South Salem Residents, Businesses Fighting to Keep Proposed Strip Club From Opening

Salem-News.com has an exclusive first look at city's likely disapproval of a liquor license.

(SALEM) - A proposed strip club in south Salem has neighbors and business owners seeing red, and they say they will fight the club’s owner from opening his doors in their family friendly neighborhood, even if they have to take their case all the way to the Oregon Supreme Court.

Frank Boussad, who owns Big Shots Bar & Broiler in North Salem, is planning on opening Presley's Playhouse Cabaret in the former Mike's steakhouse, 3803 Commercial St. SE.

Faye Wright Neighborhood Association Chairperson Julia Allison is leading the charge of individuals and businesses opposed to the club.

Allison says resistance to having an eighth strip club open it’s doors is Salem is very high.

“Pretty much everyone in south Salem is opposed to this, not just because of it’s location, but the kind of message a club like that sends to our children, and using young girls to strip and dance around naked is degrading to all women." Allison said.

One of the major concerns opponents have is the number parks and businesses in the area that attract kids of all ages.

There are 4 Salem City Parks near the establishment; Hillview Park is just two blocks away, Woodmansee Park is about one mile away.

Two child-care centers are also nearby, and homes, with children, begin less than 500 feet from the business on Ewald Ave SE.

Northern Lights Theatre and Pub is nearby and offers kids movies, Baskin-Robbins is just across the street.

There is a Cherriots and Salem-Keizer school bus stop located just in front of the proposed club.

Midge Houck owns the property just north of the proposed club that includes the South Salem Immediate Care Clinic and Jackson Hewitt Tax Services. She says her plans include opening pre and after school care for the employees of her real estate business.

Houck said that parking is a huge issue at the former restaurant, and if the club opens she plans to have neighbors armed with cell phones walking her property looking for club patron's vehicles and having them towed.

“He just doesn’t understand yet just how bad we all don’t want it, and we are going to fight and keep fighting to keep the club out of south Salem. If it opens will are going to make things really tough on him,” Houck said.

Houck said that Boussad's realtor, Tina Wiltsey, called her and said that if she paid Boussad one million dollars, he would move the club to another part of town.

According to the Oregon State Police, there are 3 predatory sex offenders living within a one mile radius of the proposed club, two males and one female.

On Tuesday, the OLCC held a liquor license hearing on the club’s liquor license application.

City Councilors, T.J. Sullivan, Brent DeHart, Brad Nanke, and Rick Stuckey all attended the meeting.

Salem Police Chief Gerry Moore, and Salem City Attorney Randall Tosh also attended.

Up next for the club’s liquor license application, will be a motion Monday by the city council to send it to a public hearing on August 28th at 6:30 PM.

"Everyone opposed to this type of activity in the Faye Wright neighborhood should try to be there”. We are trying to make a point that nude strip clubs do NOT belong in neighborhoods where children, parks, daycares, and schools, are prevalent." Allison said.

Then after reviewing all of the evidence and public letters, either in favor or against, OLCC acting director Steve Pharo will have the final say.

Sullivan said that if the club opened, he would have to go with his kids to such places as Northern Lights.

They all said that they are not pro-business, only looking at the club's existence as a question of morality.

Chief Moore said that these types of clubs that are currently open in the Salem-area do a great job of policing themselves from problems.

The last thing they want is police cars outside their business drawing attention, "It’s bad, really bad, for those types of business," he said.

In regard to future parking issues, Sullivan and the Salem Public Works Department are finalizing a plan to place Ewald Ave SE, Harvey Street SE, and other neighborhood streets that surround the club in a residential parking district meaning those parking on the street would have to have a permit to park, if not, they will be towed.

During a neighborhood association meeting last month, one resident living near the proposed club said he may move if it opens because his daughter was raped by a man when she was eight.

“If this is the kind of riff-raff that is going to be coming into our neighborhoods, no thanks! How can proponents of this club think that mixing alcohol and aroused men is not going to lead to problems?” Allson said.

