George Rogge, (l-r) seated, Eric Reeves, Eric Neff, and Don Schilz
Miller Citizens Corp sits down with Man Cave owner
Contributed By:The 411 News
Offers and counteroffers were on the table
The regular business of the Miller Citizens Corp. meeting Monday night – bucolic treasurer and committee reports, upcoming events, requests for volunteers – was the perfect cover for the special forum that came next, a hardball, in your face discussion on the opening of an adult cabaret in the neighborhood.
Don Schilz wanted it that way. The night club owner and operator from Northbrook, IL purchased the Man Cave Night Club, 3201 Dunes Hwy., two years ago. The night club has not yet opened, in part because of Miller residents. The building was last home to Pandora’s Box, a strip club.
Schilz has been stymied by the bureaucratic process; he sued the City of Gary in 2016 when it delayed granting him a general business license for the location. According to court documents, Man Cave would be operated as a “Hooter’s like” sports bar. Schilz got his license.
A liquor license was rejected by the Lake County Alcohol & Tobacco Commission after Miller residents testified against it. Schilz appealed the decision to the state commission in Indianapolis; a ruling on that appeal is expected in April. Miller residents also told their side to the state commission.
The community has 2 strip clubs and an adult book store on its eastern edge along Dunes Hwy. “We don’t want anymore,” said George Rogge, MCC president.
In February, Schilz went to Gary’s zoning commission requesting a special use permit for an adult cabaret at the location. Indiana code includes strip clubs in that category.
At Monday night’s meeting, Schilz was accompanied by his attorney, Eric Neff. They were there to extend an olive branch, Neff said. “We’ll withdraw the adult cabaret permit if you go along with us on a liquor license.” Schilz said he would instead open a bar with a train theme to go along with its location near the South Shore Railway. “And we’ll have the staff dressed like in the television show Petticoat Junction.”
“We don’t trust you,” Eric Reeves, MCC vice president told the Man Cave owner. “What you’re saying has no validity. What’s your price to walk; to go back to Northbrook?” “Quarter of a million,” Schilz responded.
“It’s my constitutional right, like the mayor said, to open up an adult cabaret. If you don’t give us a liquor license, you’ll get what you don’t want – a strip club,” Schilz said. “And if I pursue what I applied for, I’ll win.”
A MCC member said three strip clubs at that location had failed. “We’ll have people in the parking lot taking pictures of who’s coming in. And you don’t won’t that.”
President Rogge asked the members to approve or deny the support for a liquor license. The vote was 34-3 against the Schilz proposal.
Tuesday, the zoning commission turned down Man Cave’s request for the adult cabaret permit. Schilz has one more chance though when his request goes before the Gary City Council.
Story Posted:03/15/2017
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