White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Till 6 pm, go get a map and wander amazing White Center gardens – pick up your map at McLendon Hardware on 16th!

Our video shows last night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting in its entirety, except for some routine business in the last few minutes. It runs two hours and 17 minutes, unedited, starting with the Pledge of Allegiance. The Club Evo discussion begins about halfway through – one hour, eight minutes in, first with a county DDES rep, then the club’s partners Alfredo Lopez and Danny Yarbrough. (Our separate article summarizing the discussion will be published here later.)

We’re at the North Highline Fire District HQ in White Center for the full-house meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council. Among the items of major interest: the partners who say they plan to reopen what was Club Evo in downtown WC, as reported here on White Center Now recently. But there’s a lot more to talk about; currently Dick Thurnau is talking about trouble at Hicks Lake; public comment included Rick Jump from White Center Food Bank announcing this year’s Greenbridge barbecue on August 5th, as well as the upcoming Harvest Dinner/Auction for WC Food Bank. Lots of familiar faces in the audience, including local business leaders and King County Councilmember Joe McDermott. More to come. (We’re rolling video on the entire meeting, and will post it here afterward, in case you can’t get here to see what happens in person.)

7:20 PM: Two people in the public-comment section have voiced concern about the medical-marijuana businesses in downtown White Center; one mentioned live music at GAME Lounge, saying it seems to be “more than a medical facility.” Burien city manager is now updating the council and audience, saying that Ambaum road work is done, with synchronized signals to come. Regarding annexation, he says crime stats will be brought to the Burien City Council on July 18th, including a comparison to what’s happening in the city of Burien as well as the potential-annexation area itself. He also mentioned the study he has commissioned regarding the finances of annexation, and says that will be presented to the council “in about three weeks.”

7:26 PM: For the crime update, KCSO says significant spike in residential burglaries though overall crime is down. “Right now there’s very little information” on why, says the Sheriff’s Office rep. “The typical MO has been, knock on the front door, getting no response, kick in that door or the back door.” Assaults are also reported to be up, though it’s described as typical for the start of summer. Asked about the medical-marijuana businesses, the KCSO rep says they’re awaiting the state-law change later this month to see whether things “solidify.”

7:39 PM: The crime discussion continues with audience questions. One man identifying himself as a White Center business owner says the crime in downtown WC is not going down, in his view. He discusses public intoxication – which KCSO reminds, is not a crime. The business owner wonders if the owners of White Center Plaza can be approached to cut down on the drinking that happens there. “We can make that effort,” replies KCSO. Asked if there seems to be any chance White Center will get a storefront deputy back any time soon, the answer boils down to: Probably not. How did Skyway get it? By demonstrating the need, is the reply. And there’s a lot of need, all over the county.

7:47 PM: Legislative updates now – starting with State Sen. Sharon Nelson. State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon is here too. (7:57 pm) He is speaking about the potential $20 transit-fund-raising fee for license-plate tabs, and the possible Metro cuts if it doesn’t become law, either through a vote of the County Council, or a vote of the people. He’s also talking about the “tangled mess of laws around medical marijuana,” particularly what happened once Governor Gregoire vetoed most of the legislation that passed in Olympia. He says fixing that will be “one of the top priorities … to clarify that situation” in the next Legislative session, since many communities are dealing with it.

8:13 PM: Alfredo Lopez, who owns the site once known as Club Evo, is speaking with his new business partner. Preceding them was a DDES employee who noted that the injunction that closed Evo is still in effect, as they wait to officially hear what the new business proposal is. (WCN’s Deanie Schwarz, who interviewed the partners and broke the news of their plan, is here at the meeting as well and will be writing a full report on this angle, while your editor here is handling the general overview, as well as the videography.) Lopez acknowledges he “made a mistake” by allowing “another promoter” to come in and handle Friday nights with hip-hop shows that he said “attracted problems.” He says his new partner Danny Yarbrough will be the “operating partner” and lives in West Seattle.

8:43 PM: Still discussing ex-Club Evo/future nightclub. NHUAC president Barbara Dobkin has basically said Lopez talks a good game but has said it all before. NHUAC member Christine Waldman is reciting notes from past White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meetings at which Evo(lucion) came up.