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Comments Leave a comment on this story.

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Jennifer Logan May 21, 2007 10:47 am (Pacific time)

WELL THE DISGUSTING CLUB IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS NOW AND IT IS SO AWESOME TO SEE ALL THE CARS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT FOR EVERYONE TO SEE! THERE IS NO HIDING IN A PLACE LIKE THAT! WHEN THE PEOPLE EMERGE FROM THE CLUB IT'S LIKE WATCHING ROACHES SCURRY WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON...SCURRY TO YOUR CARS AND ADJUST YOUR EYES TO THE LIGHT OF DAY AND THE REAL WORLD. I WILL CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO LOSE THEIR OWN ABILITY TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES IN LIFE. LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE IN LIFE - ON YOUR DEATH BEDS DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU'LL BE SAYING "GEEZ, I WISH I WOULD HAVE GONE TO MORE STRIP CLUBS IN MY LIFE"...DOUBT IT - GOD WILL BE THERE IN YOUR HEART AND I MAGINE YOUR WORDS WILL GO SOMETHING LIKE THIS " GEEZ, I WISH I WOULD HAVE LOVED MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY MORE AND SPENT MY MONEY ON POSITIVE THINGS SO I COULD DIE KNOWING I LEFT A GREAT PATH FOR MY FAMILY TO FOLLOW". RIGHT. THINK ABOUT IT.

adriana garcia March 21, 2007 2:38 pm (Pacific time)

Every one is acting like this is the first strip club that is being opened in salem. Why is it okay for there to be strip clubs in northern salem but not precious South Salem? I don't hear anyone complaining that there business' in north salem are being effected or that their daughter is being raped in north salem. Why is south salem gonna be so different? well it ain't!

Pamela Cheselka March 16, 2007 12:40 pm (Pacific time)

Its not the end of the world people. We all walk around our houses nude and even dance in the nude all the time. our kids dont know what these clubs are about and the clubs have very strict rules they have to follow. alot of people go to Las Vegas and millions live in Vegas with pictures of sexual condintations. Its been here for thousands of years. Your intitled to your oppinions however so our the people that choose to visit these clubs and work at them. The ladies that work at these places are at least not on welfare useing our money to raise their kids. get a life and stop worrying about other peoples morals integrity that you have no control over.

JENNIFER LOGAN October 16, 2006 2:37 pm (Pacific time)

ANONYMOUS PEOPLE ARE FUNNY. THE CLEVER NAMES SOME PEOPLE COME UP WITH BECAUSE THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE STANDING UP FOR. WELL, I DO AND IT IS TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THE PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE IT WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE. THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT IT DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY NOT ONLY SUPPORT IT BEFORE IT IS EVEN FINALIZED OR OPEN, BUT WILL SUPPORT IT WITH THIER MONEY WHEN IT IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS. NOW TO MY POINT- THE OH-SO-CLEVER SUPPORTER ARE LOOKED AT AS FOLLOWS: FROM THE OWNERS POINT OF VIEW, "PEOPLE WHO ARE FILLING MY POCKETS FULL OF THIER MONEY." FROM THE STRIPPERS POINT OF VIEW, I WOULD NEVER TOUCH ANY OF THESE FILTHY MEN IN HERE, WHAT LOSERS, PAYING TO JUST LOOK..HOW PATHETIC!" "OH, WELL, THEY PAY MY BILLS." CONGRATULATIONS...YOU COME OUT AS LOSERS AND YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME TYPING AWAY SUPPORTING HOW PATHETIC YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES! KUDOS!

Anonymous August 23, 2006 8:50 pm (Pacific time)

Exotic..Where do we find this magizine at the dollar store??? Wow how much does she weigh, let me guess your a thin musclur guy right??? I'm sure your right hand is very strong and soft. Do you own stock in rubbermaid or tupperware?? Do you live in your parents basement? Have you bought your blow-up doll a cell phone so she can get a hold of you if she starts to leak. Grow-up!

