Op-Ed: A fetid neighborhood strip club in our bucolic town
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
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| Deja Vu strip club on Bothell Way in Lake Forest Park Photo from Google maps |
A quick update on the happenings around our fetid neighborhood strip club. The first quarter of school just wrapped up and so far this year the neighborhood kids and I have gingerly stepped around the occasional used condom in the Deja Vu parking lot on our way to the bus stop.
On her way home from school last month, my 12-year-old was delayed getting off the bus and walked through the parking lot after her school mates.
On her way home from school last month, my 12-year-old was delayed getting off the bus and walked through the parking lot after her school mates.
A Deja Vu patron was in his car and delivered a line straight out of a Grimm’s fairytale: “Heh girlie, are your parents around? C’mere…”
Frozen with terror, it wasn’t until he actually reached out to grab her that she awoke from the spell fear had cast over her, and ran the rest of the way home.
It took a while to stop the tears and calm her breathing.
I nearly didn’t bother writing any of this. After years of complaining, it seems that whoever has the authority to do something about this-- to decide that no, we as a community don’t want one of our few local businesses to offer private dances on a giant neon screen— doesn’t care.
It took a while to stop the tears and calm her breathing.
I nearly didn’t bother writing any of this. After years of complaining, it seems that whoever has the authority to do something about this-- to decide that no, we as a community don’t want one of our few local businesses to offer private dances on a giant neon screen— doesn’t care.
The Council or the Mayor or the citizenry continue to overlook the fifteen-foot neon legs and all that they represent, and partake of whatever tax revenue this establishment presumably brings in. But at what cost?
There are only 11 strip clubs in the entire state. We continue to choose to host one of them in our small bucolic town. I look longingly across the street to FloAnna’s Diner and wonder what other businesses could be using the Deja Vu location instead?
Perhaps someplace our community could gather to enjoy a drink or a meal or live music? Perhaps a multi-family housing unit? Perhaps somewhere that doesn’t promote the idea that women and girls are there to be solicited and touched.
Deja Vu Inc is a franchise run out of Las Vegas, but that building is owned locally— apparently by a family right here in LFP. They could choose to lease it to someone else…. if anyone cares enough to have them do so.
There are only 11 strip clubs in the entire state. We continue to choose to host one of them in our small bucolic town. I look longingly across the street to FloAnna’s Diner and wonder what other businesses could be using the Deja Vu location instead?
Perhaps someplace our community could gather to enjoy a drink or a meal or live music? Perhaps a multi-family housing unit? Perhaps somewhere that doesn’t promote the idea that women and girls are there to be solicited and touched.
Deja Vu Inc is a franchise run out of Las Vegas, but that building is owned locally— apparently by a family right here in LFP. They could choose to lease it to someone else…. if anyone cares enough to have them do so.
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17 comments:
What happened to your daughter? Sounds terrifying. I am so sorry that happened. Statistically patrons of strip clubs are way less likely to be pedophiles than Boy Scout leaders. And priests. And all kinds of other clergy groups. Also, you do have the option of not walking to the parking lot of a private business.
I'm sorry about what your daughter experienced and I hope she is ok. I'm sure that was frightening. Please help her and her friends find another walking route to and from the bus stop that does not include the parking lot.
As for the business, it or others under different names, have been there for decades. It is unlikely they're going to be moved out of the neighborhood. In addition, I've happened upon used condoms and creepy adults in presumably safe neighborhood parks, other business parking lots, and just on a neighborhood sidewalk in the past. These are behaviors not limited to strip club patrons and parking lots.
So you’re trying to run out a business that has probably been there longer than you have, as well as the income for the employees that work there. Please think about what you’re doing to the women who work there and their families, as well.
What happened to your daughter is horrible and shouldnt be acceptable by anyone.
You clearly have never been I'm a strip club or any experience with the business. The women are not ones who are victims, they exploit the (men and women) customers.
What other businesses should we not allow in LFP?
Right away blaming the victim . Classic.