9:20 PM: The Club Evo discussion, tense at times, finally ended around 9:15 pm. (Again, full, separate story coming up; we’ll add video after returning back to HQ.) President Dobkin now says the County Council is taking up its Unincorporated Area Councils bill next Monday – and the life of NHUAC is at stake. She says this meeting, with about 50 in attendance and a hot issue to discuss, is testament to the value of the council.

1:16 PM: According to the King County Public Health Department, the medical-marijuana GAME Lounge in downtown White Center is open again, with the qualifier “allowed to remain open to sell food and beverage items that are exempt from permit.”

6:13 PM UPDATE: WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz talked with GAME Lounge owner Brionne Corbray, who disputes what the county was asking for:

Just in from King County Public Health:

The Game Lounge located at 9803 16th Ave SW, Seattle, 98106 was closed by a Public Health food inspector on July 6, 2011 at 1:50 pm for operating without a valid food business permit. The establishment will be reopened once it’s confirmed that the person in charge of the establishment has completed the steps to get a valid permit per the instructions online at
www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/foodsafety/FoodBusiness

Thanks to Madge Bloom for e-mailing to share that photo of a fire she spotted, and reported, late last night in the open space by the White Center Dairy Queen. She says North Highline Fire District firefighters got there fast and made quick work of it; she has more photos on her website, The View From Right Here.

Metro’s on a Sunday schedule. All the usual major-holiday closures are in effect. No official White Center fireworks show, but there’s the 3 pm parade in Burien, fireworks off Three Tree Point tonight, and the WC Jubilee Days July 13th fireworks show isn’t that far away. If you buy fireworks in the unincorporated area, they’re legal to use 9 am-midnight tonight – and that’s it, you’re done for the year. Have a safe and fun day!

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Harlem’s World Children’s Boutique is one of White Center’s newest businesses, open less than a month in a retail space that is part of a live-work unit in the Greenbridge community directly across from the Greenbridge Plaza on 8th SW in White Center, not far south of Roxbury.

Owner Danté Mitchell is a first-time business owner at 30 years old. He is a graduate of the StartZone small business program at Highline Community College and is ready to make his mark as a specialist in new and lightly worn, hard-to-find children’s clothing.

Dante shared his vision for his small, nicely stocked store, tucked between the King County Sheriff’s Greenbridge Office and another live-work unit housing a hair salon.

“I just want to bring something to the community that is contemporary and fashionable, but at a reasonable cost to my customers. I know how it is sometimes for kids if you don’t have the right clothes or right “look” growing up. Children will tease each other. So I want to provide options to help build the children’s self-esteem, so they feel comfortable and confident,” he said. “And I want to help the parents as well by letting them know they can spend in a way that is not too strenuous for their pocketbooks for great clothing and merchandise.“

“But,” he continues, “this is about more than just making money in the community. It’s also about networking with other organizations, such as Cherish A Jewel, which assists single mothers throughout Seattle. We are partnering to impact the communities at large. I will offer her members discounts at our store. And you know, there are times when mothers can’t afford anything, so sometimes we just bless them with clothing for their children just to help them get started.”

Dante also points out an empty case that was to be filled soon with kids’ jewelry.

“I love kids and hope to be a parent one day — I am working on getting married,” he says with a smile. “But I am mentor to a lot of nephews and nieces and kids in my church. I volunteer at missions and homeless shelters with kids too. Harlem’s World is named after my god-daughter Harlem,” he says softly, pointing to Harlem’s picture, proudly centered on the store wall.

Harlem’s World carries sizes newborn to 18. Name brands such as Juicy Couture, True Religion and Baby Couture and Gap are crisply steam-pressed and meticulously arranged on racks in the small, clean and comfortable space. There’s a bargain table as well with stacks of even lower-priced items available to peruse.

Dante has been debating about whether to open the store to consignment agreements, but is not yet venturing in that direction. The hours are currently Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 am– 6 pm, 9830 8th SW, #104, and he invites you to stop by with your kids to say hello and have a look.

