"Lights" Has Cameras, Action

Edmund Stawski feels his new club, catering to kids 14 to 18 has everything to provide a fun and secure environment except for crowds he's hoping to attract.

Quietly opened for the past two weekends (the club is only open Friday and Saturday at 7pm), Stawski gave a tour of the 17,000 square-foot facility, pointing out the various policies and equipment in place to thwart trouble.

Beginning when students (they must present appropriate ID) come in, their school ID cards will be scanned using existing equipment that was used for checking driver's licenses when the building was the Gateway. The regular cost of admission is $10, but the club is offering specials for early arrivals.  There are also 16 video cameras situated throughout the club to monitor patrons and identify and problems before they escalate.  In addition, the club will have a mandatory coat check to prevent any contraban being carried in.

The idea isn't so much that he expects trouble, but Stawski says that these visible signs help prevent it from happening at all.  It's also why he is limiting the age to 18.

"I may reconsider down the road, and include people up to the age of 20, but for now I feel it's best to keep that age range strictly at 14 to 18," he said.

The largest rooms - and they are all large - include the bar and adjoining dance floor, gathering room and game room with pool tables and other gaming.  Another concessions area will serve 10 - not 20 as previously stated - different flavors of Pepsi products and prepackaged snacks.  

Stawski has plans to introduce prepared foods down the road like pizza, and also will focus on redoing the surface of the dance floor. Currently it is a stamped and polished concrete.

The people who have come by - parents and kids alike - have told Stawski they like the place, and while he's glad to hear the early positive reviews, he is hoping the word catches on soon.  He has sent out flyers to schools and other groups to spread the word, and said that they now have a Facebook page that people can visit.

"All we need now are the kids," he said.