More than 100 people crowded outside Tempe's city council chambers Thursday night, while 200 more packed inside as the owner of Nita's Hideaway appealed to the council to approve its new location.
Most Tempe residents came to voice their concern over the alternative rock club's efforts to move into the former Red Mountain Steakhouse on the southwest corner of Price Road and Southern Avenue, while only few Nita's patrons came to show support.
The 27-year-old establishment wants to move to 3300 S. Price Road because its current location, at 1816 E. Rio Salado Parkway, is in a redevelopment area.
Tempe's Planning and Zoning Commission initially denied Nita's plan to relocate with a 6-1 vote on May 14.
Many of the residents in the surrounding neighborhood oppose the plan to open a new Nita's, fearing the venue will bring a plethora of noise, traffic and crime to their neighborhood.
Tania Will, an industrial engineering senior at ASU, said that she goes to the church across the street from the proposed Nita's site.
"It (Nita's) doesn't belong there because it's a residential area; it's out of place," Will said. "I think the neighbors should have a say."
Charlie Levy, the promoter of Nita's Hideaway, said that there are a lot of untrue rumors about the type of people that go to Nita's.
"I really think that if most of them (the neighbors) knew the truth, I think almost all of them wouldn't have an objection," he said. "They think a horrible thing is coming to their neighborhood."
Levy said Nita's is a place where people go to see art and musicians.
"We help out a lot of local artists with bluegrass shows, poetry readings, art shows and book signings," Levy said.
He added that local bands who have gone on to sell millions of records, such as the Gin Blossoms and Jimmy Eat World, have played at Nita's.
"Ralph Stanley, a 2002 Grammy winner for his work on the 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' soundtrack, played at Nita's in 2001 and 2002 when no one else in Phoenix wanted him," said Levy. "We bring culture to the Valley."
Robert Harding, a Tempe resident who lives near the proposed location, stood outside the city council meeting holding up a poster with pictures of his neighborhood, where someone had spray painted "Save Nita's."
"This is just a forecast of what's to come," Harding said. "I am not against Nita's."
Harding said that he moved into his neighborhood to raise a family.
"I think people are naïve to think that the kind of people that come to these shows are not going to litter, drink and do drugs," he said. "Nita's in my neighborhood is a bad suit that doesn't fit."
Nita's owner Mark Covert told the council that his club's track record speaks for itself.
"We have no liquor license violations and we have good relationships with the police," Covert said.
Covert added that the neighbors' parking and noise concerns were legitimate, but he said Nita's is willing to address each concern.
"The new location is near Southern Avenue and Loop 101, and there is a sea of parking," he said.
Levy said that there are 657 parking spots, and the building will hold 650 people.
"I've never been to a concert where people come one in a car," he said.
Brian Stolfa an interior design student at Mesa Community College, said Thursday's council meeting was the first time he had ever heard anything bad said about Nita's.
"Ninety-nine percent of these people have never even been to Nita's," Stolfa said. "Tempe is blessed with Nita's."
The council will vote June 6 to decide whether it will overturn the Zoning and Planning Commission's decision.
Reach the reporter at erin.hawksworth@asu.edu.
