By: Ellen Cans

A Brooklyn club has been open for secret dance parties which do not follow social distancing precautions despite the looming threat of Coronavirus.  The club, named the Illmore, has neighbors worried that it may end up living up to its name.

As reported by the NY Post, the underground setting, located on Evergreen Avenue in Bushwick, has held numerous parties in recent weeks, with videos leaking on social-media pointing to a closely-packed dance floor, and revelers without a care or a mask.

“I understand keeping the energy of Brooklyn and the underground I respect that and I love it because that’s what I like about Bushwick but right now it’s not the time,” said a woman who wished to remain anonymous and who lives next door to the garage-like club. “I don’t see many people wearing masks when I see them outside.”

Zachary Shepis, who introduces himself as a co-founder of The Illmore on his Instagram page, posted in June how the venue was doing its best to adhere to pandemic precaution. “While our concerts will be limited until COVID restrictions change, we’ll be offering the space to bands for rehearsals and live streams in the meantime,” he wrote, showing off the new venue.

This Sunday, however, Shepis posted stories on his page that were contrary to that June 24 statement.  The photos reveal dozens of partygoers packed indoors in the small venue, dancing with smoke and disco lights, without any social distance between them.  Another clip presented a man and a woman, none of whom were wearing masks, with the caption, “Your friendly neighborhood bartenders.”

The Post learned from a neighbor and attendee that the Illmore party carried on from late Saturday til well into Sunday morning. “I can’t believe it’s been going on for so long and nobody says anything,” said a troubled Brooklyn woman whose friends joined the club on Saturday night.  Despite their empathy for the young revelers, neighbors were frightened by the risky undertaking right in their midst during the pandemic.  “I know we feel frustrated, like, ‘We gotta go, we can’t stay home,’” said Johnny Gomez, 49, who lives nearby. “No, you gotta take it easy. For now, you gotta stay home!”  “Everyone has to respect each other,” added Gomez. “A lot of people don’t follow what we have to do. That’s why we’re still in the same situation.”