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Read the press release here.

Exclusive Open House Nightclub Closed by Health Department

By Julie Shapiro | February 6, 2012 11:36am
Open House opened in November 2011 at 244 E. Houston St.
Open House opened in November 2011 at 244 E. Houston St.
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Facebook/Open House

EAST VILLAGE — The party is over at Open House — at least for now.

The Health Department has shut down the exclusive East Houston Street nightclub, which opened in November, after inspectors found live cockroaches.

Open House was issued 38 violation points in the Health Department's Feb. 2 inspection, which also found problems involving food storage and lack of protection from vermin, city records show.

A week earlier, on Jan. 26, inspectors issued 52 points for violations including mice, roaches, contaminated food and issues with the bathroom and plumbing.

"We apologize for the inconvenience," the club's management wrote on a sign posted in the front window over the weekend.

"However, we are unable to open this weekend due to flooding and plumbing issues that are a direct affect from the building. We hope to resolve this issues as soon as possible."

The stylish speakeasy at 244 E. Houston St. often draws late-night lines of dozens of people waiting to get inside, where they can dance until 4 a.m. and order $450 bottles of Dom Perignon champagne and $275 bottles of Grey Goose vodka. 

The club's design combines sleek finishes like gilded wallpaper with antique furnishings and vintage knick knacks including old perfume bottles, coins and marbles, according to the website.

Open House was formerly a bar and club known as Stay, which closed in September.

Representatives of Open House did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.