Aggressive, Pulls Liquor Licenses Of Three Gyms

Gov. Doug Ducey (Photo courtesy Arizona Department of Health Services)

Governor Doug Ducey’s administration is clamping down on violators of his latest executive order, going so far as to have the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control summarily suspend a third liquor license associated with Life Time fitness.

Life Time initially said it would close its fitness floor and studio to comply with the order. Amid wide-spread opposition to Ducey’s order, the company joined others in defying the executive order. On Wednesday, July 1, the company announced that it would keep its spa, pools, and other amenities would also remain open.

Mountainside Fitness filed a lawsuit against Gov. Ducey on Tuesday in response to the executive order. Other gyms such as some locations of Orangetheory, Jabz, and F45 gyms have also remained open.

According to the Department, on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, Department investigators responded to Life Time North Scottsdale, 6850 E Chauncey Ln, Phoenix AZ 85054, and suspended the liquor license of the entity doing business as Life Café and Bistro, owned by LTF Club Operations Company Inc.

One day earlier, Department investigators suspended two other liquor licenses owned by LTF Club Operations Company Inc. at its Life Time Biltmore location.

“On Wednesday, Life Time North Scottsdale remained open in violation of Executive Order 2020-43 requiring “indoor gyms and fitness clubs or centers” to “. . . pause operations until at least July 27, 2020,” (3.b). The club’s actions presented a risk to the community in furthering the spread of COVID-19, and with this, jeopardizing the health, safety, and welfare of the public. According to Director Cocca, the decision to suspend the license at Life Café and Bistro was straightforward, as its ownership had demonstrated a continued willingness to violate the law, especially in light of having its licensed businesses at Life Time Biltmore suspended less than 24 hours earlier,” the Department said in a press release.

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