Tarpon Springs: Johnnie'$ can sell alcohol

After making changes, owners of the sports bar overcome commissioners' previous objections. The bar still needs state approval.

By KATHERINE GAZELLA

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 6, 2001

TARPON SPRINGS -- With some encouraging words and little debate, the city has approved a once-controversial proposal for Johnnie'$ Sports Bar and Grill to serve beer and wine.

"I have not seen anything negative happening there," Commissioner Beverley Billiris said before the City Commission unanimously voted Tuesday night to allow the business to sell alcohol.

Last year, the commission voted against the request after a 41/2-hour debate that lasted until 1:30 a.m. At the time, commissioners said the owner needed to make numerous improvements before they would permit the sale of beer and wine at the restaurant, which has a history of crime problems.

Tuesday night, commissioners praised owner Douglas Wallace and his siblings for making improvements. The Wallaces repainted the restaurant, took the bars off the windows, remodeled the bar area, installed a new sign and paved a parking lot.

"I knew they couldn't say no," Wallace said. "We did everything they asked."

Mayor Frank DiDonato said he was impressed with the upgrades at the restaurant, which is on Safford Avenue along the Pinellas Trail.

"These gentlemen and their sister have worked very, very hard to move this business forward," DiDonato said.

The 54-seat restaurant still needs state approval to receive a liquor license.

A business has operated at the location for many years, and the Wallace family has long been involved. The building is best remembered as the former Globe Club, operated by Johnnie Wallace.

Later, his son Douglas Wallace took over and operated a popular disco. There were shootings and a riot. A judge ordered Wallace to stop operating the club on Sundays, the day most incidents occurred.

Douglas Wallace and his brother Jasper later opened it as a restaurant and tried unsuccessfully last year to get permission to sell beer and wine. Police showed surveillance videos of activities outside Johnnie'$, including numerous people drinking beer and other alcohol, throwing empty bottles toward the street and selling drugs to undercover police officers.

In one incident recorded on videotape, a man assaulted and robbed another man, then divided the stolen money among his friends.

Commissioner Karen Brayboy asked Wallace how he will make sure such incidents don't occur again.

"I think everyone understands that there's the fear that you're going to have the same problems you had before," Brayboy said.

Wallace said surveillance cameras have been installed and that the family has taken more control of the restaurant, which he said will help prevent problems. He and police Chief Mark LeCouris said they have worked to get rid of troublesome patrons and that they will continue to do so.

"There's mostly been nothing but cooperation between us," LeCouris said. "So far, so good."

- Staff writer Katherine Gazella can be reached at (727) 445-4182 or gazella@sptimes.com.

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