City Paper's Housing Complex reports on the colorful BZA hearing regarding the Stadium Club (link plays music). The Stadium Club is a strip club and restaurant located at 2127 Queens Chapel Road. That's a bit north of our normal area of focus, but I think it's of wider Ward 5 interest, and one of the guys (James T. "Tru" Redding) behind the Stadium Club is the same guy opening the New Orleans themed restaurant Tru Orleans at 400 H Street. Now, before people leave a million panicky comments, I'll quickly point out that the same man is also behind Sushi Rock, a restaurant and bar in Arlington. He also has a venture in Baltimore, and a hand in Public Bar, which occupies the space once home to Five. As the Stadium Club website read until quite recently "The Tru brands range from up-scale classic epicurean experiences, to cool, hip, upbeat dining rooms bars and clubs." So, Mr. Redding can certainly offer up quality food.
The reference to a red light district comes from the fact that two other strip clubs (which do not, to my knowledge serve up food praised by critics) are located nearby. Naturally this has drawn some degree of community concern, so some groups were present challenging whether Stadium Club actually should have been able to open under its given license. The club operates under a standard C of O, not the more difficult to obtain Sexually Oriented Business Establishment ("SOBE") license. The Housing Complex piece lays out the test for such an establishment, so click through for details.
Keep in mind that Ward 5 residents in the area were pretty up in arms way back in 2007 when Councilmember Jim Graham proposed a bill to allow those clubs displaced by the Baseball Stadium to relocate to Ward 5 (we have more places with appropriate zoning under the bill). So this is not exactly a new issue.
6 comments:
@inked - Might want to redo that first link.
of course, the leaders of this group that is so worked up about this don't live anywhere near the aforementioned clubs.
i live a few blocks away from there, and have no problem with the joints. there are never any fights/stabbings/robberies, the area is pretty much vacant (it's off the old railroad tracks behind the salvation army bldg on NY Ave), so... what the hey. i'm actually planning on doing dinner there one night........
of course, the leaders of this group that is so worked up about this don't live anywhere near the aforementioned clubs.
Is there any chance we could get the churchgoers from suburban Maryland to weigh in? I'd be interested in their opinion as to what we should be doing.
[Note: I went to the strip club website. I'm not sure if it's because I'm getting old, or that I'm not drunk, but I found it profoundly depressing.]
oboe: i'm sure we could see what people in moldova think about this as well...
If you want to see female skin on H Street, watch the burlesque shows at the Red Palace.
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