From the archives: Outrage over downtown Wilmington bars and 'male strippers'
By the late 1980s, downtown Wilmington was undergoing a resurgence. It was a shift from a retail-based area to one with boutique shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
However, the latter two were met with some resistance.
According to a story in the April 21, 1989, edition of the Wilmington Morning Star, some residents and fellow downtown businesses urged the city to change zoning laws to restrict bars and nightclubs.
The co-owner of an insurance agency on Market Street said the change was needed to make downtown "more uplifting and historical." Chatter continued upon plans for a new private club called "21" at 21 Market St., where rumors flew it would be an all-gay club and feature male strippers.
Owners said that wouldn't be the case and the club would cater to gay and straight people.
The pushback put the Downtown Area Revitalization Effort, or DARE (now Wilmington Downtown Inc.), in a dilemma, since it succeeded in getting restrictions to push out topless bars and adult stores but hailed the opening of bars and nightclubs.
Downtown reflections: Wilmington drops riff raff for Riverwalk
The co-owner of Front Street News bar, nightclub and newsstand said places such as theirs were driving downtown's comeback after the loss of major name stores such as Sears, Belk and JCPenney.
"It takes a great deal of energy to make not only a business fly but to re-energize an area that was lacking in vigor," said Perry Fisher, Front Street News co-owner.
Downtown nightlife remains vibrant today with a number of bars and clubs.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: In 1989, downtown Wilmington, NC saw more bars and clubs
