By paNOW

Former Edmonton strip club manager says big market in Sask.

Sep 24, 2013 | 11:10 AM

Saskatoon city council might feel there is no market for strip teases in Saskatoon but a former strip club manager in Edmonton disagrees.

“That is bull. Man, most of our clients, you know where they come from? Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan people are the best customers ever,” Mike Bell, former manager of Diamonds Gentleman’s Club, said.

Saskatchewan customers are not only the most polite, they also bring a lot of money, he said.

“I’ve never had any issues with Saskatchewan people. There is a huge market and all of them say, ‘Hey, we are down here because there is no strip clubs where we are,’” Bell said.

“There is a big market out there in Saskatchewan, OK? Saskatchewan, Saskatoon-huge.”

Committed

Meunier commits to Nebraska-Omaha following WHL eligibility

17h ago

COMMUNITY HERO

Joan Sperle named Unity's Citizen of the Year following decades of dedication

18h ago

accomplishment

Mirasty to receive honourary degree from the U of R

21h ago

At last night’s city council meeting, Councillor Pat Lorje said it was her opinion that the majority of people in Saskatoon do not have an appetite for a strip club in the city.

Lorje wanted to go one step further in the strip tease debate. She asked Alan Wallace, the city planning manager, what it would take to have an outright prohibition of strip teases in Saskatoon.

“We know based on the experience of other cities that sex-orientated businesses do create crime in the immediate areas and in the communities,” Lorje said.

Bell refutes her nothing that strip clubs bring crime.

He said Diamonds, in 10 years of existence, has dealt with a shooting which happened well outside the nightclub.

“There has been more shootings at regular bars than there has been at strip clubs,” he said, adding he could name five other nightclubs in Edmonton alone where they have been shootings within the last seven years.

“We haven’t had any issues, no. You know what? In the gentleman’s club, it is basically how you take care of people. As long as you take care of people and you are a good host to them … it’s all about respect.”

Dexx Williams is a beat cop in downtown Edmonton and is running for Edmonton city council. He said Edmonton has a task force that focuses on public safety as it relates to hospitality businesses.

“It is important that you ensure, right off the hop, rules are set out for the owners. Say that there will be zero tolerance. If there is any disorder, you will be ticketed. You’ll be dealt with appropriately, essentially, so everyone can live together in that area,” Williams said, who was a bar manager before becoming a police officer.

He said any business that has a large cash base for transactions has the potential to be comprised by organized crime. The most important thing is to make sure the owners know certain behaviour will not be tolerated and will be enforced.

Change and worry are normal with new establishments, he said.

“If a community makes a business aware that it is watching them very closely … it goes a long. It says that the community cares and that they won’t tolerate any sort of abuse of the environment around them. In that same token, it’s important that those people are talking to their elected officials to make sure they are staying accountable to their stakeholders as well to ensure they are safe and are operating legally and responsibly,” he said.

There is no separation distance required for exotic entertainment venues in Edmonton or Calgary.

In Lloydminster, they must be a minimum of a 300-metre radius from non-compatible districts, the property line of a child care facility, recreation services, public parks and religion assemblies. They cannot be within 500 metres of another adult entertainment site.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow