Liquor code revision might force Malibu Bay closure
New code would resemble Champaign city ordinance passed for Mabel's

by Brian B. Issleb
Daily Illini reporter

A revision of the Champaign county liquor code that would restrict adult entertainment might force an area business to close if it is passed.

Ike Mapson, owner of the Malibu Bay Lounge, located on Rt. 45 north of Urbana, said he was told proposed changes to the code concerning adult entertainment were very similar to those adopted last month in Champaign.

Those revisions ban alcohol service on days when adult entertainment is featured. They also require dancers to maintain a minimum distance of five feet from customers.

"If that's true, it'll put me out of business," Mapson said of the revisions that were presented to the county board's environment and land use committee by the Champaign County State's Attorney's office last week.

Mapson also said he believed the changes were specifically directed at his business.

"They've f-ed with me for the last few years," Mapson said. "Who else would it be targeted at?"

Deborah Frank Feinen, chairman of the environment and land use committee, said that the changes involving adult entertainment are only part of a 40-page rewrite of the county's liquor code.

"This was not having anything to do with sexually orientated businesses," Feinen said. "I have been asking for this for about six years."

The Silver Bullet, the other area establishment featuring adult entertainment, is located in unincorporated Champaign County and will not be affected.

"I hope it doesn't happen," said Paul Faber, owner of Mabel's, a Campustown bar. "It's targeted at (Malibu Bay Lounge) the way they targeted it at me."

Mabel's was a source of controversy last month when Faber announced he would feature strippers in his bar. He reversed his decision after Champaign revised its liquor ordinance.

"I think they're blaming the shooting that went on there on the strippers, even though it was a private party with no strippers," Faber said, referring to a double shooting in the Malibu Bay Lounge parking lot April 3.

Several county board members said they disagreed with the proposed changes.

"I think (the changes) are completely unnecessary," said board member Tom Betz. Betz said he thought the issue was being raised because of the upcoming November election.

"This is 100 percent political bullshit," Betz said.

"I'd like to leave (the laws) as they are," said board member Dale Wolf. "I never drink myself, but I don't like to make it tougher on private enterprise."

Feinen said the committee would discuss the revision at their May meeting and will have a public hearing on the issue before a vote is taken.