(Left-to-right) A Bottled Blonde bartender works in Scottsdale. Mayor Bridgette Peterson says the town council does not have a say as to whether Bottled Blonde opens a location in downtown Gilbert. | Bottled Blonde: Instagram/bottledblondeaz. Peterson: gilbertaz.gov.
(Left-to-right) A Bottled Blonde bartender works in Scottsdale. Mayor Bridgette Peterson says the town council does not have a say as to whether Bottled Blonde opens a location in downtown Gilbert. | Bottled Blonde: Instagram/bottledblondeaz. Peterson: gilbertaz.gov.
Thousands of Gilbert residents have called on the town council to stop the establishment of a "Bottled Blonde" pizza nightclub in the town’s downtown heritage district. Petitioners say that the bar would “fundamentally alter the character and atmosphere” of their “quiet, family-oriented town.”
"As proud members of this quiet, family-oriented town, we believe that this bar will have a detrimental impact on our community, and we respectfully request that you reconsider its introduction," protesting residents wrote in their Change.org petition. "If Bottled Blonde is allowed to open its doors in downtown Gilbert, it will fundamentally alter the character and atmosphere of our beloved town."
Bottled Blonde, the national restaurant and “party destination” chain, unveiled plans on recently to establish its latest site in Gilbert, AZ on Gilbert Road, near Topo and Joe's Real BBQ, the Phoenix New Times reported. This new establishment looks to replace the now-closed Bergies Coffee Roast House with “a soaring, custom-built two-story” nightclub venue.
The petition opposing Bottled Blonde’s move to Gilbert notes that the community prides itself on being “family-friendly” and drawing residents looking for a “peaceful and secure environment to raise their families.”
“Allowing a bar of this nature to establish itself in the heart of our town will send a message that Gilbert is willing to sacrifice its values and jeopardize the well-being of its residents for the sake of commercial gain,” the petition reads.
Residents are concerned that the addition of Bottled Blonde to downtown Gilbert would compromise Gilbert’s safety and community driven atmosphere by inviting “recklessness and endangerment” to the historical downtown.
“If you want to know what this place is REALLY like, just drive by the Scottsdale location on a Friday or Saturday night. Or ask a Scottsdale PD officer their thoughts on this place,” resident Keriann Shumate wrote as she signed the petition.
Brooke Martinez, another Gilbert resident said that the Bottled Blonde party vibe should stay in Scottsdale. “Gilbert is a family town. There is already a Bottled Blonde in party town Scottsdale. There is no need to bring that here,” she said.
The Bottled Blonde nightclub chain’s history is not without controversy. Reporting on the now-closed River North Chicago location, a Chicago city official told Block Club Chicago that the establishment and management maintained a history of “egregious license violations” involving over-occupancy, noise, public urination, vomiting and other issues that had “serious impact on neighbors and the surrounding community” and that the city was “pleased” at the “permanent closure of this problem business.”
According to the Dallas Morning News, locations in Texas have had their liquor licenses taken away due to repeated public safety violations.
Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson issued a statement on June 26 noting that no official planning application has been received by the town for the development of this property, but that current proposed usage as a pizza nightclub is allowed under the town’s land development code. While the building’s design would be under town review, including public input, the mayor said that the town’s council does not have the authority to approve or reject the building’s use or user.
Alerts Sign-up