Exotic Magazine August 21, 2006 6:23 pm (Pacific time)

"Allison says using young women to strip and dance around naked is degrading to all women." Wow, Julia, that's a very original argument you have. Where have you been before this strip club proposal? ..Or is your crusade for the rights of all "young women" limited to the pavement on Commercial Street? Maybe you should talk to these "young women" and find out if they even desire your intervention. Perhaps while you're at it, you can make sure they don't drink, smoke or eat too much red meat. I'm sure they'd welcome your gross invasion of their personal choices with open arms. By the way, how much do you weigh? See you in the racks at Presley's Playhouse Cabaret! -Exotic.

Anonymous August 20, 2006 1:46 am (Pacific time)

I can say with confidence that Frank Boussard is not concerned with anything other than lining his own pockets. Everyone against this club needs to come out and bring back up. Too many a rich greedy hedonist like him wins. I'd like to see this one lose!

Albert Marnell August 17, 2006 10:34 pm (Pacific time)

MEMO: To: Albert Marnell from Albert Marnell Dear Albert, You did not spell PRUDE correctly! Thank you Albert, I should have put an E at the end of PRUD. How PRIGGISH of you Albert but thank you anyway. Your welcome Albert. I was just trying to make the point that a person should not live a sanitized horseshot existence. The more you try to shield your children from reality the weaker and less able they will be to cope with life. But they should never know that people are being blown apart, killed and crippled in Iraq. Are you sure Albert? On second thought, your right Albert, they should know. But what about windbag politicians who are just looking for the security of a government job and all the perks and connections? Don't you think that children should know about that? Yeah, your right Albert, they really should. Politicians are whores too.

Brent M August 17, 2006 4:18 pm (Pacific time)

hey driving on south commerical and saw the live trucks from portland t-v, another huge salem story broken by salem-news.com

Albert Marnell August 17, 2006 1:11 pm (Pacific time)

If you keep strip joints closed, how are the police supposed to follow and rape the strippers on their way home? I do not think that this is fair to the police. Any politician that is pandering to the prudish Haus Frau Mentality probably already has a mistress or hooker on the side. Where I grew up there were lots of strip joints and all the kids got a kick out of it. Besides everyone whores themselves one way or another in this life and this is a good lesson for children. Don't give me that speak for yourself routine. There is nothing original about that line. The more sex the better. Obviously some men are not attracted to their wives anymore and this is a good way to have the men followed so that you have divorce evidence. No one ever looks at the bright side of this stuff. Do you really want to stay married to a man who is going to bring home goodies that land you in a doctor's office? Why stay married to a man that is not attracted to you anymore? If you stay with him for financial reasons or other security, it makes you a whore too. You are no different than the strippers. They are just a little more honest about who and what they are and what they want from men. If you were smart Puritan Pruds of America you would tell the owner that you want a section of his establishment open for male strippers. You also should have men that take it all off for other men. I do not think that gay women are into this sort of stuff. I wonder what Dr. Ruth would say to all of the women who are worried about losing their husbands to someone, especially when the husbands are sick of their wives. And in defense of the women, go after that divorce money and get a good looking new guy in your life. Do you see how simple it all is? You are just preventing the inevitable end of your marriages. Why not give it a little help?

Blackhill August 17, 2006 12:51 pm (Pacific time)

Anything illegal with taking photos of the license plates of the patrons and posting them on the web?

Tim August 17, 2006 10:37 am (Pacific time)

I wonder if the food will be any good.

Anonymous August 17, 2006 9:00 am (Pacific time)

Maybe he should name it Wal-Mart Playhouse Cabaret

julia allison August 17, 2006 8:52 am (Pacific time)

woweeee......outstanding.. but then should we expect any thing less? Great work, Kevin. We are now on the way with this project.

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