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Teen nightclub plan hits a snag

By Howard B. Owens

A plan to open a teen nightclub on East Main Street, Batavia, has hit a snag.

Tim Walton and Mike Marchese Jr., who planned to partner on Impulz Teen Nightclub, discovered through the planning process that their selection location requires a sprinkler system for the planned use.

The building is 7,350 sq. ft. and because the maximum capacity for the building is more than 100 persons, code requires a sprinkler system.

Not just any plumber can install it, said Walton. The cost could top $50,000.

"Right now we got a price and it's looking like it's gonna cost an additional $50,000," Walton said.

The partners are going to look into getting a price for a dry sprinkler system and see what the pricing and regulations would be on that.

"If the price can't drop any lower, then I would have to go back and refigure some numbers. Those numbers would have us into this well over $100,000 and I would have to be sure it would workout."

Walton and Marchese aren't ruling out opening the club, even at the original planned location at 624 E. Main St., but feel that current circumstances will make it difficult.

"If it's meant to happen it will play out." Walton said. "If not, then there will be other opportunities."

RICHARD L. HALE

There certainly are empty buildings in Batavia Janice, take your pick!!!!!!!! The wife and I were wondering just this morning, where all the seagulls went...Funny..

Jan 28, 2011, 1:43am Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Richard, flying rat poison probably cleared them out. Way back in the day (early 80's) I worked for a printing company in Rochester on the north side of the inner loop and pigeons were a problem there. Without naming names, rat poison was tossed onto the roof of the building and a few days later there were no pigeons to be seen.

Jan 28, 2011, 8:29am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Gulls are migratory birds. They left on their own. Likely to be back in the spring, depending on what Tom Lewin does to try (or not) to prevent them from nesting on the building again.

Jan 28, 2011, 9:04am Permalink
Peter O'Brien

We'll see how many arrests there are when it opens Dave....Meanwhile watch the drug busts at Darien Lake this summer and let me know if that is not a place the drug users to congregate...

Jan 28, 2011, 12:52pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

I am not jealous of the business. I just don't think a teen night club is a good idea for the community.

I don't think I will be opening mine here (assuming I ever do). More and more businesses are failing. Look at Ellicott St. Mothers is still empty. A tattoo parlor moved. The street looks abandon.

I wish nothing ill on those that open a business I hope they earn a fortune. But I remember the type of kids I knew at school that would frequent a place like this.

Jan 28, 2011, 1:39pm Permalink
Billie Owens

A teen nightclub is not likely to become a den of sin if the proprietors, police and parents keep a tight leash on the establishment.

I think Batavia improves its appeal when young people have outlets for fun and recreation -- the skate park, ice arena, youth council, Y, church groups, etc. A nightclub for teens to mingle and dance and sip soda pop is okay with me. As has been mentioned previously, the clientele would be separated by age groups.

Back in the 1970s, in a big city like San Diego, a teen nightclub was a lot safer and better supervised than parties teens attended when they got the chance -- bonfires, keggers, etc.

Is the former Ponderosa restaurant too small? I would think it would have a sprinkler system in place.

Jan 28, 2011, 1:53pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

Peter; These are 2 young entrepreneurs who found what they believe to be an under-served market segment, and want to open a profitable business that they think that particular market will spend money at. This is the kind of thing that should be encouraged heartily, not trying to find fault. Drugs are all over and I'm sure Mr. Walton and Mr. Marchese have thought about it. Opening or not opening a teen nightclub isn't going to change the fact that people do and sell drugs. If they've done their due diligence, I'm sure the undesirable element and how to deal with it has been considered and a plan formed. You are reaching. If you notice the drug busts at Darien Lake happen in the parking lot or as part of a traffic stop. Darien Lake has a plan for this stuff.

Jan 28, 2011, 2:23pm Permalink
Paul Dibble

Thats an expensive snag, but,no matter where they put it, it will have to be sprinklered and alarmed,even in the Town,for life safety. good luck guy's

Jan 28, 2011, 2:42pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

Dave, I hope its successful, but how long have you been out of school?

When I was in high school, the only kids that would frequent something like this were the popular ones. They also tended to be those who dabbled in drugs and alcohol. The night club atmosphere will only encourage that behavior.

Jan 31, 2011, 7:39am Permalink
C. M. Barons

The biggest obstacle for commercial enterprises aimed at teenagers is steady traffic. Most businesses cannot survive on a customer base limited to 4 - 6 hours Sunday through Thursday, banking on two days, Friday and Saturday and praying for summer recess.

Twenty years ago there was less risk; a teen club wouldn't have to compete with video games, internet social networking and cable TV. ...Neither were 20% of teens overweight and 25% of them resolved to engage in zero vigorous physical activity.

The last successful teen commercial venture in the area was Skate 98. It burned down 30 years ago. Their success relied on marketing aimed at schools and church-groups, emphasis on family entertainment. I doubt schools and churches would align with a 'nightclub.' Skate 98 was in the middle of nowhere, and kids were driven there. Many parents stuck around, amounting to a built-in supervisory presence. The schools and church groups provided chaperons as well.

Teens may be well-accessorized with buying power, but their motivations are instilled by Fox/MTV/ABC. Perhaps designing the club around a Gossip Girl theme? Then cross fingers the show has a long run.

Jan 31, 2011, 1:25pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

...No commercial competition? Don't under-estimate school activities, church after-school programs, YM/YWCA programs, athletic programs, karate classes, dance classes, guitar lessons, public youth programs, gun safety classes... I haven't seen BOTH of my brother's kids at the same family gathering outside of Christmas and Thanksgiving!

Jan 31, 2011, 2:27pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

Let's be realistic. Many parents would consider a teen nightclub with the same incredulity as the opportunity to buy their kid candy cigarettes.

Jan 31, 2011, 3:08pm Permalink
Michele Case

C.M., I used to frequently attend Skate 98 and I do not remember ever seeing parents there...I would have been mortified if my parents came! My brother who is 2 years older also came as did many from our school. I was never offered drugs or took them or seen them there. My son is 14 and would love to go to something like this. He used to go once a month to GCC kids night out, but he is now past the age limit. We live in the country, other than occasional youth group activities what else does he have? I would let him go to something like this for sure.

Jan 31, 2011, 3:11pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

Michele, I am not arguing against a teen nightclub. I am underscoring potential risks. John suggested that such an establishment would have no competition. He may be correct in the narrowest sense, but overall, most kids have tons of opportunities for activities that would come under the heading, competition.

The incidental drug and alcohol factor is an important consideration, but not foremost of worries. The most volatile security risk for a teen club is the divisiveness of race, opposing cliques, boyfriend/girlfriend dynamics, economic status and school rivalries.

Feb 1, 2011, 6:01am Permalink

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