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A new 'comedy club'? Or adult club?

West Shore business leaders have suspicions about what the old Houlihan's restaurant site, now being remodeled, will reopen as.

By JANET ZINK
Published January 17, 2006

TAMPA - West Shore business leaders are abuzz with rumors that a defunct Houlihan's restaurant may reopen with an adult use.

Ron Rotella, executive director of the Westshore Alliance, has asked city officials to keep an eye on the property.

"We have enough adult-related uses," Rotella said.

Thee Dollhouse, a club where dancers wear pasties and thongs, operates on West Shore Boulevard at Cypress Street. The old Houlihan's, now called Barnaby's, is just a few blocks away on West Shore near Boy Scout Boulevard.

Gene O'Steen applied in December to extend the site's wet zoning while the building is closed for renovation. Paperwork filed with the city indicates O'Steen plans to open a comedy club at the site.

But Rotella is skeptical.

O'Steen opened a "gentlemen's club" called Envy that features nearly nude dancers on Kennedy Boulevard at Himes Avenue last month.

Opening a bikini bar at the West Shore location would violate city code because it's too close to offices and homes, said Thom Snelling, manager of the city's land development coordination department.

"They're not zoned for it," Snelling said.

Snelling advised code enforcement officials to monitor the site.

City police and code enforcement officials have been investigating Envy and another business owned by O'Steen.

Gene's Ba r has been the target of neighborhood complaints as well as City Council members. Last month, the council directed the police and code enforcement departments to crack down on the bar.

Last week, an elementary school teacher was arrested and accused of recruiting three friends to attack her ex-boyfriend at Gene's Bar, his regular weekend hangout.

The shooting that followed left three people wounded.

South Tampa residents have also lodged complaints with city officials about Envy.

"There is a house right across the street from it where two young boys live. I don't think people should have to explain to their kids what this is," said Kathy Good Jenkins, past president of Oakford Park Neighborhood Association.

"I keep seeing more and more of this getting closer and closer to neighborhoods. How did this happen? How does somebody come in and open a gentlemen's club in a neighborhood area without somebody knowing about it?"

Jenkins received an e-mail Jan. 5 from a detective saying dancers at Envy wear pasties and T-backs and dance on a stage and in a room reserved for private dances.

"There is the possibility that prostitution is occurring in the club," wrote Detective Paul Discroll. "We will continue to investigate and update any changes."

City Council members on Thursday asked the police and code enforcement departments to give them a report this week on monitoring activities at both Gene's Bar and Envy.

--Janet Zink can be reached at 813 226-3401 or jzink@sptimes.com

[Last modified January 17, 2006, 05:13:41]