Residents and business owners came out to an open house on Wednesday to express their concerns about a proposed nightclub at the corner of Vancouver Street and Third Avenue.
A group of local investors is proposing to build a 400-seat nightclub, to be called Coyote's, in the former Cineplex Odeon movie theater and Good Time's Bingo hall. The proposed club is targeted at an older
demographic interested in live rock n' roll, country music and dancing.
"I've been in Prince George 30 years. I know the bar history. Prince George is a rough place," Crescents neighbourhood Bryce Lamont said. "I'm concerned about a 400-seat country bar going in anywhere in Prince George. Especially near a residential area."
Lamont said he's concerned the proposed nightclub will eventually become another version of the Cadillac Ranch. The country bar, which was located at 1380 Second Ave., closed on April 30, 2009 after the city cancelled the lease. The move came after police arrested bar staff selling drugs out of the club in February, 2009.
"It doesn't matter what the [proponents] say. They'll have to cater to the people who pay the bills," Lamont said.
Ms. Lorea's College of Esthetics and Nail Technology co-owner Dee Kelly said she was initially excited about the proposal of a new nightclub in the city. However, her business is located directly across the street from the proposed club.
"Prince George needs that. [But] our school teaches mostly young girls, 17 year old and older. I worry about them," she said. "I don't want to show up and have vomit, or vandalism or drunks when I come to work."
Kelly said in 15 years the school has never had a problem with vandalism.
"When I spoke to business owners in the area of the Cadillac Ranch, they had
insurance claims every month," she said.
Chinook Yoga Studio owner Jeff Lutes said he doesn't want to see a repeat of the Cadillac Ranch near his business.
"The patrons of the Cadillac Ranch ... it's a clientele that have a bad rap," Lutes said.
"It's not that I'm opposed to the concept ... it's just that the location is right smack in the middle of a residential area and businesses. I don't want a bunch of raving-drunk cowboys next door."
There are other locations which would be better suited to a large nightclub, he said.
Coyote's proponent Cameron Thun said the proposed 10,000 square foot club will meet a need in the community.
The club will feature a concert-style stage for live bands and a large dance floor for two-stepping, Thun said.
"The other places in town don't provide what we want to provide," Thun said. "We're emphasizing the entertainment."
The building already is sound-insulated because it is a former theatre, he said. The stage area will be sound-insulated to prevent noise from leaking into the neighbourhood, Thun said.
An enclosed patio will provide smokers a place to smoke where noise is contained, he added. The line to enter the club will be in an enclosed lobby.
Ted Coole, another partner in the project, said downtown Prince George is not the same place it was in 2009. The RCMP's Downtown Enforcement Unit has
eliminated many of the problems formerly associated with bars downtown, Coole said.
"That has done so much to deal with the issues ...," he said. "Our target group is the ages from 25 to 50. That's going to be the group we want to bring back downtown. That's what used to happen, and we want to bring it back."
Coole said the group of proponents - including himself and brother Robert Coole, Nate Coole, Thun and Lorne Larose -have extensive experience operating pubs and bars in the city.
"We have operated nightclubs for 40 years without any [liquor control citations] - that's how we operate," Coole said.
Residents who wish to provide feedback to the city on the proposal have until Feb. 13. Input can be submitted by e-mailing [email protected], faxing 250-561-7721 or mailing 1100 Patricia Blvd., Prince George, V2L 3V9.
All public feedback will be submitted to city council in the city planning department's report on the proposed rezoning.