My daughter attended a school near Rick’s, down the street on lake city way. Everyday her school bus drove by the club for 8 years. Soon after graduating from high school she got a job there, unbeknownst to me. Luckily she either wasn’t very good at it or the creepy management old guys hitting on her was too much, but she eventually quit. I strongly believe it was seeing it everyday growing up that had a piece in the idea that it would be a good thing to try. I’m not against these establishments as a business idea but locate them in an area where our little girls don’t have to walk by them on the way home from school.
It distresses me to see the sign messages advertising time with young women for sale. it’s creepy and misogynistic.
I got t- boned passing by there in 2004 by a stripper who worked all night and was high as a kite. I was coming back from Fred Meyer and it sent my car rolling atleast 4 times until I landed in front of an old store rapid Rudy's. She didn't have insurance and never paid a dime. I was 4 myself pregnant and fortunate she survived. I was buckled but it forced it open. Right after that they put in medians down the road. My accident caused another across the street. Point is the drugs she was high on from working all night.
Yikes, I am so sorry that happened to your daughter, and that you now cannot feel safe having your daughter walk home from the bus stop. I also wish they would rent that building to a different establishment, but I guess people must be patronizing the place because it has been there for a long time
This establishment has been there for many decades, first known as the Playhouse. About 40 years ago it was the school bus stop for the kids going to Kellogg. , Our main worry was that our son and his friends used to run over, open the door, and yell "Pervert!" We feared they might be chased, but I guess the patrons didn't care.
Try living near Lowe’s on Aurora!
I’m so sorry for your daughter. I join you in your wish for that building to host a business who will offer something more family friendly in our community. Strip clubs aren’t going away and those who work in them or patron them aren’t all necessarily dangerous or creepy BUT there is a high amount of criminal activity associated with the area surrounding that business. Call it what you want but I’m sure moving the Vu out and an all ages/family friendly business in would only be a positive impact to LFP and its residents. I support the idea that it should not be located in a residential area. Let’s bring in revenue from businesses we’re proud to say reside in LFP.
All victims deserve to be believed. I would like to know from Kirsten Potter what happened when she brought up this felony kidnapping crime with the Shoreline Police, the FBI, and the club. The club has cameras in the parking lot and it sounds like it was in daylight. I'm sure you took this crime as seriously as possible in order to protect your children, please update us on the law enforcement response that you saw through, thanks.
Jerry Falwell and Phyllis Schlafly would have approved this message. I never expected to see the Moral Majority in our community, but here it is on full display.
Our region has a lot of trouble with the concept of live and let live. I don't like that a little girl was propositioned by a disgusting man, but that has more to do with our state's refusal to hold people accountable for their criminal activity than it has to do with a strip club that has been here for decades.
"Against abortion? Don't have one!" That philosophy applies to other topics too.
Thank you, Kirsten. As you've seen by now, it's not easy to bring this subject up. While I completely agree that what happened to your daughter could happen most anywhere, what seems to get lost in these reactions is the FACT that the existence of the club is part of a patriarchy where girls and women are depicted as sex objects. It's in no way the same as "if you don't like abortion, don't have one." Your daughter's self-esteem is being chipped at in numerous ways, and having to walk by that club is just one of them. And communities should talk about that.
Why is the Shoreline School District picking up and dropping of children next to a strip club? Surely there is a safer, more appropriate place for a bus stop. Good Grief!
I have to echo the Anonymous comment on Dec. 1, 2024 at 2:30pm. Why in the world is the School District picking up/dropping off children next to a strip club??!! Do the district people who make these bus route decisions not know what businesses children are exposed to because of their assigning these bus routes? Do they care? The power is in the district and the people who design the bus routes. Make the stops so that no student has to walk near a business like this. Also, once the route is re-designed, make sure that 1) tell students to avoid that area if it's on their way home and 2) tell the parents the route was re-designed and the students have been informed. Yes, it's that non-complicated. It takes a bit of thinking and communication. If schools can communicate for things such as cafeteria changes and field trips, they can communicate about this.
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