As had been noted in the long comment thread following our story about the future plans for the site formerly known as “Club Evo“, the participants in its current partnership say they will be at next Thursday’s meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council. And indeed, they’re on the agenda just forwarded by NHUAC president Barbara Dobkin, along with many other big issues/topics:

7:00 p.m. Call to order
Flag Salute
Roll Call
Approval of Agenda
Approval of Minutes
7:05 p.m. Public Announcements
7:10 p.m. Public Comment – 3 minutes for individuals
5 minutes for groups
7:15 p.m. Mike Martin, Burien City Manager
7:20 p.m. KCSO Capt Joseph Hodgson – Crime Stats
7:25 p.m. Ruth Ann Matthias – Des Moines Memorial Drive Upgrade Project
7:30 p.m. Rep. Sharon Nelson
7:40 p.m. Rep Joe Fitzgibbon
7:50 pm Jim Chan, DDES
8:00 pm Alfredo Lopez & Daniel Yarbrough – Partners of new Dance Club formerly Club Evo
8:15 p.m. Treasurers Report
8:20 p.m. .Corresponding Secretary Report
8:25 p.m. Committee Reports
1. Governance
2. Arts and Parks
3. Public Safety
4. Housing and Human Services
5. Public Outreach
6. Transportation
8:30 p.m. Unfinished Business
UAC Funding
White Center Blvd Park Libraries
8:40 p.m. New Business
White Center Store Front Deputies
August & September Agenda Items

Just in from White Center Jubilee Days – the official news release outlining this month’s events!

White Center Jubilee Days is a Seafair-Sanctioned Community Event. The street fair and parade will celebrate it’s 89th year in White Center in 2011. The festival continues to grow. In 2010 a Garden Tour was revived, Fireworks, an Auto Show and Shine, and a Gala Auction were added. This year new events include the Spring Fling & Pinewood Derby, Rock ~n~ Bowl, and a Retro Roller Skating Party.

July 9, 2011
The McLendon Hardware Garden Tour
This year’s Garden Tour will again start in the parking lot of McLendon Hardware,
10210 16th Avenue SW
The tour will feature 10 distinctive gardens in the White Center area and then end back at McLendon’s.
9:00 am – 6:00 pm

July 13, 2011
The second annual Jubilee Days Fireworks Show.
Steve Cox Memorial Park
15th SW & 102nd
This spectacular show consists of 500 shells spanning 20 minutes Starts at dusk.

July 13 – 16, 2011
Davis Shows Carnival
Steve Cox Memorial Park
15th SW & 102nd
Wednesday 3:00pm -10:00pm
Thursday 12:00pm -10:00pm
Friday 12:00pm -11:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm -11:00pm
Sunday 12:00pm -10:00pm

July 14, 2011
Rock and Bowl
Magic Lanes
10612 15th Ave SW
8:00pm – 11:00pm

July 15, 2011
Retro Roller Skating Party
Southgate Roller Rink
9646 16th Ave SW
7:30pm – 11:00pm

July 16, 2011
Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast
Holy Family Church
9622 20th Ave SW
7:30 am to 12:00 pm

July 16 – 17, 2011
White Center Jubilee Days Street Fair
17th Avenue SW,
Between 98th and 102nd

July 16, 2011
Auto Show and Shine
SW White Center Cutoff
(16th Ave SW & SW 100th St)
8:00am – 4:00pm
Last year there were tricked-out and souped-up cars from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s through today and this year is bound to be better than ever! We will have Rat Rods, Hot Rods, Lowriders, Customs, Lead Sleds and Classics. There will be pin striping the day of the event and show casing by Renegade Bikes.

July 17, 2011
White Center Jubilee Days Parade
16th Avenue from 112th, North to 100th Street
11:00 am

December 3, 2011
Autumn Auction
Time & Location TBA

2011 will mark the 23rd year that White Center has participated in a Seafair-sanctioned community event. An event planned for the local businesses to participate and support the community and its resources and talent.

It is an opportunity for neighbors to get to know their neighbors, community service providers and local business members.

For more information visit www.jubileedays.org

(Thursday image from construction webcam at Strength of Place Village)
Updates from Kate Gill de la Garza at Capitol Hill Housing, which is a partner in building Strength of Place Village in White Center: They’re about to start taking applications for people to move into the low-income housing development at 14th and 100th, and there also will be a community tour for anyone interested in taking a look as it gets closer to completion. Here are those two announcements.

