Billy Dean is aiming to have a “Las Vegas style feel” at his planned Wantagh establishment under construction on 3500 Sunrise Hwy.
Dean used "Sin City" during his description of his new business venture during Wednesday’s Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) rehearing to determine whether he will be granted a cabaret license for the Wantagh property. Many in the community fear that adult entertainment will be featured in the planned Wantagh facility, similar to what is offered at Billy Dean's Showtime Cafe, a strip club in North Bellmore that Dean opened in the late 90's.
The Hempstead BZA granted Dean a cabaret license last year for the Wantagh property on the corner of Oakland Avenue, but scheduled Wednesday’s due to vocal that has mounted against the development as well as a belief that not enough people were notified of his plans during the application process.
“It is going to be a very Las Vegas style feel,” said Dean, who purchased the 3500 Sunrise Hwy. property two years ago for $950,000. “We’re going to do a variety of Las Vegas-style acts.
Dean, a Commack resident, also said during the hearing he has bought the adjacent house located behind 3500 Sunrise Highway where he will locate his office for the new business. Dean said he has spent in excess of $188,000 on repairs and alterations to the building and plans to spend at least another $100,000 before completion.
Dean said some examples of entertainment that will be featured include jugglers, knife throwers and dancers. Dean said at the hearing that no minors will be permitted in the business during evening hours and the facility will stay open until 4 a.m. Occupancy at the business would be 75 patrons with eight employees, according to dean.
Many of the over 200 people who packed Wednesday’s hearing at Hempstead Town Hall expressed concerns that Dean’s experience with strip club operations will mean the Wantagh establishment will also offer adult entertainment, which would wreak havoc in a residential community with traffic as well as bring down property values.
“I just don’t think it’s the right place for it,” said Dominick Bellezza, who lives in the vicinity of the planned business just south of Sunrise Highway on Woodward Avenue.
“I am the one who is going to be affected the most,” said Chris Peterkin, a Vietnam War veteran who lives three houses behind the property where Dean is constructing the entertainment facility.
Elected officials also spoke out against Dean’s application at the beginning of the hearing including Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, Hempstead Town Councilwoman Angie Cullin, R-Freeport, and Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg, D-Merrick.
The Hempstead BZA reserved decision following the over seven hour hearing and is expected to make its ruling on Dean’s cabaret application this summer.
Yes, the politicians were a little late on leading, but thanks to a civilian leader, Kevin Milano, things are getting done. Why doesn't Billy Dean make it simple and sign a statement that both lawyers can create stating that the business can open up, but if there is one act of nudity, or partial nudity (the lawyers can list about 20 different definitions of this) dancing by employees in any manner, the business can be permanently and immediately closed. In other words, prove all of us paranoid people wrong that when there are no windows, no advertising of a coming restaurant, there is a big change from an owner who already established nudity in the only other businesses he opened, that this will be different. I would be willing to bet $100,000 with you that this location will offer lap dances and g-string dancers if opened. My child (not young enough for school) that was at the meeting needs a college fund.
rori gordon 12:53pm on Thursday, February 17, 2011 As a community we are going down, way down because the landlords have overextended themselves, very much as the housing market did. I just found this article and the Pathmark and Borders books have yet to be mentioned. I think this is a great article, maybe if people understood that everything is a trickle down effect and that we the people of the United States are in serious trouble. Most average consumers never look at the big picture as to how this effects us and it is an indication as to what is to come. How much more can the food stores charge for food? The next will be shopping centers totally vacant because if a landlord needs to get a certain amount to make his mortgage...guess what? He is going to walk away. It unfortunately is coming. Look at the big picture. Little mom and pop stores put in merchandise and the consumer walks in, shops it and then goes home and buys it from an online vendor at a 20% or more savings. How does the little store owner make a living, unless they are selling food, beverages, lotto tickets, jewrely repair,a beauty service, a dining or theatre experience that you can not buy online? They can't. Period. End of the local hardware, video store (change in technology, red box has cornered the market) boutique clothing, small electronics, btw how many nail salons can we have in Commack?
William Dean 11:47am on Saturday, February 19, 2011 People can't run around with blinders on and pretend everything is O.K. We already did that with the housing market and every unqualified individual that got a mortage. When I sold a house in East Northport in 2005, I had twelve offers on the home and sold it for more than I was asking. Today, as of 2011, I can't even got a low offer on my house in Commack. If we stick our heads in the sand, by the time we pull them out, the landscape of Commack WILL be different. And, as sad as it is to say, Commack is no different than most other townships on Long Island.
I find it interesting that you value the freedom of soeach we are all so blessed with, yet you do not let others have an opinion different than yours. We are each entitled to peruse our American Dream, Mr. Dean and his partner are not excluded from that dream but this is not about what the NIMBY's want or don't want. It's about the reasonable co-existence that we must have in order for us to continue to grow as a society. When we look at the surrounding areas and the already established bars, entertainment facilities and restaurants we see a rapidly growing sector that may not be warranted. At what point does it become enough? At what point do we really need another place to go to fir entertainment, whether it be adult or not? Or even another coffee shop. Maybe enough is just enough. Change is never permanent and that scares people.
For the record, children strapped into strollers are generally not of school age.
Newsflash: Here is a quote from your brother: “We’re going to continue [the protests] until it is absolutely official that his cabaret license is revoked,” said Milano. “If he keeps his cabaret license and opens we’re going to continue in our protest." Drove by at 11:15 am today, no one there continuing the protest. Typical rabblerousers. Shoot your mouths off, get your 15, and disappear. You had enough time to post on this blog this morning, but couldn't find the time to actually do what you said you will do. Why do I not find that surprising. I will continue, ad infinitum, to reply to everything you can proffer about this situation, and rebuke all you have to say, because it will be easy, considering you have nothing new to offer. Why no protest today? Oh, that's right, the hearing already happened, and there is no reason to continue spending time. That is fact, there is absolutely no dipute. If you can refute this, please do. I expect nothing other than a feeble attempt to discredit me, attack me, tell everyone my house is for sale, or give other completely irrelevant information. It's all you have.