Urgency Ordinance Has Nightclubs Eyeing Gas Stations as Potential Venues
Posted by 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 (11)
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Sherry Fri, Nov 18, 2005 - 9:00 am
I’ll have a Cosmo, two Coronas, and could you check the air in my tires?
BarbieZelbub Fri, Nov 18, 2005 - 9:08 am
Based on the attire women wear “clubbing,” downtown sure doesn’t look like virgin territory.
Boooozzzzeeeee Fri, Nov 18, 2005 - 9:27 am
Rumer on the street is that the Ambassador Lounge will be converted to a refinery.
San Jose to ban homeowners Fri, Nov 18, 2005 - 10:04 am
Since 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!
1,2,3..Get Rid of Ronny G!! Fri, Nov 18, 2005 - 12:04 pm
Selling 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!
Visit San Jose and experience the Wild West Fri, Nov 18, 2005 - 1:39 pm
San Jose Mayor’s spokesman released the following press release
The residents of San Jose will greatly benefit from San Joses GasClubs which will provide a much needed local economic boost since we can combine our 2 most profitable businesses on / off site alcohol and gasoline sales as well as provide the benefits of the downtown club scene to the entire city.
We take seriously the recent accusations of racial profiling and discrimination so by having Gasclubs throughout the city we can have our police department treat all residents and neighborhoods equally
Our Putting Families back to Work committee believes the Gasclubs will also increase jobs and employment in the healthcare, auto repair, new and used vehicles sales, personal injury lawsuit, rehabilitation and recovery and local government employment in public safety, criminal justice, Valley Medical and courts.
Chevron, Rotten Robbie, Costco and other gas station owners indicated they were very excited at this innovative business opportunity and are working with Silicon Valley Advisors and other consultants to go through the citys one stop, one day immediate GasClub approval process to be able to have the first GasClubs open in time for the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years holidays and will invest millions in GasClub expansions .
Mercury News indicated they would be adding a special GasClubs advertising section which should reverse their declining advertising revenue since hundreds of businesses: GasClubs, healthcare, auto, personal injury lawyers, and social service organizations would be heavily advertising their products and services and the GasCubs would provide numerous local crime, news stories and editorials to boost circulation
National Rifle Association will be meeting with the City Council to present a proposal to further stimulate our local economy with their Buy guns and ammo at your local Gasclub proposal that should attract hundreds of customers from Oakland, San Francisco and Richmond to San Jose bringing millions in new business opportunities, revenue and sales taxes
California Indian gaming interests are in negotiations with the Mayors staff to adding slot machines and other gaming to GasClubs since they see San Jose with its new Wild West business friendly attitude as a high demand and profitable market
Mayor Gonzales stated San Jose and Silicon Valley Leadership Group will open a business incubator to apply our local high tech startup expertise to the vehicle armoring, personal safety equipment, vehicle injury and gun shot trauma treatment industries and believe we will have a very large local and world wide market demand for our locally produced and street tested products.
A Bush administration spokesman stated San Jose has finally recognized that gasoline, alcohol, guns, drugs, violence and crime are high profit growth industries and indicated that Homeland Security, Justice and Defense Departments would be giving San Jose businesses hundreds of millions in federal contracts for the US and foreign countries as part of their Buy America program
San Jose City Council and Chamber of Commerce is discussing changing our citys motto to Visit San Jose and experience first hand the Wild West to boost our gangsta and local tourist industry
Downtown Resident Fri, Nov 18, 2005 - 9:56 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.
Terry Fri, Nov 18, 2005 - 10:33 pm
Downtown 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.
SJ Downtowner Sat, Nov 19, 2005 - 5:48 pm
Terry - 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.
J.Walker Sun, Nov 20, 2005 - 7:32 pm
It’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.
JohnMichael O'Connor Wed, Dec 07, 2005 - 4:31 pm
I 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.