Janesville teen club to close
JANESVILLE — Decisions, a Janesville teen club, is closing because of a lack of customers, and the owner plans to apply for a liquor license and open a bar to complement his banquet business.
Donta Evans opened Decisions at 18-24 S. River St. in April. He will close it Dec. 18 and plans to add some big-screen TVs, create a lounge atmosphere and open Lyfe Lounge & Banquets.
The 8,000-square-foot building is most well known as the former Krause's Town & Country, although several bars in recent years have operated at the location. Capacity is 300.
Evans said he doesn’t consider Decisions a failure because he and the youth who patronized the club enjoyed it. But not enough youth attended to make the venture financially viable, he said.
The club serves youth and young adults from middle school through age 20.
“I tried, but financially it just really makes sense to do a banquet facility,” he said.
Evans will ask the city council to grant him a liquor license so he can open a bar and sell alcohol there and for his banquet business, which has operated at the site in addition to the teen club. The Alcohol License Advisory Committee on Tuesday will consider the request and make a recommendation to the council.
Decisions initially attracted crowds of up to 200 on the weekends, but attendance lessened over the summer months to 50 kids or so, Evans said. The majority of his business was coming from his banquet rental, he said.
Evans said he didn’t know why teens stopped patronizing the club, but some told him they would rather hang outside in the summer. The economy might have played a role, as well, he said.
The kids who did attend were supportive, Evans said.
Evans said he hopes to work with the city to periodically offer teen events, but he does not know if that is possible. The city does not allow alcohol within 300 feet of a teen establishment, Evans said.
Evans has teen events scheduled through Dec. 17.
Hours for Lyfe Lounge & Banquets would be 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to midnight Sundays and 4 p.m. to midnight Mondays through Thursdays.
“I’m not disappointed,” Evans said. “I did my best.”
The kids who showed up enjoyed themselves, he said.
“I really don’t know what happened, but financially I have to do what makes money.”
Dec 5, 2011 at 12:42 p.m.
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Regardless of the kids present, I would not allow my teen to go to a place like this. Mixing that broad of an age range is just asking for trouble. In todays society, having what was considered a sock hop would not work. I would much prefer taking my kids to a game room/theatre and actually having child production plays/music events opposed to a place where the kids just sit around and talk/watch TV. They can do that in the privacy of their own homes.
Dec 5, 2011 at 12:18 p.m.
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My son went there, and it was well supervised and ran. The supervision was able to run out any problems before they were able to begin, yet gave the kids somewhere to go that was fun and safe. My son said it was like being at home only with a lot of friends and some of the kids didn't like the fact that there were rules and that led to the downfall. I however, applaud what was done for the kids and the opportunity that was given to them and am said to see it close.
Dec 5, 2011 at 11:29 a.m.
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It's beautiful inside. Perfect for weddings and holiday parties.
Dec 5, 2011 at 10:45 a.m.
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With a bar attached it will be a prime spot for weddings! There are not many places that have a 300 capacity!
Dec 5, 2011 at 10:29 a.m.
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My point is the initial article was all about helping with the youth in Janesville. Like many other projects, it failed. Now it is about cutting loses, which is understandable. Rather than the community rallying around him to keep a teen center open they will just allow him to open another bar. What kind of message does that send to the teens? If we aren't profitable we have no value?
Dec 5, 2011 at 10:26 a.m.
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again-fishbelly-
Town and County was there for a long time and when Jerry Flood had it- also a long time.
There was a bar there as well at both locations- how did they do it?
They know what to do!!
Dec 5, 2011 at 10:24 a.m.
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We knew that was coming. Tired of the "nothing to do here". Well you had something to do. Guess one kid said it wasn't cool so the rest followed.
It is hard for a business to succeed with out the alcohol revenue to make up for the loss in the food sales. You need huge volume to do this w/o failing if you don't have alcohol sales. Never heard any stories of misconduct of fights going on so that is good.
They are next to the YMCA that would have been good for business you would think.
"emac
Dec 4, 2011 at 2:01 p.m.
