South Beach, Fla., Entrepreneur Rubs Club Insiders the Wrong Way.

Publication: The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida) (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News)

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COPYRIGHT 2001 The Miami Herald

Mar. 20--Just shy of 30, Shawn Lewis scooped up millions of dollars from the sale of his Boston high-tech company and swaggered into South Beach in late 1998.

The fidgety, fast-talking entrepreneur shifted into overdrive to invest in a business he knew little about -- nightclubs.

"I'm a millionaire. I enjoy the limelight," he said in an interview last week. "I enjoy hanging out with celebrities."

But many club insiders consider him the Beach's latest bad boy, with a cocky attitude and aggressive business tactics. That reputation may be catching up with him.

Lewis says he's seriously thinking about leaving the club scene -- especially now that state agents are investigating four clubs and one restaurant in which he has big financial stakes.

The state Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco could revoke their valuable liquor licenses if Lewis is found to be their actual owner.

The reason: Lewis, 32, was convicted in 1994 of writing bad checks in his home state of New Jersey. Anyone with a felony record in the past 15 years can't hold a liquor license in Florida.

To overcome that legal hurdle, Lewis made secured loans to NSU, the company that owns the clubs and restaurant, Joe Black's Bar and Grille. He says it's legitimate, since he's not a corporate officer of NSU. His only role...

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