Submit an application
Sit down with a Quantum Management representative to fill out an application for housing & ask questions!
Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Location: YWCA Learning Center at Greenbridge
Address: 9720 8th Avenue SW
Time: 3 pm-7 pm

For that event ONLY, child care, light refreshments and interpretation in Spanish, Vietnamese & Somali will be available, according to the announcement. Also, you can find a housing application by going to this page on the White Center Community Development Association site or picking one up at WCCDA HQ at 1615 SW Cambridge. Meantime, here’s the tour announcement:

Community Tour
Come and see what quality affordable housing looks like!
This tour is open to all!
Date: Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Location: Intersection of 14th Avenue SW & SW 100th Street
Time: 4 pm-6 pm

You can check in on the construction via the site webcam – see it here.

Story and photo by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Organizers met at Big Al Brewing Wednesday evening, working hard to pull together their “to do” lists for the 88th year of the Jubilee Days celebration in White Center, expected to draw 25,000 people.

Organizers told WCN that as they continue to dial in the remaining details, posters and the official program (with discounts and coupons for local businesses, by the way) have been distributed around the business district and beyond. Keep an eye out and pick one up for the event-by-event and daily schedules you’ll want to have to plan.

The next upcoming event is the Garden Tour, on Saturday, July 9. It begins in the parking lot at McLendon Hardware (10210 16th SW) at 9 am. There will be tour packets to be picked up for the free, 10-garden tour. McLendon is the sponsor for the event and a popular Treasure Hunt will be held again: Find items from a list at each garden, identify them all, and win a $25 McLendon gift card. If folks have questions about the garden tour, the person to contact is Heather at gardenwalk@jubileedays.org or call 206-920-4144.

The members told WCN that the funding and operating of Jubilee Days is dependent on business sponsorship and while many have already taken the opportunity to promote civic pride and positive marketing for their businesses, sponsorship, support opportunities remain.

There are a multitude of sponsorship levels to participate at, but we were also told they are still seeking sponsorship for the much-anticipated July 13 fireworks display at Steve Cox Memorial Park . They say it is 20-minutes of solid spectacle, so if you have an interest in getting a lot of bang for your sponsorship buck, this might be the event for your business or organization! The Jubilee point person to answer any questions you might have if you are interested in getting in on the annual sponsorship tradition at any level is Peter Mort, peterjmort@gmail.com or 204-0661.

White Center Jubilee Days Officers and Board Members for 2011 are President Michael McGrath, Vice President Julie Hiatt, Secretary Karen Paden and Treasurer Stephen Lamphear. Lots of festival information can be found at jubileedays.org.

From the Boys and Girls Club in Greenbridge:

Southwest Boys & Girls Club in White Center Teams Up With USDA Simplified Summer Food Program to Provide Supper for More Kids

The Southwest Boys & Girls Club announces the sponsorship of the Simplified Summer Food Program for Children. Meals will be made available at no charge to attending children 18 years of age and younger.

All meals are available without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against should write immediately to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). The USDA is an equal opportunity employer.

The Southwest Boys & Girls Club is located at 9800 8th Ave SW, Suite 105.

Supper is available Monday – Friday, June 27th – July 1st, and August 15th -September 6th (except on Labor Day, September 5th) from 5:00-5:30 pm.

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

More than 50 community members were in attendance as the King County Library Services Board of Trustees met in Issaquah Tuesday, hoping to have their collective voices heard regarding the North Highline Library Service Recommendation to consolidate the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries.

(From left, Liz Giba of NHUAC, Burien City Councilmember Rose Clark, WCCDA’s Virgil Domaoan, King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, NHUAC president Barb Dobkin)
The White Center Library Guild presented its petition (as reported here) to the Board with just shy of 1,800 signatures. Comments to the Board were broad, repeating many of the same issues presented in previous meetings. But the perceived lack of effective outreach to the regular WC and Boulevard Park library users was pointed out by Virgil Domaoan, community builder director of the White Center Community Development Association, who lives in Boulevard Park.

He joined the petition efforts initiated by the White Center Library Guild and discovered during their doorbelling campaign that people had not heard about the potential library closures and were concerned how they would get to another location to use a computer every day. He pointed out these are families who do not have the computers commonly found in other neighborhoods where internet access and computer ownership is common place. Domaoan said only one person refused to sign the petition, a mother who wanted her son to be present when she signed it so he could witness what she was doing as a civic lesson.

