Showdown Over Nude Juice Bar Fizzles as Plan Is Shelved

A promising Battle of the Dance Halls pitting naked women and carrot juice against ballroom dancers and cowboys fizzled to nothing Monday in the halls of government.

Ah, but it had such promise.

On one side was a company that proposed a restaurant and juice bar--with nude dancers.

On the other side was an existing family-style establishment for the fiftysomething gang. It has ballroom dancing, country-Western music and waltz lessons.

Both had applied for Los Angeles city permits to operate their establishments at the same Northridge location near Corbin Avenue and Nordhoff Street, now the site of the Breakers Seafood Restaurant.

The clash ended in a whimper when the company proposing a nude juice bar unexpectedly withdrew its application hours before a public hearing.

In a letter hand-delivered to the zoning administrator, officials of Seven for the Money Inc. said they were withdrawing “because of a conflict” with Western States Enterprises, the company that owns the Breakers.

That left the field open to the ballroom dancers. If the existing establishment gets its permit renewed, it will continue to offer the more staid entertainment in a room adjoining the fish restaurant. The naked ladies and carrot juice would have replaced both.

“I think they sensed the opposition from the community,” Associate Zoning Administrator Andrew B. Sincosky said.

Alan Minato, a representative of Seven for the Money, could not be reached for comment.

About 50 people, including members of local churches and homeowner groups, showed up for the hearing. Most intended to voice their opposition to the nude juice bar.

Tom Yost, a member of Covenant Faith Center, said his church sent letters to more than 30 churches in the area encouraging the congregations to voice opposition to the bar.

Yost said he was pleased that the application was withdrawn. “I think the area didn’t want it,” he said.

Rose Landini, who is active with the Northridge Chamber of Commerce, said she had secured a commitment from a printer who promised to duplicate anti-bar flyers for free.

“We were prepared to show that a lot of people were opposed to it,” Landini said.

Landini and many others expressed support for the Breakers, which operates at the site and has applied for a permit that will allow it to continue operating as a dance club.

Dana Goldthwaite, Western States president, addressed questions at the hearing about the future of the club.

“I have no intention of any sexually explicit dancing in the Breakers,” Goldthwaite said. “My dancing is the waltz. It’s the two-step.”

Goldthwaite said the club is for people 50 to 80 years old. “It’s really heartwarming to see them dancing,” she said.

Goldthwaite had planned to sell the club’s lease to Seven for the Money after experiencing difficulty with the business last year. She later changed her mind.

The sales contract was contingent upon Seven for the Money receiving a permit allowing it to open the juice bar. Goldthwaite said she did not know why the company suddenly withdrew its application.

A ruling on Goldthwaite’s renewal application is expected in the next few weeks, Sincosky said.