Friction developed between The Daquiri Bar and its neighbors after Downtown Jackson Partners President John Gomez sent a letter to the bar's landlord, Ted Orkin, complaining about activities taking place at the establishment. JJ posted the letter on April 8.* Earlier post and copy of letter. Daquiri Bar owner, Lissa Collins responded to the letter in an email sent to this website. Her side deserves to be heard so the letter is posted below.
I, Lissa Collins, would like to humbly address the letter written to Jackson Jambalaya by Downtown Jackson Partners President, John Gomez, about the The Daiquiri Bar located at 206/208 West Capitol Street in downtown Jackson. The letter was address to our lessor, Ted Orkin, of whom we rent our space for the business. To say that I was hurt by the scarring letter is an understatement.
JJ did not obtain the letter from Mr. Gomez or Downtown Jackson Partners. Such friction is predictable when nightclubs and homes are literally next door to each other. It is no secret Ms. Collins operates two dive bars elsewhere (a strip club and Pops). The nightclub operates across the street from the King Edward hotel.
First, I would have welcomed an open dialogue between Downtown Jackson Partners and The Daiquiri Bar at any reasonable scheduled time. We would have appreciated Mr. Gomez sharing his sentiment and alleged complaints with us so that we could have intelligently addressed or defended ourselves before it went to an open, public blog forum. Our business endeavor is totally legitimate and we have gotten all of the proper leases, licenses and permits to operate. I would have had no problem hearing any constructive criticism that may have improved the business, our public opinion and that could have nurtured a positive relationship with Downtown Jackson Partners. We still extend this invitation.
Secondly, I would like to vehemently deny that there has been any illegal drugs sold on or around our leased property, that we are aware of, as well as the alleged threats our patrons supposedly hurled at passing traffic. We take pride in positively controlling our customers while allowing them to enjoy a festive atmosphere. This is the first time we have ever heard that King Edward Hotel residents/guests are "terrified" to venture outside. As our downtown continues to healthily grow and more businesses emerge, so does the downtown walking crowd and the diversity of the audience. With that being said, our business is only an additional choice to an already thriving downtown Jackson nightlife. As far as vehicular accidents, we also cannot claim any parcel of blame as accidents occur for many reasons, in unpredictable circumstances, times and places. I am not personally aware of the accident mentioned in the letter. We also cannot control what vehicles are travelling on the busy street, if these vehicles are permissible by State law nor their speeds. We wholly depend on our area law enforcement agencies to that degree, as any business should.
Last, I want for Mr. Gomez to understand our sentiment and heart. I, along with most of our employees, are residents of Jackson. We all grew up here and have seen the city have its own roller coaster of issues. And we have all been along for the ride. I remember when downtown Jackson was the pinnacle of the city! People came from far and wide to experience our music mecca, our downtown entertainment hub, our shopping and yes, our vibrant nightlife. Our vision and intent is to not only to restore that heyday for our downtown, but to evolve it into something even greater. To make it greater economically for our State, to add to the diverse choices of entertainment for area residents and to give tourists a competitive option to other destinations. I feel the other mentioned businesses have also had the same intent.
The Daiquiri Bar shall immediately make plans to beef up our security, its visibility and its deterrence of any unlawful activity around our leased borders. We also would like to make a consorted effort to make sure our neighbors feel safe and invited to our area of downtown. We welcome all walks of life to our business! By banning together as area businesses, and instead of singling out one as a nuisance, we can all make Downtown Jackson the deserving marquee of the State of Mississippi.
* Posted below is the offending letter.
I am writing in regard to your leased property at 206/208 West Capitol Street that presently houses a nightclub called The Daquiri Bar. As president of Downtown Jackson Partners, I have received numerous and repeated complaints from Downtown residents and business owners about the presence of this establishment creating untenable problems, including life-threatening safety issues. To be clear, these problems were not occurring prior to your lease with this establishment. They include: · Downtown residents walking or driving past your property who have been threatened by bar patrons milling outside your building. These residents, many of whom have lived Downtown for a decade or longer, have been told, "you don't belong here" and to "go home." The fact is, these residents are home. · Guests of the King Edward Hotel across the street from your property who have been described as terrified to venture outside and have asked the parking valets, "Is it safe to stay here?" In one instance approximately three weeks ago, a hotel guest's car was struck by another car that was seen speeding past your building after circling your property numerous times. The driver fled the scene. · Drug dealing that has been observed in front of and in the parking lot next to your building by "couriers" who ride motorcycles up and down Capitol Street. · Chaos with traffic caused by drag racing and the illegal use of four-wheelers in front of your property. Again, these vehicles are circling your property over and over on a given night, creating safety and noise issues for residents. Also to be clear, similar problems have NOT occurred to this degree in front of or around the other nightclubs located Downtown, including Lavish Lounge, 4th Avenue Lounge and Names & Faces bar. In short, the situation as described above is hurting our chance of continuing to build a successful residential community in Downtown Jackson and attracting new business to the district. On behalf of the hundreds of residents who live Downtown, and our property and business owners, I urge you, as the owner of this building, to help resolve these problems before they lead to even more serious incidents. Surely, as a Downtown property owner, you have some interest in our success and the safety of our residents and businesses. Please let me know if you'd care to discuss the issues I've outlined. Sincerely, John Gomez President DOWNTOWN JACKSON PARTNERS
31 comments:
I have never been involved in any organized criminal enterprise. I have only seen movies about them. And in those movies, the syndicates always run nightclubs and they always have politicians visiting their dens of sin. A perfect example is the recent remake, The Batman where everyone from the DA to the Mayor, were regular visitors to the Penguin’s nightclubs, while off duty Gotham PD detectives were working as security for the Penguin. Sounds familiar to how shit is operating here in Jackson.