Greg Duff, former North Highline Unincorporated Area Council member who is a candidate for Burien City Council, told the Board that his petition drive at the recent Burien Wild Strawberry Festival resulted in two main takeaways from the public he spoke with: It was suggested that Board members themselves visit the Boulevard Park and White Center libraries any day around 4:00 PM to see for themselves the high volume of computer users. The second takeaway was why should they, as voters, ever vote for a library bond again when they were lied to about the 2004 bond?

Astha Tada, speaking to the Board as a former teacher and as a Guild Member, wore an 18-pound backpack as she spoke. That’s the average weight of what kids carry every day back and forth to school, saying she learned that when she “googled” it in her research. In true teacher fashion, she wore it to illustrate the unwieldy weight children would be expected to bear while walking even further to a new library location from school and home because, she said, there will be no transportation options for them when they do not have money for a bus.

Safia Jama told the Board through a Somali interpreter that she is the mother of six children raised in White Center for the last 15 years. “Every day I have taken my children to the library in White Center. My children are in elementary, middle and high school and university. I am not lying. All of them use the library every day.”

Having heard all of these and many other passionate and articulate speakers, the Board spared any debate regarding convening an Executive Session to hear the staff’s proposed sites for a new library, as Director Ptacek suggested the Board do as the agenda outlined. The agenda was changed and a motion was made and immediately approved to delay any decisions on consolidation until further information was available about the potential for the Burien annexation of North Highline.

That’s one of the fireworks stands that officially opened Tuesday – as of today, they can be open 9 am-11 pm through Monday, but fireworks can only be used 9 am-midnight ***on*** Monday. More details in our story from earlier this week. (And remember, fireworks are banned on both sides of the unincorporated area – Burien and Seattle.)

White Center Now contributor Deanie Schwarz covered today’s King County Library Board meeting, and says board members have decided again to put off a decision about potentially consolidating the White Center and Boulevard Park branches. This time, they say they want to wait until there is more information about Burien’s annexation intent; as reported here earlier, Burien is now studying the possibility, with financial feasibility updates expected later this summer. More details to come.

(Photo courtesy White Center Community Development Association, used with permission)
Next time you’re at 16th and Roxbury, take a close look and appreciate the freshened-up planting areas! Nhan Nguyen of the White Center Community Development Association shared the news today that a small group went out on Sunday to beautify the corner. He says that nearby Pho Lynna and Decoraciones Ely have ” volunteered to take care of regular watering.” The planting, according to Nhan, was led by Erika and Clark from Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle and WCCDA member Judy.

Want to be part of an occasional “mini-cleanup” in the business district? WCCDA would love to hear from you – and Nhan says they’ll supply the trash bags, trash pickers, and gloves!

With White Center’s King County Sheriff’s Office deputy-less at last check, you might be interested in a news release from the county today – about restoration of funding for a deputy in the Skyway storefront, and county assistance as the West Hill area moves toward annexation. Read the news release here.

Just a week till the 4th of July – and we noticed fireworks stands are up and waiting in the unincorporated areas (White Center, Top Hat, etc.). So it’s a good time to remind you: In the unincorporated areas, fireworks can be sold starting noon-11 pm Tuesday, and then 9 am-11 pm daily through July 4th – but even though you can BUY them before the holiday, you can only USE them on the 4th, 9 am-midnight.

As for official professional fireworks displays – there’s the Seattle show over Lake Union, visible from north-facing West Seattle, and Three Tree Point, offshore. But you might just decide to wait for the sure-to-be-spectacular-again Jubilee Days fireworks at Steve Cox Memorial Park on July 13th.

By Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Alfred Lopez, owner of 9625 16th SW and the now-dissolved entity that did business there as Club Evolucion, has confirmed to WCN that he has a new plan for the space.

He confirms that he has entered into a formal, as-yet-unnamed and unincorporated partnership with Danny Yarbrough (at right, above, with Lopez at left; he’s owner of Citrus) that will develop the former Club Evo space into a Latin “banda” entertainment venue (for 18 and over) and eventual restaurant and lounge.

The partners finalized their agreement this past week and spoke to WCN about the development of the property, which was placed under a permanent injunction through the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Civil Division in May. The partners have begun in earnest, having already met with DDES, contacted the city of Burien Police and Sgt. Rodney Chinnick, the head of the KCSO’s Gang Unit, as well as contacting the Police Guild about off-duty deputy security coverage.

