Several Fat City readers have called to report that they've heard rumors about Flo's Cabaret, the 20-month-old restaurant and show bar at 1911 Main, closing after the New Year's Eve festivities tomorrow night.
"That is not true," says Flo -- the drag de plume of entertainer John Koop. "I have no idea where that rumor started."
Well, I have an idea...
It's no secret that Koop has had his restaurant-bar operation on the market for a while. His latest obstacle to making his business profitable was his inability to obtain a 3 a.m. liquor license. As The Pitch reported last month, Koop's efforts were derailed by minister Troy Campbell at New Life Ministries Church (located in an office building around the corner from Flo's), who would not sign off on Koop's license application.
That was the death knell for Flo's Cabaret, Koop tells me. "There's no way I can make it with a 1:30 a.m. license. The minute our shows are over at midnight, the customers leave immediately to go to a club that stays open until 3 a.m. Who can survive that in today's economy?"
Koop has had some offers on the business, but extremely lowball ones. "You can't believe how low," Koop says. "Less than even the equipment is worth."
Koop says he does have a new venture lined up, which he'll announce as soon as he sells Flo's Cabaret. "It's not a nightclub or a restaurant."
A local business source who has worked with Koop says it's unlikely that the restaurant-saloon will close while there's a chance to sell the operation with an intact liquor license that could be transferred to a new owner. "I heard there's an intense move to try to sell the business," says the source, who asked to remain anonymous.
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