The Portland Police recommended against approving a liquor license for the planned Mynt Gentleman’s Club on NE 33rd and Sandy.
The neighborhood association recommended against approving the liquor license.
And yet, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) staff report released today recommends approving the license for the controversial site.
The owners of Mynt originally planned to open a bar called Fat Jacks on the site of the old La Fortuna Mexican restaurant and bar. But (as I reported here) after neighbors protested that the bar would lead to violence and noise and the police noted the sketchy history of co-owner Tracy Doss’s other bar, Fusion nightclub downtown, the developers changed Fat Jacks bar to Mynt Gentleman’s Club.
- Like this, but sexxxy.
Laurelhurst Neighborhood Association Eric Fruits posted the OLCC staff recommendation online this afternoon.
The report spells out that because Mynt co-owner Tracy Doss was just a manager of Fusion, not an official liquor license holder, the multiple assaults that went down at Fusion shouldn’t be held against him. The OLCC staff also addressed Laurelhurst neighbors’ concerns that La Fortuna had been a problem area for violence. “Although the five incidents in 22 months, with four serious incidents including a homicide, are a cause for concern, the problems do not appear to rise to the level of problems that the Commission has determined are serious and persistent in other cases,” reads the report, begging the question what is more “serious and persistent” than a homicide and three assaults.
“It seems to say to me, as long as you don’t own the license, you can do whatever you want and get a free pass,” says Fruits. “I hope that’s not true, though the Commissioner will have the final vote.” The OLCC commissioners are slated to vote on the license this Thursday the 17th.
So, according to the neighborhood, nudity will inevitably to homicide. Solid logic there.
From what I’ve seen of Portland strip clubs, patrons usually behave better there than at the average bar or club– chalk it up to increased security and / or the awkwardness of trying to start trouble while hiding a boner.
Technically true or not, I think it’s disingenuous to say they want to open this bar in the Laurelhurst neighborhood. We’re talking about East Sandy, here. The bar would be within walking distance of a porn store and a gay bathhouse.
Kyle’s right, above.
I’m just surprised by the OLCC decision. Didn’t they just ticket an underage dancer because she was on stage but not moving? She’s only allowed to be in the bar area while performing, and they said she wasn’t moving fast enough to qualify as a dancer. This decision doesn’t seem like it’s from the same (crazy) people.
Beside the whole strip club issue…
As a matter of fact the OLCC doesn’t give a shit about the impact their recommendations will have on neighborhoods. The more booze they move, the more tax revenue the state pulls in.
Off the top of my head I can think of another instance within recent history where the PPD and the neighborhood were at odds with the OLCC’s recommendation. (http://portlandsentinel.com/node/737). In that case, so many people packed the OLCC hearing that the partitioner withdrew his request for changes.
But it’s a Gentlemen’s club, sure to be populated by gentlemen! Does Laurelhurst not fancy a gathering of gentlemen, behaving in a gentlemanly fashion, while relaxing in a club atmosphere?
I’ve always found the term “gentlemen’s club” to be one of the funniest euphemisms, and it’s even funnier in this context.
Yeah, when I think Lakehurst I do not think the Sandy Hut. I think the republic will endure.
I think the “strip club in Laurelhurst” line is legit not just because it’s technically within the neighborhood’s borders, but because it abuts (ha! abuts.) a row of Laurelhurst residents’ single family homes.
“…what is more ‘serious and persistent’ than a homicide and three assaults”?
Two homicides and four assaults?
As an aside, internet pedants have cured me of using (and inevitably misusing) the phrase “begs the question” ever again.
Near single family homes? What are they thinking?
Married family men would never go to strip clubs.