“We will make sure we get all of the proper licenses and permits before we do anything. We had a meeting with DDES about what we need to do. The first step is the sprinklers and Fire Department inspections. Then the public entertainment and public dance permits and the state of Washington master business license,” Yarbrough explains.

The partners also spoke of in-the-near future plans for outreach to various community organizations to (re-)introduce themselves and their proposed business model. They’re looking at the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, the White Center Community Development Association, the White Center Chamber of Commerce and the newer White Center Business Owners of Sustainable Support mixer group.

The club was shut down for noncompliance last year and soon after, the property went into foreclosure proceedings. But, the property was not put up for sale as a foreclosure, says Lopez, because he found a group of investors to assist in paying off the 10-year note to the previous owner.

Lopez is very clear to state that the first compliance task is to meet the requirements of the injunction before any business of any kind is to operate at the space in the heart of the revitalizing White Center business district. Those requirements will include any and all of the proper county and state licenses, but in order to apply for licenses, the site’s sprinkler system must be given occupancy approval by the North Highline Fire District fire marshal.

The sprinkler system installation was completed in November 2010 by an approved contractor; however, a completely new and separate water line and meter needs to be approved and installed by Seattle Public Utilities. The Fire Department ordered specific work to be done such as closing up exposed walls and will not be back till the meter and water lines are installed and approved to inspect the sprinkler system.

King County has approved the sprinkler plans on paper and Lopez believes the County will be forwarding them shortly to SPU. If and when SPU approves the plans, the meter installation will be scheduled six to eight weeks out, depending on the backlog of work.

The problematic history of the former Club Evo goes back a number of years and Lopez says emphatically and repeatedly that the space will never be like the former Club Evo again. Once all compliance work has been met and all appropriate licenses have been approved, they intend to open one night a week – Saturdays – as an 18-and-older dance venue with live “banda” music – Mexican country music — Yarbrough says, with salsa and meringue dancing. They plan on operating about four to six months with this schedule to generate initial revenue as they design the 16th Ave facing side of the property for a restaurant/lounge. That work will require major remodeling, including the installation of a kitchen and hood. They say they will not be serving alcohol on the premises during this period.

Lopez is living with his two teenage sons in the upstairs apartments while he finalizes the partnership agreement and oversees the remodeling and compliance work. He is licensed to practice law in the state of Washington, mostly occasional personal-injury cases for friends, he says, but lives most of the time in Southern California. He said that he plans on being in White Center as much as possible as this new business model is undertaken. “I want nothing to do with the old Club Evo. Believe me, “ he said. As if to make his point, he went outside the building and removed the old exterior signage as our interview concluded.

A new coat of paint was put on a few days later.

After the sprinkler system and meter are approved, the next phase of the partnership will be the design work with new partner Yarbrough who, in addition to being involved with Exposure, a promotions company, owned a Belltown restaurant prior to selling it and purchasing the former TGIF site on Lake Union to develop Citrus development in 2010. Yarbrough also worked for Consolidated Restaurants (Metropolitan Grill, Union Square Grill and Elliott’s Oyster House) as a bookkeeper after college, as well as a bartender and assistant manager. He also worked in real estate during the boom market in Seattle and began to “flip” commercial properties soon after.

Lopez told us, “We want to eliminate any problems we had before, the biggest prior one being a hip-hop crowd on Friday nights.“

“This will be a salsa and meringue crowd – cowboy boots and hats and Mexican country music,” Yarbrough added.

“We will be eliminating any issues we had before with minors. And the most important measure, aside from having off-duty officers on site both inside and out, is that a strict dress code will be enforced,” said Lopez. “I forbid gang-related attire.“

“If they don’t come dressed appropriately and are unwilling to undergo a full-body pat down, they will be asked to leave and maybe come back another time,” said Yarbrough, who says he will be acting on site as Operating Manager. He will also be hiring civilian security staff.

They discussed plans for eventually multi-purposing the large dance hall section for rentals, for quinceañeras or graduations, bar mitzvahs or community events and the like once compliance has been achieved and the restaurant has been built out. The dance area will have new flooring and a stage installed, as well as a new lighting system. The hoped-for eventual design phase will include menu development and extensive reworking of the 16th Ave. SW. side of the property to include new bathrooms, kitchen and lounge area.

If everything goes as they have planned, they hope to be open in two months.