Owners of one of Morgan Hill’s most popular weekend hangouts are
working with police to reduce the number of fights and other
disturbances that make the bar and its parking lot a regular patrol
point, particularly on the graveyard shift.
Morgan Hill – Owners of one of Morgan Hill’s most popular weekend hangouts are working with police to reduce the number of fights and other disturbances that make the bar and its parking lot a regular patrol point, particularly on the graveyard shift.
StriXe Lounge at the Morgan Hill Bowl in Tennant Station shopping center opened in October after the bowling alley was renovated and reopened after five years of non-operation.
Co-owner Bill George said he was amazed by how much business the entertainment center has seen.
“I think we underestimated the number of people,” he said, referring specifically to the lounge area. “It’s really not that large.”
The popularity of the business, has, of course, pleased George, but he said the popular appeal has necessitated some changes. It has been a favored spot for families, with a variety of activities including billiards and an arcade, but during the weekend late night and early morning hours, police have been called to the lounge and parking lot a number of times.
Morgan Hill police Cmdr. David Swing said he also sees the number of customers as one of the factors contributing to the number of police calls. There have been 18 cases since February that involve StriXe in some way.
“When you look at the number of people that patronize the business … that’s not a disproportionate amount of calls,” Swing said. “For example, we have fights at other establishments in town; we had an attempted rape at one establishment just recently.”
Swing said he and Morgan Hill Police Chief Bruce Cumming have met with the owners of the entertainment center and are pleased with the results.
“We’ve been working with them, and they’ve been very cooperative trying to create a fun and safe atmosphere for their customers,” he said. “They have decided to change some of their policies with respect to how late they are open, initiating a dress code, providing some training to the bouncers. Hopefully they will continue to move in that direction.”
George praised the police department, saying he has been satisfied with their response to the situation.
“As a parent, as a resident, as a business owner, I’m pleased that we have people like this in the department,” he said. “I didn’t know until now. But they have been helpful in coming up with solutions. One of the things we had asked for is an officer to be in the area on weekend nights. I think that will make a difference.”
One of the other ideas that Cumming and Swing had, George said, was to institute a dress code for the lounge.
“No affiliated colors, no baggy pants, no sideways ball caps, no tank tops for the guys,” George said.
The security staff has also been increased, from one to three, he added, and the three security agents are working with and receiving some training from MHPD.
George said some of the lounge personnel have been replaced, and all of the employees are “very aware” of the situation and will be on the alert for customers who have had too much to drink.
George said one of the changes that has already taken place, beginning last weekend, is to patrol the parking lot in front of the establishment every 30 minutes. Right away, they saw results, he said, as some teenagers were spotted by the staff security drinking in the parking lot, police were called, and the teens were cited and removed from the area.
“We want kids to know that it isn’t smart to be here drinking,” he said. “We want them to know if they are here drinking, they are going to be caught.”
Also last weekend, the lounge hosted a jazz band, which, George said, brought in “a different crowd.” There will be a jazz band performing again this weekend.
“We’ll be looking at different kinds of entertainment, we think that’s going to make a difference. When we have karaoke, for example, we don’t have a problem. Possibly it’s the fact that the customers have something else to focus on besides the alcohol.”
George said he wants the community to feel comfortable, whether they come to bowl a game or two, play an arcade game or have a drink with a friend.
“We encourage feedback from everyone who lives here,” he said. “We consider (Morgan Hill Bowl) to be a community center, and we want that to continue for years and years. In a few years, we hope, the kids who start off bowling will come back to play pool, then bocce ball, and later come back to StriXe. We want this to be fixed for the long term.”
