Just months after HarleySA国际影视传媒檚 Hard Rock Saloon moved locations with ambitious plans to feature diner-style food and adult entertainment under the same roof, the storied strip club is under new ownership SA国际影视传媒� and a new direction.
Scott Yuill took charge of the club from ex-owner Sara Murphy a few months ago, officially becoming the owner on July 1.
Yuill SA国际影视传媒渢ook over everything,SA国际影视传媒� including the previous ownerSA国际影视传媒檚 debt, he told Yellowknifer.
SA国际影视传媒淚 didnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to see HarleySA国际影视传媒檚 die,SA国际影视传媒� said Yuill, who called the strip club an iconic fixture of YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 downtown.
While Yuill said the takeover is a done deal, Murphy - who said she has no intention of staying on board as owner - disputes his statement, telling Yellowknifer it hasn't yet been finalized.
Yuill countered by stating "everything is in my name."
HarleySA国际影视传媒檚 called Franklin Avenue home for years before moving into the former KFC building, located on 48 Street, late last year. The new location opened its doors soon after with big plans to serve up all-day breakfast alongside adult entertainment.
The expansion plans SA国际影视传媒� part of then-owner MurphySA国际影视传媒檚 plans grow her SA国际影视传媒渆mpire,SA国际影视传媒� she told Yellowknifer after the establishment received its liquor licence SA国际影视传媒� may have moved a little too fast, said Yuill.
SA国际影视传媒淚 saw it was going down ... and I saw an opportunity,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding a lot of factors played a role in the businessSA国际影视传媒� decline before the takeover.
HarleySA国际影视传媒檚 tattoo and piercing parlour, along with the adjoined Shirt Shack clothing store SA国际影视传媒� fixtures of the former location SA国际影视传媒� are still up and running. But Yuill has scrapped any plans of pursue the ex-ownerSA国际影视传媒檚 diner dreams.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e going to be a straight up strip right now. Family dining is not going to work,SA国际影视传媒� said Yuill.
Following its relocation, previous ownership announced HarleySA国际影视传媒檚 would be teaming up with Twin Pine Diner chef Robin Wasicuna to provide patrons with menu favourites from the former Franklin Avenue restaurant SA国际影视传媒� a once popular breakfast spot that has since shuttered its doors.
The partnership ended abruptly in April when Wasicuna announced publicly heSA国际影视传媒檇 severed ties with the strip club and its former owner.
Inherited debt has made the transition a SA国际影视传媒渟truggle,SA国际影视传媒� but the club is SA国际影视传媒渟lowly getting there,SA国际影视传媒� said Yuill.
While righting the ship financially is YuillSA国际影视传媒檚 main focus at this time, he plans on making the location SA国际影视传媒渂etter and bigger.SA国际影视传媒�
He aims to renovate the building to add more room for private parties, pool tables and darts boards.
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a strategy meant to SA国际影视传媒渟tick with tradition,SA国际影视传媒� and bring HarleySA国际影视传媒檚 back to its roots, said manager Darin Woodbury.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to continue with the legacy that was built a long time ago,SA国际影视传媒� said Woodbury. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e merely expanding on old ideas SA国际影视传媒� because they work.SA国际影视传媒�
While Yuill is doing away with diner plans, heSA国际影视传媒檚 sticking with the idea of eventually housing a cannabis dispensary inside HarleySA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒� a plan outlined previously by the former owner.
If he had his way, Yuill said, the pot shop would be up and running today, but bureaucratic red tape has stalled the process.
Expansion plans, said manager Woodbury, are nothing new.
SA国际影视传媒淭he ambitions were in place to begin with. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 merely a matter of changing course on how to get those ambitious completed,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Woodbury said new ownership is SA国际影视传媒渄oing things the right way while trying to solidify ourselves as part of this community once again,SA国际影视传媒� in order to overturn a SA国际影视传媒渟lightly tarnished reputation.SA国际影视传媒�
In a bid to give back to the community, HarleySA国际影视传媒檚 will host a NWT SPCA fundraiser later this month.
