Club in Augusta to cater to over-30 crowd
By Keith Edwards kedwards@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer
AUGUSTA -- City councilors unanimously approved a permit for a new bottle club downtown, despite the objections of one resident who felt the club could lead to trouble.
Bottle clubs do not serve alcohol, but customers of legal drinking age may bring their own alcohol to drink there.
Building and business owner Karen Hatch said she wants to open the RiverBack Dance Club to give the over-30 crowd a place to socialize, dance and listen to rock and roll from the 1950s to the 1980s.
"We need something in Augusta for the 30-plus crowd, that's the crowd I want to attract," Hatch told councilors Thursday. "You don't even have to have a drink. Just come and dance and have a good time listening to that old rock 'n' roll. I don't want to be in the police blotter every day. I've got security in place. I've got insurance, it has been inspected ... everything's ready to roll."
David Paul, who recently moved to the city, said the club could lead to trouble because club staff won't be able to control how much alcohol patrons drink, since they won't be serving it.
"I basically believe this is the wrong business, in the wrong place, at the wrong time," Paul said. "People can go in there and drink till the cows come home."
However, in addition to its lone detractor, the club also had one resident speak for it.
Toebee Parkhurst, a downtown resident and co-owner of two downtown buildings, said the location has been home to multiple other bars and restaurants through the years and is the perfect location for Hatch's business.
"We're in the beginning stages of the inevitable shift of the downtown to an entertainment and resident-oriented area, in which bars and restaurants will be a very important part," Parkhurst said.
The club will be in 4,800 square feet on the lower floor of Hatch's building at 335 Water St. Hatch said the RiverBack dance club will open May 1 and be open Friday and Saturday nights, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Cover charge most nights will be $8 per person, or $15 per couple.
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5 COMMENTS
williealso said...
The last I knew a road brought David Paul to Augusta, the same road is still there and the traffic travels both ways, so if Augusta is going to be a hardship for you I suggest you turn around and go back where you can from.
March 20, 2010 at 1:50 AM Report abuse
Reality said...
Good luck, it would be good to have a place to go dance and have a good time with people your own age. Unfortunately the trend has started where more people drink while going out to eat. This David Paul guy doesn't have a clue. does he want to stop people from going out to eat because it may be the wrong business to attract downtown. Most people don't go out to drink because of the drivign thing. That is why most bars aren't making it.
March 20, 2010 at 6:50 AM Report abuse
reader said...
O wow! What drunks you Mainers are. 'Youse people' never cease to amaze me how much though. I drank 5-6 times a week when i was young and lived in a college dorm, i even got expelled from the dorms for drinking parties. But that was then, when i was young. I knew then drinking alcohol was a phase that you leave once you leave your early 20s. Now as an adult 3 times a year drinking alcohol is alot. But you Mainers apparently kept right on drinking past your early 20s into your 30s,40sUP. No wonder your kids have no ambition to do anything but drink booze and get into all kinds of drugs: Bad role models. Lush role models. By the way, did you notice how puffy your faces are,those winkles were when you turned 30 years old? Alcohol drinking will do that. Wait til you turn 40 and look 70 after clubbing
March 20, 2010 at 8:45 AM Report abuse
Reality said...
READER your back, your unwelcomed comments weren't welcomed before, as they aren't today. If you haven't notice the Alcohol business in doing quite well. Which is a right law abiding adults have a right to par take. As for out kids having no ambition, as for our children there doing just fine. I would appreciate that you doing talk about your family and children in this formum. Stay Boston or where every you have dug a hole we don't need you comments or self for that matter here in Maine.
March 20, 2010 at 10:38 AM Report abuse
reader said...
RE: If you are in your 20s,30s ..your days of being a drunk should be over.
March 20, 2010 at 1:24 PM Report abuse