It’s Official: Controversial South Salem Strip Club Granted Liquor License

The decision is a blow to those who were fighting to keep Frank Boussad from opening Presley's Playhouse Cabaret in the former Mike's Steak & Seafood House, located in a residential part of south Salem. However, opponents vow to keep fighting to keep these types of clubs out of residential neighborhoods in Oregon.

New club will serve drinks in spite of city recommendation File photo courtesy: stripgear.com

(SALEM) - As Salem-News.com was the first to report last week, the Oregon Liquor Control Board of Commissioners has granted a liquor license to Frank Boussad who plans to open a controversial strip club in a residential part of south Salem.

Boussad has been remodeling the former Mike's Steak & Seafood House, 3803 Commercial St. SE, to turn it into Presley's Playhouse Cabaret, which will feature nude dancing.

OLCC spokesman Ken Palke said boards decision was based on the fact that opponents, including the City of Salem, failed to prove any legal reason why the club should not be approved for a liquor license.

“Basically no license refusal criteria applied in this case” Palke said.

On August 28th, the city council voted unanimously to send an unfavorable liquor license recommendation to the OLCC for the following reasons:

"The club will be located within 500 feet in a urban or suburban areas or within 1,500 feet in a rural area of the boundary (measured property line to property line) of a licensed child care facility or elementary or secondary school; a church; a hospital; nursing care facility or convalescent care facility; a park or children-oriented recreational facility; and alcohol and other drug treatment or rehabilitation facility and will adversely impact the facility."

Chairman Brad Nanke also claimed that according to ORS 471.313, the applicant is not of good repute and moral character. The Board felt the presence of a park and possibly other facilities set out in OAR 845-005-0326(2)(a) within the 500-foot boundary of property line was grounds for denial of the license, and that the applicant’s moral character 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 should be examined.

Salem Police Chief Gerry Moore says 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.

Opponents of the club say that they are not pro-business, rather they are only looking at the club's existence as a question of morality.

Faye Wright Neighborhood Association Chairperson Julia Allison who led the charge to keep the club from opening said she is disappointed by the decision, but vows to keep fighting to keep strip clubs from opening in residential neighborhoods.

"The laws in Oregon need to be changed, not only to protect our children, but to make the community a better place to live as a whole" Allison said.

Salem Police Chief Gerry Moore says 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.

Faye Wright Neighborhood Association Chairperson Julia Allison who led the charge to keep the club from opening said she is disappointed by the decision, but vows to keep fighting to keep strip clubs from opening in residential neighborhoods.

Salem realtor Midge Houck who owns the property just north of the club that includes the South Salem Immediate Care Clinic and Jackson Hewitt Tax Services said the decision shows that state laws are flawed when it comes to strips clubs and their location and operation.

Houck, along with Allison and former Republican State Party Chairman and Gubernatorial candidate Kevin Mannix have formed a Political Action Committee called Oregonians Protecting Neighborhoods.

“This is why we are working so hard to get our initiative petition on the November 2008 ballot, to amend the Oregon Constitution to allow state, county, and city governments to use alcohol regulatory authority and zoning authority to restrict the location and operation of any strip club and any strip act” Houck said.

Houck said another problem that still needs to be addressed is that of parking space at the former restaurant.

When the club opens, Houck said 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 when it opens will are going to make things really tough on him and his patrons,” Houck said.

Houck added that she plans on installing a chain link fence around her properties to keep club patrons away.

To try and solve parking issues, city councilor T.J. Sullivan and the Salem Public Works Department are finalizing a plan to place Ewald Ave 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 they don’t have a permit, they would be towed.