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Area Leaders Oppose Opening Of Bar

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

jmckenzie@tampatrib.com

Published: October 15, 2008

UNIVERSITY AREA - Local leaders are fighting approval of a proposed business they fear could negatively affect patrons and other people within the community.

Joe Affronti, mayor of Temple Terrace; Ken Banks, dean of students at the University of South Florida; and Galen Thomas, pastor of El Beth Primitive Baptist Church, have announced they oppose the opening of the Scoop Bar & Grill on East Fowler Avenue near 52nd Street.

Each voiced his concern at a Tampa City Council meeting in August when owner Romi Mawardi unveiled his plan to turn the former Whistle Junction at 5109 E. Fowler Ave. into an establishment meant to attract a partying crowd, namely students from the nearby university.

The 13,000-square-foot building would have a full-service bar and serve a limited menu of light meals and snack foods. The business would have four pool tables, electronic games, and 10 50-inch and five 42-inch televisions.

Similar to the Mawardi-owned college students' hangout of the same name in east Orlando, the Tampa business bordering Temple Terrace would offer drink specials and other promotions that city, school and church leaders say might lead customers to over-indulge on alcoholic beverages.

But Matthew Vaccaro, Scoop manager in Orlando and spokesperson for the business, said the Tampa facility most likely will provide a shuttle service to and from the USF campus, similar to an arrangement at the Orlando Scoop for the University of Central Florida students. He said the business also plans to offer taxi service or hire drivers to take home inebriated patrons.

Those possibilities do not appease Banks or Affronti.

"I think it's a terrible thing in that it promotes binge drinking," said Affronti, whose city council unanimously voted against the proposed business in early August. "It's not good for the kids, and it's not good for our citizens."

The business's proposed 1 a.m. closing hour is another drawback cited by those who have spoken against Scoop's opening in Tampa.

Thomas is concerned the site of the proposed bar is about 800 feet from his church, a situation he said probably would put its owner in violation of a Tampa law mandating businesses that sell alcohol must be at least 1,000 feet from places of worship.

Due to Mawardi's absence at scheduled Sept. 18 and Oct. 2 pubic hearings, more discussion is slated for an Oct. 16 Tampa City Council meeting.

Mawardi could not be reached for comment or to confirm his attendance at the upcoming council meeting.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Scoop Bar & Grill public hearing

WHEN: 1:30 p.m., Oct. 16

WHERE: Tampa City Hall, third floor, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd.

INFORMATION: (813) 274-8211

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849.

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