Unfortunately, we don’t have a vigilante in an armored bat-suit to clean up our city!
(nor a serial killer like the Riddler)
She is full of shit like a holiday goose. The letter was written to her, not to KF. Why does she throw out the "diversity" word? Sounds like virtue signalling.
I’ve been around the king Ed and it’s not the same since this daiquiri joint opened. I support downtown partners. At least she didn’t accuse John Gomez of being racist… then again he is Pilipino.
"As our downtown continues to healthily grow and more businesses emerge, so does the downtown walking crowd and the diversity of the audience. With that being said, our business is only an additional choice to an already thriving downtown Jackson nightlife."
While most everyone I know has a different, non-utopian vision of our downtown, I do commend her for her actually opening a dialog and not flying off the handle and trying to amicably address the situation.
She provided a much nicer response than I would have. It’s probably not worth the hassle, but I would have considered a defamation suit to make John and his group prove their accusations were based on real complaints from the locals.
It certainly doesn't help that the police allow people to park in the median causing congestion and slow traffic. That block between the Mayflower and the King Edward is a disaster.
Who do you think will read this? Can someone provide the Cliffnotes version, please?
Everyone knows there is no drug dealing on Capitol Street
So much spin and so many soundbites expose the "letter" as shit and shinola.
As the Mayor knows, you gotta love Organized Crime.
I blame Ted Orkin!!
Too bad the neither the City Council or the State legislature has bothered to find out how other States prevented such problems.
She can consider a defamation lawsuit. But then ALL of their activities are subject to discovery. They cannot handle that heat.
the pizza there is the best in town.
come on..druggies in downtown jackson. never heard of that.
and lets be honest, if welfare money was actually going to welfare instead of volleyball courts, we may actually get somewhere in this state.
@11:16 AM A corporation can't be defamed.
Pops had "working girls" grabbing crotches in the bar for a ride in the attached motel 20 +/- years ago, as I learned the one time I walked in there for a beer I didn't finish before I turned around and walked out.
Is that still its business model?
Undercover cops could economically investigate a couple times per week for a few months, but don't use shaved-head bald cops with sunglasses perched on their pates.
Truth Social here I come. This place is a Friends of Kingfish blog. Even the so called trolls me thinks. Weak sauce KF.
Consorted Efforts, lol.
So with this letter we can reasonably conclude that Lissa Collins is indeed a Lumumba donor.
Lissa Collins wrote:
" the downtown walking crowd and the diversity of the audience ".
(Yep ... that "walking crowd" ... is indeed a much more diverse assortment than the few remaining folks that still patronize the venerable Mayflower).
"I remember when downtown Jackson was the pinnacle of the city" .
(How old is this Lissa Collins )?
" People came from far and wide to experience our music mecca, our downtown entertainment hub, our shopping and yes, our vibrant nightlife".
( That's a better fantansy than Tolkien or Lovecraft could dream up).
BTW, what is far and wide? ... some 1940/50s kids on a Jacktown road trip from Bolton, Pelahatchie
or Crystal Springs ?
There was a dead body in front of that bar this past Saturday night.
Why anyone would live/stay at the restored King Edward is beyond me given the bar and homeless crowds nearby.
"By banning together..."
I think she means to say "By banding together..." Sheesh!
There needs to be more police coverage in downtown Jackson. The number of people coming to Jackson for the nightlife is increasing.
Jackson was once known as an industrial city with saloons. Mississippi is a farming state so Jackson was not a big residential city. This vibrant nightlife of shooting, drinking and illegal activity was present in the late 1800's and early 1900's. This is the reason it was easy to burn down and then known as Chimneyville.
We should have a fundraiser like a gala and give bonuses on scholarships for policeman's children in order to increase the numbers in Jackson Police Department so that all will feel safer. The city should increase salaries of law enforcement from the increased revenue from the revived night life from long ago.
'This vibrant nightlife of shooting, drinking and illegal activity was present in the late 1800's and early 1900's. This is the reason it was easy to burn down and then known as Chimneyville."
Good Gawd 5:13 !
Please tell us who taught you such goofy ideas ?
"Chimneyville" relates to the damn Civil War.
The closet Jackson EVER came to being a "Mecca for fun", would
have been during the days of the infamous Rankin County
"Gold Coast" era.
"The closet Jackson EVER came to being a "Mecca for fun", would
have been during the days of the infamous Rankin County
"Gold Coast" era."
Totally untrue, doofus. My dad recalled a large group of boys from Durant coming by the car-load to Jackson in 1936 to hear Cab Calloway at what Dad called a really tall hotel building with a big dance floor on the top floor, girls in short dresses walking around selling cigars and whiskey in glasses.
Now THAT sounds like a 'mecca for fun', something Jackson should still have today!
Reading is fundamental.
So is ritin!
You could get stabbed/shot/beaten and even buy plenty of drugs at Daquiri World in Delta La but no one ever told off. Remember PJ's ? Good times man.
" You could get stabbed/shot/beaten and even buy plenty of drugs at Daquiri World in Delta La but no one ever told off. "
The thrill of the road trip over there was the main draw.
Trying to evade Louisiana and Vicksburg Law Enforcement was the biggest challenge.
Crossing the old bridge at Vicksburg was also an adventure for the girls.
Once we crossed back into Hinds, we knew we were safer.
Good times indeed !
Not gonna defend this club but seems to me many of you have agenda styled memories. Honestly, can anyone here think of a club in Jackson the last 25 years that was "safe" ? I guess the Hunt Club had a few good years and even then devolved into hell by eleven. A certain someone with his morning radio show was a club owner. He knows the truth and it's why he no longer has them. Bottom line is folks round these parts don't know how to act in public. Can't take them anywhere and color of their skin doesn't matter. Packs of wolves don't play nice.
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