Although a proposed new entertainment venue will located in an area known for frequent after hours disturbances, its owners and the Lodi Police Department are confident the new addition to Downtown will not add fuel to the fire. The Lodi Planning Commission voted 6-0 to approve a use permit and alcohol license for an “arcade bar” at 114 North Sacramento St. during its Wednesday night meeting. The establishment, which does not yet have a name, will feature about a dozen arcade games such as pinball, skee-ball, and four-man Pac-man, as well as a golf suite for playing virtual — or electronic — golf, according to Wednesday’s staff report. Because the venue will serve alcohol, only patrons 21 years of age an older will be allowed inside. In addition, applicant Armando Rodriguez has promised no live music or dancing will be permitted, staff said. The El Dorado night club is located next door to the north, and city planner Cynthia Marsh said the police department is not opposed to the arcade moving into the space because Rodriguez has agreed to limited hours of operation. The venue will be open noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and noon to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. “A lot of other businesses are open until 2 a.m., and that’s when a lot of problems occur with calls for service from the police department,” she said. “So the police department was satisfied with them closing a bit earlier.” Last summer, police were called to the night club on the report of two men in their 20s being shot. One was killed and one was taken to an area hospital. Police said at the time of the shooting there had been 47 calls for service at the club in the first half of 2023. Rodriguez’s sister Alma spoke for him during the meeting, and acknowledged that if any similar incidents were to occur at their business, that they would be subject to having their permits possibly revoked. “We don’t want any problems,” she said. “We just want something fun and safe.” Because of the shortened hours of operation, the commission was pleased with the proposal. “This will be a lovely addition to liveable, loveable Lodi,” commission chair Mitch Slater said. “Best of luck.” Vice chair Crystal Hicks was absent from the meeting.
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