MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – About two dozen people wearing "Save Our Jobs" T-shirts cheered the decision of a Miami Beach code official to reinstate the business license of the Mokai Lounge in South Beach.
Monday's ruling came after the owner of the nightclub agreed to pay $12,150 in fines, donate $10,000 to Peaceful Ridge Horse Rescue and agreed not to use animals as props inside the property.
"We're back open, so we're very happy," attorney Louis J. Terminello told Local 10 News.
Videos showing a go-go dancer riding a white horse on the dance floor March 8 went viral. The agitated horse flung off the woman, who was wearing black lingerie.
"We recognized that there are a multitude of implications surrounding the permanent closure of this business, including the notion that the business does provide employment for many individuals," City Manager Jimmy Morales said of the decision. "But we take very seriously what transpired in that club, and we wanted to structure an arrangement that would likely ensure that such improper conduct would never happen again at this business."
File: READ Mokai Lounge Agreed Order
The owner of the club is Roman Jones. It wasn't his idea, so he suspended the marketing director without pay.
Jones, a former managing partner of the now defunct Opium Group, is the son of Mick Jones, founder of the legendary rock band Foreigner.
"This agreed order essentially creates a permanent revocation penalty for this business should they ever use an animal in that establishment again," Morales said.