Wednesday, March 31, 1999
Hamilton neighbors resent topless bar
Officials seek ordinance to let them close it
BY SAUNDRA AMRHEIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — The opening of a club featuring female dancers with no tops is causing city officials and nearby residents to blow theirs.
Diamonds Cabaret unveiled its new entertainment Monday night at the former Doubleday's Grill & Tavern on Washington Boulevard behind the Hamilton Meadows plaza on the west side of this Butler County city.
City officials spent Tuesday futilely reviewing ordinances in a bid to shut the place down while fielding about 100 phone calls from complaining residents. Meanwhile, neighbors across Washington Boulevard in the tony Waterside at Gunn Eden condominiums were seething.
“I just don't think we need to attract that type of people into this neighborhood,” said Linda Tettenhorst, a trustee for the condominium association. The community holds 76 condominiums and ranch houses ranging from about $130,000 to $250,000. Its residents are mostly retired or senior citizens.
Residents were worried about the “rowdy” clientele the bar might attract near their community, which is graced by gazebos and retention ponds with waterfalls.
Home values do not matter when it comes to unsavory neighbors, Ms. Tettenhorst said.
“I don't think if I were living in a $50,000 house that I would want that type of place nearby,” she said.
Luke Liakos, manager of the Diamonds Cabaret, said security cameras line the perimeter of the building, whose windows are blackened to prevent peepers.
“Hey, we want to be a good neighbor,” Mr. Liakos said. “We definitely don't want a problem with the neighbors. We do everything we can to appease them.”
The bar will be open from 7 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. seven nights a week, featuring from 10 to 30 exotic women dancers who are topless except for latex pasties.
The chain also has a bar in Washington Township near Dayton. Diamonds caused a stir last fall when two male nightclub patrons were escorted from the Beavercreek Golf Club during a fund-raising event. The men allegedly removed their pants while some female Diamonds entertainers acting as caddies bared their chests.
Because of the incident, the board of directors of the Dayton chapter of A Special Wish Foundation Inc. refused the club's $3,900 donation raised at the golf outing.
Last week, the Ohio Supreme Court rejected Diamonds' appeal to reinstate its Washington Township liquor permit that was revoked in 1996 by the Ohio Liquor Control Commission. The action stemmed from the club allowing bare-breasted dancing and its interference with on-site inspections by liquor commission officials.
Mr. Liakos said the nightclub has no plans to introduce bare-breasted dancing at the Hamilton site.
Hamilton officials tried Tuesday to find a legal way to close the club on Washington Boulevard. But an ordinance passed in 1996 prohibiting adult businesses in certain sections of the city does not apply to Diamonds Cabaret, which sits in a general business zone, Councilman Richard Holzberger said.
“We're not against business, just this type of business,” Mr. Holzberger said.
He plans to introduce legislation at an April 14 council meeting restricting future adult businesses to industrial areas. He also hopes to expand the distance between adult businesses and churches, homes or day care centers from 500 feet to 1,000 feet.
City Manager Steve Sorrell said the battle was not over. Officials are looking at other ordinances to see if any apply.
Like residents, officials were caught off guard when year-old Doubleday's suddenly closed over the weekend and reopened Monday as Diamonds Cabaret — same owner but different name.
If the city can't close the bar, business will, one Waterside resident believes.
“I don't think people in Hamilton have the money to waste,” said Jerry Bongard. Mr. Bongard and his wife, Hilda, moved to their condominium more than two years ago from Wyo ming because it was remote and conveniently located.
“I seriously don't think financially they'll find it profitable to be here,” he said.
Leatha Rowe doesn't want to wait around to find out.
“I would like to sell right now, but I'm afraid to even try,” she said, alluding to her fear about dropping property values.
She and her daughter had been tossing around the idea of moving back to Fairfield. Their new neighbors could seal the decision.
“This is the last straw.”
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