ARQ nightclub’s manager for 25 years, James Mavety, has been dismissed along with seven regularly contracted security guards after the owner of Home The Venue took over management of the venue.
Known by many as the “face of ARQ”, Mavety was often seen in a suit and tie at ARQ’s entranceway alongside the security guards, who have all left the business in recent weeks.
Mavety was the club’s venue manager and recently became its licensee when Home The Venue’s owner took over. Before that, he was the licensee’s delegated representative.
Mavety confirmed to Gay Sydney News that he no longer worked for ARQ and would miss it. “Saying that…. It’s time for new beginnings and I like to take solace in the fact that I managed a pretty amazing club for 25 years while ARQ was still at its peak. Something I’m very proud of being a part of,” he said.
Lynh Pham has since taken over as licensee, with government records showing they started on June 28.
Security guard Anthony Dilorenzo confirmed he was among the 7 contracted security guards let go and was “bummed” about the decision.
Outside of ARQ, Dilorenzo is an Uber driver, although he is now looking for other security work.
A spokesperson for ARQ, which now likes to be known as ARQ By Home, said: “For the privacy of our present and former team members we do not discuss or disclose employment matters. We wish James all the best in his future endeavours.”
Safeguard Protective Services director Nemo Petrovic said it was unclear to him why his security guards, who were contracted to work for ARQ, had been let go.
“To be honest, I am not sure why the guys lost all their work,” Petrovic said. “I had been in regular contact with the licensee, which was James at the time, and he was always happy with Safeguard.
“Our team was very senior and experienced and understood the type of customer service that was required at ARQ. The patrons loved them; they got to know them on a name-by-name basis. They were friendly with each other, they looked after each other. There was a real sense of community.
“It’s a shame because they formed good friendships. But unfortunately, for reasons unknown, my guys ended up losing their work.”
When ARQ re-opened in December 2022, Petrovic said his company was engaged to provide its services to ARQ. In late March, as management changes were under way, Petrovic said he was informed that security company Prime Group would take over ARQ’s security contract.
He said he was initially OK with this, as Safeguard would continue to be able to provide its security guards on a sub-contracting basis. But this agreement was terminated about three weeks ago.
About the same time, Mavety was also shown the door.
“I can only imagine how devastated James was. That was his life,” Petrovic said. “It was a surprise to me as well, and to our entire crew, because James has been the face of ARQ.”
Susanah Page, owner of Home The Venue, took over management of ARQ from Shadd Danesi in April after signing a lease agreement for an undisclosed sum. Danesi maintains ownership of the premises.
A source not authorised to speak publicly who was close to those who executed the management change said Danesi was upset with ARQ’s new owners for letting Mavety go.
“Shadd is fuming, absolutely fuming,” the source said.
The source added that one of the conditions of Home The Venue’s owner taking over ARQ was to keep Mavety as licensee for at least three years.
When Gay Sydney News called Danesi, he confirmed that “there was a condition along those lines, but there were other conditions also in there. But ultimately that was their decision [to let James go].
“I wasn’t involved in any of it [the business] once I left.”
Gay Sydney News editor