"It's no longer about Park 6, it is about the unfair treatment of minority bar owners," explained the owner of a popular Downtown nightclub forced by the city to close for 45 days.
Thomas Holmes, owner of Park 6, 500 Sixth St., said he plans to reopen in mid-October, but he isn't sure of the exact date. He told the Insider News that he was very unhappy with the ordeal and steps the city forced him to undergo in order to save his investment. Holmes said that the city is very anti-minority business when it comes to bars. He said that the city more frequently closes down minority clubs and demands outrageous "side agreements" in order to open their establishments. When asked to give an example he pointed to the recent opening of Gerald's Smokehouse & Cosine. City records show that Gerald Bester, owner of the upscale eatery had to change his original idea of having a comedy club, and was forced to invested nearly $80,000 to build a new kitchen faculty. He was also told by the city that he must carry a menu near to the Corner House located in the same block.
He said that another African-American bar owner was insulted by the committee members and his request for a liquor license was voted down by 4-1. The council sent it back to the committee where they approved it after residents spoke out favorably for the owner.
Holmes was forced to close his bar for 45 days beginning Sept. 5,after he reached an agreement with the city to avoid losing his license. Holmes told the Insider News that he will lose $20,000 during the five weekends he will be closed. But Holmes now fears that the agreement he signed may lead to unimaginable harm to his business and leave his employees without jobs. "Who is to say you can rebound, because people go other places," Holmes explained.
Holmes, who opened the bar two years ago, said the city purposely went out of their way to create a case against him and his bar.
He and his attorney also argue that the way the city conducts due process hearings is unfair.
Holmes' attorney wrote in a letter to an attorney who represents the City of Racine saying that the due process is flawed and members of the committee could not have given Holmes a fair hearing after making public statements against Holmes and the bar.
Holmes attorney also referred to an article from the Racine Post dated May 24,2010. The article can be found at http://news.racinepost.comJ20 1 O/OS/park-6-owner-thomas-holmes-in2008.html. "In this article, the Committee members' comments about Park 6 also prove their prejudgment." explained his attorney. In the article Alderman Robert Mozol states, "Every day this place stays open increases the chances of someone getting killed here." Alderman Aron Wisneski (Committee Chairman) said, "This is impossible to ignore." Alderman David Maack said, "We're going to have a major problem." And Alderman Kaplan stated, "We've been promised so many things and none of them have been followed through on." Alderman Marcus said, "We need to take action before someone gets killed."
"Four of the members of the five committee member showed early on that their minds was already made up," asserted Holmes.
Homes and several others bars owner say they will speak out strongly about concerns at the city Licensing Committee meeting at 5:00pm tonight.
Addition to this story will appear in the October 1st edition of the Insider News.
