When last we spoke of “gentlemanly” things, Lake Highlands’ pride and joy – known as “P.T.’s Gentlemen’s Club” – was scheduled to go before the City’s License and Appeal Board to plead its case to retain a special exemption to operate as a sexually-oriented business (i.e., strip joint).
Many of you have asked me insightful questions like: Is there a cover charge? Do they offer group discounts? And is anybody videotaping plates in the parking lot?
Well, keep your pants on – here’s what happened.
The hearing took place Aug. 26 and lasted three hours. The first thing I learned is that P.T.’s is owned by a guy named Nick Mehmeti. So why isn’t it called “N.M.’s”? I guess Neiman Marcus would object.
Anyway, Mehmeti owns another strip joint and three restaurants, but he testified that P.T.’s is his best money-maker, grossing from $2.5 million to $3.5 million annually. Annual tax revenue (all taxes) exceeds $1 million.
With numbers like these, it is very likely that P.T.’s is the most successful restaurant/club in Lake Highlands. Why hasn’t the Exchange Club recognized such success?
As you probably know, a City ordinance prohibits strip joints from operating within 1,000 feet of a residential neighborhood, church, school, park, Marv Albert or Bill Clinton. P.T.’s is within 1,000 feet of a residential area and the White Rock Park bike/jogging trail and, therefore, violates the ordinance.
However, if a strip joint can demonstrate that it is not lowering property values, causing urban blight or threatening public decency – and is making somebody a lot of money – it can obtain a one-year exemption from the effect of the ordinance.
Mehmeti’s lawyer Roger Albright presented three witnesses at the hearing: Wesley Roemer, a real estate appraiser who testified that P.T.’s has absolutely no effect on surrounding property values; Dr. Neil Stout, who conducts random drug tests on Mehmeti’s employees every month; and Robert Payne, who owns the land on which P.T.’s sits and leases it to Mehmeti.
Dr. Stout testified that he had tested 310 employees at P.T.’s since Jan. 1 and had found “only” 30 or so who tested positive. Mr. Payne described Mehmeti as a model tenant, who always pays his rent on time (which is most landlords’ definition of a model tenant). He also described the park as nothing more than “swamp.”
I also learned that Mehmeti is a deeply religious man, whose beliefs forbid him to drink alcohol. Although P.T.’s is open seven days a week, and Mehmeti visits the club every day, he prefers not to work on Sundays because that is when he likes to spend time with his family.
Several homeowners from the Cloisters and Merriman Park homeowners’ associations testified at the hearing in opposition to P.T.’s. They said a strip joint just doesn’t fit in a family neighborhood.
After three hours, the three-member panel deliberated for 15 minutes and granted P.T.’s another exemption to operate. The panel members were: Charles Contreras (appointed by Councilman Steve Salazar), Sheli Barnett (appointed by Councilman Louis Finkelman), and Darnell Pemberton (appointed by Councilman Barbara Mallory).
Do you agree or disagree with the panel’s decision? Just because P.T.’s is a strip joint that sells sex and alcohol with employees that are tested (and fail 10 percent of the time) for drugs every month, and it happens to be next door to a retirement home, residential neighborhoods, townhouses, and a heavily used bike/jogging trail, is that any reason to shut it down?
After all, Mr. Mehmeti is a deeply religious man who doesn’t drink alcohol and likes to spend time with his family. He’s just trying to make a living. I also understand he also has some swampland in Florida he would like to sell you.
Hello? Is anyone paying attention?
