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John McEnery IV can be found wandering around San Pedro Square. His column appears on Fridays. He can be reached at john@sanjoseinside.com.
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Urgency Ordinance Has Nightclubs Eyeing Gas Stations as Potential Venues
Posted by John McEnery IV on Friday, November 18, 2005
Repeal of Ban on Alcohol Sales Could Give Rise to Gasclubs
Shortly after a unanimous vote by the San Jose City Council on an urgency ordinance that gives the police chief more discretion in shutting down problem nightclubs in downtown, a committee of nightclub owners met and decided to take their business elsewhere—to the neighborhood gas stations.
The strange circumstance that has nightclub owners purchasing gas stations and retrofitting them with turntables, sound systems, lighting packages and dance floors in anticipation of what most think will be a formality: a December 6th council meeting in which the city will vote to repeal a ban on alcohol sales at gas stations.
“This is like the great land grabs during the westward expansion of the U.S.,” said Ed Pope, owner of the Ambassador Lounge in downtown that was recently shut down because of several gunfights by patrons. “This is virgin territory and we aim to make our claim!”
Several neighborhood groups have protested these so-called “gasclubs” and the possible invasion of “Spring Break Gone Wild” every Thursday through Saturday at their neighborhood service stations. Some residents even threatened camp-outs at council members’ ranches to raise awareness.
Ed Alvarez, a partner in Silicon Valley Advisors and nightclub spokesman put it bluntly, “Why would these nightclubs stay downtown where they could be punished for their lawlessness. No, the place for them is in the quiet, unassuming, well established neighborhoods, where their patrons can get whack and put the beat down in peace.”
Posted by John McEnery IV on Friday, November 18, 2005 at 05:00 AM
Comments
I’ll have a Cosmo, two Coronas, and could you check the air in my tires?
Posted by Sherry
Friday, November 18 at 09:00 AMBased on the attire women wear “clubbing,” downtown sure doesn’t look like virgin territory.
Posted by BarbieZelbub
Friday, November 18 at 09:08 AMRumer on the street is that the Ambassador Lounge will be converted to a refinery.
Posted by Boooozzzzeeeee
Friday, November 18 at 09:27 AMSince fear rules the day in San Jose Police Tactics.... Responding to a standoff that just ended between an armed San Jose resident and SJPD. The council now plans to install new operation procedures for home ownership in downtown.
Any home owner who lives within 100 feet of another home that has a crime is subject to fines, harrassment and possible closing of thier home!
Posted by San Jose to ban homeowners
Friday, November 18 at 10:04 AMSelling alcohol where people drive away will really up the DUIs in the city - then the policeman will have a reason to pull over all those folks cruising Santa Clara Street!
Posted by 1,2,3..Get Rid of Ronny G!!
Friday, November 18 at 12:04 PM-
Posted by Visit San Jose and experience the Wild West
Friday, November 18 at 01:39 PM Although I am sorry that the neighborhoods will inherit the clubs, I am glad that they are moving out of downtown. I find it troublesome, to say the least, to travel outside of my townhome after 10pm on a weekend. I don’t feel comfortable walking the streets, so I choose not to go to a movie at Camera 12, or see a show, because I know I will have to walk home through the morass that is nightclub life. We need a change and the city council has taken a step in the right direction.
Posted by Downtown Resident
Friday, November 18 at 09:56 PMDowntown Resident-
I agree. There has to be some thought given to downtown residents. The only way that is going to happen is if we are heard; we must become a part of the discussion.
Although the new ordinance is a step in the right direction, from what I understand it is only temporary. I don’t know why the city isn’t doing more to protect the downtown for future residents. At some point, many developers are going to have to sell their highrise product to suburbanites trying to justify a move to the urban core. With the recent and continued violence coming from the late night revelers, I don’t know why anyone would do that. And that failure won’t only hurt the developers, it will be a judgement on the city itself and ultimately affect the future of the core for decades to come.
Posted by Terry
Friday, November 18 at 10:33 PMTerry - the city isn’t doing more because there is no leadership in City Hall. Also, you can see why no one there wanted to touch the cruising or nightclub issues - as soon as that ordinance was passed, there were cries of racism. political correctness concerns have allowed the situation to get where it is. It looks like the ship has been turned a bit and hopefully will start heading in the right direction with this attention now being paid to this issue.
Posted by SJ Downtowner
Saturday, November 19 at 05:48 PMIt’s a cruising issue downtown. Violence has been a rare issue dowtown. The hoodlems on the street to watch cruisers drive back and forth are the real issue.
Hopefully the few negative nightlife operators will move on and the city will deal with the real issues - the cruisers and hoods!
Then we can move on from the pathetic police state we live in!
And nice people can enjoy a night out at a restaurant and maybe some late night drinks or entertainment.
Posted by J.Walker
Sunday, November 20 at 07:32 PMI just spoke with a friend over lunch who wants to open a venue where folks over 40 can go to hear and dance to music. He does NOT want to be downtwon SJay, but everyone he speaks to in government--permit folks, ABC, planning, etc., all conciously push him to go downtown for “the subsidies”.
So, what will happen? He’ll probably go to Santa Clara or Cupertino or Campbell to open up his club.
Posted by
Wednesday, December 07 at 04:31 PM