Society Lounge is the subject of a noise complaint hearing this week. (Photo: Society Lounge website)
Update, 7/18: Society Restaurant & Lounge pled guilty to violating the county’s noise ordinance in District Court yesterday, and the business was fined $500 and $5 in court costs.
The fine was suspended and the case is listed as closed.
Society Lounge is being summoned to court this week after Montgomery County received numerous noise complaints against the Georgia Avenue restaurant and nightclub.
A poster on the Silver Spring subreddit posted last week:
I received this email from the property manager at Solaire on Thursday (emphasis mine):
“I just want to let you know that I have had several complaints about Society Lounge and the loud music during late evening hours. Montgomery County has a court case scheduled against them at the Montgomery County District Court Rockville building at 9:00am (or shortly thereafter) on Tuesday, July 17th, in Courtroom 514. If any residents wish to attend to observe the proceedings or testify, you are welcome to do so. You may also submit to me, prior to this date, a written signed statement of any loud music (there needs to be dates and times of the violation) from Society Lounge, that concern you.”
A search of Montgomery County court records shows a court date for Tuesday, July 17th at 8am in Room 514.
This isn’t the first noise complaint case against Society. Bethesda Beat reported in 2015 that a case open at the time had 10 complainants.
Society has been mired in controversy since its 2012 opening. Owner Jason Miskiri was ordered to forfeit the business in 2015 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Miskiri is still listed as the owner on Society’s website.