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Molly Blooms loses liquor license

Cole Fullmer, The Park Record
Molly Blooms Pub N Burger Bar at Kimball Junction has lost its liquor license following a sexually oriented entertainment violation in 2012.
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Molly Blooms restaurant and pub located at 1680 Ute Boulevard at Kimball Junction was charged this week with Department of Alcoholic Beverages Control violations arising out of an event that took place in the restaurant on October 17 of last year.

According to Vickie Ashby, spokeswoman for the DABC, during an interview with The Park Record, "Hunks the Show" which took place at the establishment, accounted for most of the counts for associating and permitting sexually ordinated entertainment in a restaurant violating the "Attire, Conduct and Entertainment Act" found in Utah code 32B-1—501-506.

One of the violations was dismissed. However, the balance of the violations was accepted by the commission resulting in revocation of the establishment’s licenses along with assessment of fines and fees.

On Tuesday, the restaurant received the first set of blows when the commission revoked its liquor license.

According to Kent Jones, from the Summit County Clerks’ Office, he is seeking further penalties on the local Irish pub and hamburger bar. With the punishments issued so far coming from the state commissions -Jones wants to make things official in Summit County.

"I have prepared a letter asking the commission to revoke the restaurant’s county beer license to add to the state punishments," Jones said. "The letter has been turned into the county attorney’s office for review. Actions will probably take place next week."

According to Jones, State Bureau of Investigation undercover agents assigned from the Utah Highway Patrol to attend the party resulted in the current violations.

"It’s news to me Kent [Jones] is coming after me again," said Greg Davison, owner of Molly Blooms. "I think it is a personal move, but I don’t really see the point of taking something that is already gone."

According to Davison, he was approached by the entertainment company Diamond Talent in September of 2012 to present a performance at the establishment. Holding over 300 events featuring entertainment, music and comedy at the restaurant during a given year – Davison acknowledges he was open to the idea, but wanted to do some research before consenting.

"I started to do some research to see if the performance was in compliance with county and state codes. I was assured by the promoter that they performed all over the country in restaurants and clubs and no special licensing was required, and they were not sexually oriented entertainment, like stuff you’d find in a strip club," Davison said. "I confirmed what he had told me was accurate through YouTube videos and the company’s website, so I booked the show."

Diamond Talent, is described on its website, http://www.diamondtalent.com , as a live high-energy production that showcases creative choreography and extravagant costumes guaranteed to captivate women of all ages.

According to the company’s frequently asked questions page, "HUNKS The Show has been designed for casinos and night clubs. If your venue is able to have a bikini contest then most likely our show on the road today in the male burlesque industry. We are a Las Vegas stage show with limited contact with the customers so our production will not fall under the same category as exotic female strip clubs, or exotic female dancers."

During the night’s events in October – things didn’t go quite as planned for Davison. At one point – Davison and a few employees witnessed the men, who were performing on stage, mix with the crowd of 40 women who purchased tickets to the event – advertised in The City Weekly to locals.

"I noticed one of the performers walking in the crowd wearing a thong," Davison said. "I approached the [Diamond Talent] staff and asked them to get their guys under control. After approaching them for the second time, I made the decision to back off. There were six of them and two of us and a lot of very excited ladies, so we didn’t try to confront them further. We considered calling the police, but thought we might create a dangerous situation."

The owner, who claims there were only a few minutes of bad behavior in a two-hour show, and says his business does not deserve the sanctions placed against them. He plans to appeal the decision to the Utah Court of Appeals in hopes of getting business back to usual.

"We are open today and we will be open until all of this is resolved. You can’t get a beer, but you can come enjoy the best food in town," Davison said.


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