(Published Wednesday, August 8, 2007 11:17:51 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Marcia Nelesen Gazette staff
Spankys' "volatile" music and the crowd it attracts were key discussion points as the city's police chief and alcohol license commission members threatened revocation of the dance club's liquor license Tuesday.
Management at Spankys, 24 S. River St., was asked to appear before the city's alcohol license advisory committee because of the number of police calls to the bar since it opened in March.
Deputy Chief Steve Kopp said officers have spent "significant amounts of time" at the bar, adding that police calls-whether for service or police initiated-numbered 116 through Friday.
Quotes Bar & Grill, 24 N. Main St., had the next-highest number of calls with 87.
Police calls to Spankys resulted in 15 arrests on a variety of charges, many at closing time in the parking lot adjacent to the business, Kopp said.
One disturbance that started at Spankys culminated in a shooting in Beloit on July 28, Kopp said. The large crowd that had gathered in the parking lot was hostile toward officers, he said.
"Both suspension recommendations and license revocations are on my 'to do' list if the business doesn't get squared away," Janesville Police Chief Neil Mahan said. "We want safety for the patrons … From our perspective, that hasn't been happening."
Police met with tavern staff for conflict resolution training July 30, and Mahan said he is pleased that staff has implemented police suggestions.
Mary Gorniak, 3402 Amhurst Road, Janesville, owns Spankys. Rudy Villarreal, who appeared at Tuesday's meeting, is the new general manager and did most of the talking.
Villarreal said he has made changes to assure patrons' safety, including extra security and parking patrols, uniforms for security personnel, women employed at the doors to frisk female patrons, plastic beer bottles, strict enforcement of a dress code and staggering crowds leaving the establishment at close.
Craig DeGarmo, ALAC and city council member, called the bar's situation unacceptable. He said that he doesn't think management is making changes as aggressively as it could be because the type of music being played at the bar hasn't changed.
Villarreal said the club plays hip-hop and rap.
Why play "volatile music" if you know that brings you problems? DeGarmo asked.
But Villarreal said he couldn't stop playing that type of music immediately as it would risk "a lot of riots."
Instead, hip-hop and rap will be played earlier in the evening, before patrons have consumed a lot of alcohol, Villarreal said. At about 11 p.m., the music will switch to vocal rhythm and blues and then ease into pop.
Villarreal said the demographics of offering country and western music, for example, would be studied, but money is the bottom line.
"If we have two customers, obviously, that's not going to pay our rent," he said. "But we can tone it down and control the crowd."
Villarreal said the bar will be closed one week in August to add lighting and security. The idea is to "take out all the trash" and keep the good people, now matter their race or color, he said.
Villarreal said he has experience all over the world making clubs safe.
"This is nothing new," he said. "This is the same problem, a different town."
DeGarmo protested.
Janesville has had some problems, but the last major problem was at the former Blarney Stone, he noted.
"Is that a bar?" Villarreal asked.
"It's a vacant lot now," said Paul Williams, ALAC and city council member. The Blarney Stone was located at 26 N. Academy St.
Villarreal has been asked to report back to the ALAC in September.
"There's a very watchful eye on you," DeGarmo said. "We could shut it down in a real hurry."
Other business
The ALAC on Tuesday also recommended the council:
-- Approve the liquor license application for Wiggy's Saloon, owned by Patrick Wygans, Edgerton. He is buying Rev. Jim's Spuds & Suds, 9 N. Parker Drive. Rebecca Halbach currently has the license.
Wiggins said the sale was in the works before police announced an investigation of prostitution at Screamin' MeeMees, owned by Jim and Rebecca Halbach.
