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Neighborhood report

Businesses fear new club might feature nudity

By SHERRI DAY
Published March 17, 2006

Its owners say Maxxim, a steak house and gentleman's club, brings Las Vegas style to Tampa.

It has marble floors, granite countertops, swanky furniture and a scantily clad wait staff.

"It's a credit to the West Shore area," said Eugene O'Steen, a consultant to the club at 1801 N West Shore Blvd. "You talk to any people that's been in there, and they'll tell you it's probably the nicest place that's ever been built in Tampa. It's a first-class, five-star steak house."

But nearby business owners worry the club may feature nudity and strippers.

"We do not want to see an operation that's classified as an adult-related use on a major gateway into the business district," said Ron Rotella, executive director of the Westshore Alliance, which represents 400 companies.

"Our hope is that it does not function as an adult-related use. And, if it does, we will ask the city to enforce the zoning laws because they told us an adult-related use cannot be located there.''

Maxxim opened March 8, with lines of eager patrons that stretched outside the front door. The building, formerly Houlihan's restaurant, underwent $1-million in renovations before its debut, said O'Steen, who bought the property in August for $2.9-million.

Business owners have looked askew at Maxxim since December, when O'Steen filed papers with the city indicating that he would open a comedy club on the site. O'Steen owns several clubs throughout the city including Gene's Bar in East Tampa, where a shooting occurred in January.

O'Steen also recently opened Envy, a bikini bar on Kennedy Boulevard and Himes Avenue. Envy upset nearby residents because of its proximity to homes.

At issue with the West Shore club, O'Steen contends, is the public's misunderstanding of "adult use." According to city code, an adult use features "entertainment featuring the displaying or depicting of specified anatomical areas."

In places that sell food and beverages, "nude, topless or bottomless dancers" qualify as an adult use, records show.

O'Steen said his establishments feature no nudity. Maxxim's dancers emerge in evening gowns and eventually peel them off to reveal bikinis.

The adult-use distinction, it seems, rests in the amount of fabric dancers wear, city officials said.

"It really has to do with the degree of the exposure of the specified areas," said Gloria Moreda, acting manager of the city's land development office. "A thong would not be acceptable."

Pasties are out too. But full bikinis - like the ones O'Steen said Maxxim's dancers wear - fall within city code, Moreda said.

So far Maxxim and Envy each operate within the city's code and have no violations, city officials said.

"As long as they're doing what they describe they're doing, they're not going to have a problem," city attorney David Smith said. "But it depends on what they do in reality. If they're engaging in adult uses, then that would be a problem."

O'Steen said he expects no missteps and promises the club will feature a diverse collection of entertainment acts. "We also plan on bringing in comedians," he said. "It's going to be kind of a variety place."

Sherri Day can be reached at sday@sptimes.com or 226-3405.

[Last modified March 16, 2006, 12:10:47]