The owner of a seminude club in Shockoe Bottom is planning to open a nightclub across from two museums frequented by children and their families.

Sam Moore, owner of Club Velvet, has contracted with a construction company for work on the former Julian's Restaurant at 2617 W. Broad St., across from the Science Museum of Virginia and the Children's Museum of Richmond.

Ken Martin, a concerned neighbor, said he had spoken to someone affiliated with the project at the work site.

"He said it's going to be like a Hooters, except the servers will be wearing bikinis," Martin said yesterday, adding the man was accompanied by two scantily clad women. "I'm saying, 'Holy cow.'"

Plans call for a restaurant on the first floor and basement, said Bill Browning, chief executive of Betco Construction. Browning confirmed yesterday that Moore signed up his company for demolition work at the former Julian's, which closed in August 2006 after a longtime presence on West Broad. A residence is planned for upstairs.

Browning said he had hoped to have city permits for the demolition phase this week. A city permit application lists the project's name as P Cafe.

Asked about the nature of the planned club, Browning said, "I'm not able to answer that question. That's one more appropriate for Mr. Moore."

Four phone calls to reach Moore at Club Velvet for comment yesterday afternoon and evening were not returned.

Martin, who has lived on West Grace Street since the mid-1980s, said he became concerned after learning the building had been sold to Moore, whose Club Velvet is known for its sky-illuminating spotlight.

Club Velvet was also touted during a tour for officials visiting Richmond from Jackson, Miss., as part of an intercity visit.

A city ordinance bans nudity, which is defined as "any state of dress less than seminude."

The city defines "seminude" as a state of dress with "less than completely and opaquely covered pubic region, buttocks, or female breasts below a point immediately above the top of the areolae, excepting any portion of the cleavage of the female breast exhibited by . . . apparel provided the areolae are not exposed."

A violation is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail, a $2,500 fine, or both.

City Council President William J. Pantele, who represents the district, said the site is too close to a church to permit a seminude club. The question, he said, is the appropriateness of scantily clad women in a restaurant in that area.

Martin and Krista Mathis Samuel, president of the Fan District Association, said a nightclub is apparently allowed under current zoning.

"Certainly we're concerned. But our hands are tied," Samuel said.

Pantele said that while a restaurant would be permitted there under the current "urban business" zoning, he's not so sure about a nightclub. He said the current zoning intends low-intensity uses such as retail or restaurants near single-family homes.

"Is a nightclub a permitted use?" he said. "I contend that it is not."

Pantele said he would be concerned about potential parking, public safety and noise issues.

He said there's not much to do now but wait and see what type of establishment opens there. But he cautioned that the city might see fit to fight the project in court.

"He may run headlong into a pretty significant battle," Pantele said.
Contact Kiran Krishnamurthy at (804) 649-6810 or kkrishnamurthy@timesdispatch.com.