So I guess all the lofty ideals (from his initial article) go out the window if you can't make money."
Ah- YEAH- you cannot keep a business open for long if you don't make money - DUH.
Why is Janesville so against a business making money???
Irish_Mafia78
Dec 4, 2011 at 4:01 p.m.
The location wasn't exactly prime for attracting youth."
why not?? Like I said next to the YMCA and a charter school is near buy as well.
fishbelly- My thought is all those owners are idiots and let the stuff go on. It doesn't take long to see skum take over your bar. Look at McStabbers- etc.
If you don't have a clue what you are doing or don't hire somebody who is HONEST because you don't know what you are doing you will be done in no time flat! I was in restuarant business for 15 years and no way would I attemp to own one even though I did a lot of diffennt things in the field. I never RAN one and would no way attent to think I could. One of these people-not sure which bar- had not even been in the field and thought" what is the big deal" DUH it is a huge deal!!
Dec 5, 2011 at 8:53 a.m.
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that's not the fault of the *location*
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Ok, so how many different owners have to be shut down, for the same problem, before it is the fault of the location?
Dec 5, 2011 at 12:48 a.m.
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Mr. Evans, thank you for pursuing your dream and attempting to build a viable business within our city of Janesville. Only those that have tried truly know what it's like to put everything on the line, attempt to start a business, and risk everything in the hope that your dream comes true.
Without people like you, we would have never heard of Woodman's, Menards, Blains, Culvers, JP Cullen, ABC Supply, Lab Safety (Grainger), or even some of the local names behind the car dealerships.
My point is this, if nobody had the courage to take a risk and attempt to pursue their dream, there would be no innovation and no new business developments.
Mr. Evans, thank you for your efforts.
Dec 4, 2011 at 11:35 p.m.
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You know, that's not the fault of the *location*.
Dec 4, 2011 at 8:05 p.m.
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there are successful bars and restaurants within just a couple of blocks.
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My point is that spot always seems to get shut down as a bar for all the trouble causers it seems to attract.
Dec 4, 2011 at 7:53 p.m.
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Wow, emac, I guess he should spend himself into bankruptcy solely so that he can sleep at night knowing he has the approval of emac on gazettextra.com!
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I'm not sure what a "prime" location is supposed to be. An expensive storefront on Milton Ave.? It's a central location with ample parking and even near the bus transfer station. It was a successful restaurant for years in that location, and there are successful bars and restaurants within just a couple of blocks.
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Personally, I'd like to hear from the teens themselves about what was good or bad about the club, so anyone trying something again will have this guidance. I think the population here should be enough to support *something*. What is there in Madison, in Beloit, in Rockford?
Dec 4, 2011 at 7:21 p.m.
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The location isn't exactly prime for a bar either.
Dec 4, 2011 at 4:01 p.m.
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The location wasn't exactly prime for attracting youth.
Dec 4, 2011 at 3:06 p.m.
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summer ended months ago. Why aren't they going now? I guess this club became "so last school year" to the teens and wasn't cool anymore? Next complaint will be "there's never anything for kids to do". Somebody tries to do something, and the teens either tear it up or get ADD (PC term for "too damned spoiled to appreciate what you have") because its not new anymore, and it's someone else's fault.
Dec 4, 2011 at 2:33 p.m.
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I don't get the impression that Mr Evans is filthy rich and can support the business with his vast fortune. Lofty ideals or not he has to be able to at least make enough money to support the business. He gave it his best effort. Unfortunately wasn't supported to the degree necessary to make it viable. Perhaps you would like to financially support the business emac.
Dec 4, 2011 at 2:01 p.m.
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So I guess all the lofty ideals (from his initial article) go out the window if you can't make money.
Dec 4, 2011 at 12:54 a.m.
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Kids have a lot more options and activities in the summer. They're locked up inside from September until June you can't blame them for wanting to be outside.
Dec 3, 2011 at 4:48 p.m.
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Glad he gave it a go. Kids get bored easily and I could see why this wouldn't last long term.
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