15
2012
Club Elektrik in Waterford to offer safe, fun teen hangout
An article by Leslie Shepard
The youth in Waterford Township are expected to soon have a place of their own to hang out now that the teen social club, Club Elektrik, is slated to move into the former Planet Fitness facility at 3635 Highland Road.
Thanks to the efforts of Waterford residents Bill and Alana Brown, the teen social club is expected to open its doors on March 3. The goal is to provide a safe and entertaining venue for kids between 14- and 18-years-old.
“We have a 16-year-old daughter and we want to see her and other teens in a safe environment where they can socialize and get off the streets,” Bill Brown said. “There’s nowhere for that right now. They can go to movies or bowling, but only for a few hours. They can come to our location six days a week and get tutoring and community education and entertainment on the weekends.”
Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday evenings from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. During the weekdays, the club will provide a comfortable study environment to work on school projects or socialize with friends, free of charge. Refreshments will be available for purchase, along with free Wi-Fi Internet access and tutoring by local honor students.
Weekend evenings promise sheer entertainment ranging from music, arcade games, dancing and refreshments for purchase. There is a $10 entry fee on the weekends.
The Browns are currently trying to integrate weekly health classes covering yoga, dance, and nutrition at a cost affordable to students.
They are also trying to incorporate free seminars on money management, local government, and community awareness.
There will be safety precautions taken before students are admitted. All students will have to show proper identification. Moreover, all kids will be subjected to a search and metal detector for any prohibited possessions such as alcohol, drugs, and weapons.
“(Waterford Police) Chief Dan McCaw is fine with it and the Fire Department is happy with the safety nets, too,” said Waterford Township Treasurer Margaret Birch.
Moreover, a strict dress code will be enforced. The club reserves the right to refuse admittance to anyone inappropriately dressed. No bandanas, gym attire, or hats are permissible.
Security officers or surveillance cameras will be monitoring the parking lots, exits, bathrooms and dance floor at all times.
“We will also have a Waterford (police) patrol car in the parking lot on Fridays and Saturdays from open to close,” Bill Brown said. “We’ve worked very closely with the township, police and fire (departments) and are taking care of everything expected.”
As an ancillary function, the club will rent the facility for banquets when not open for use by area youth.
The Waterford Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved a dance hall permit for the club on Monday, Feb. 13.
“The community is really behind us, but we hope to get kids from all over Oakland County,” Bill Brown said.
About the Author: Leslie Shepard
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Apparently the owners of this establishment are completely oblivious to all the various problems that have occured at the teen club LA BOOM there in Walled Lake well as the recent shooting at Rolladium in Waterford and the crowds and problems these kinds of places draw. One can only hope and pray that for the sake and safety of the residents and police in the area that this does not occur. But unfortunately see nothing but problems and plenty of crime drama reporting in store for the Spinal Column, Oakland Press, Detroit News and many others.
I think maybe the owners of the teen club LA BOOM are completely oblivious on how to run a successful establishment and one that is safe for our children these days. Just because LA BOOM didn’t work out, doesn’t mean you should diss these entrepreneurs who have put so much time, thought and effort into this awesome venue. Crime happens ALL OVER the world and in every city, you don’t think they thought about that while they were putting a plan together?? SMH!!!! What a great idea for the teens during the week to hang out and not have “adults” around them all the time. So excited for grand opening
Teens these days are so lazy if they can get them to a club to dance or fight or what ever that’s great at least there doing something. Drinking and getting high is at record high in high school you can’t blame a club for that. I do think they should of started a little smaller the rent alone must 30 grand. They will have to just run a lot of adds and get there name out there fast that’s all summer is coming kids need to be shown excitmint is fun not just laying around and braging how they got drunk over so and so house and thanks for adding some jobs around here
I have three younger kids who will become teenagers soon enough, this is a perfect place to drop them off and be supervised, Haveing them here with security etc and people watching out for drugs and alchohol, were at a movie or a mall has very little. It is great for the community, great for our kids, a great option for parents, kids need fun safe places to go, this fits the bill 100% What great parents they must be to have a 16 yr old daughter, realize a need for a place like this, go out and make it happen. And yes it create more jobs, gives our city more tax revenue, a safe place for kids to go, I think more cities could use a place like Club Elektrik!
Spanky’s anyone?
Spanky’s?
I think cha-cha is referring to Spanky’s Night Club for Teens, which was a tiny disco-era hook up joint for the post pubescent.
Kids need a safe place to go. I have 14 yr. old twins and there are not many places for them to go in our neighborhood. It seems like they have really thought this out and have a lot of community support. Let me know how it goes, maybe I will open a place like this in my town, sub – of Cleveland.
i know Mr & Mrs. Brown, they’ll make sure its safe and fun.
My son has been going to club elektric and there has been no problems. Its nice to have a place where they can go and dance and hang out with there friends. There is alot of security and waterford police is there at all times. Its not the club that makes kids behave badly it is how they are raised. The parents need to always have a strong talk with there kids about there behavor and there are consequences for there actions that they will not be able to attend if they get in trouble period. I drop him off and pick him up. He has a Blast…
I’ve been taking my daughters and her friends to Elektrik each weekend they can get rides to and from the club. What’s especially reassuring is that there is no loitering in the parking lot – once you park you must enter the club or security takes your license number and asks you to leave. This stops kids from getting high before they enter the club. I like how they disallow teens from leaving the club and reentering – avoiding the drinking and drugging in the parking lot. Once you leave, you’re out for the night. You also cannot wait outside; teens must wait in the lobby and enter their parent/guardian’s car from the exit door. No one is allowed to hang out in the parking lot to wait for their ride. There is a patdown search, a metal detector, they search all bags, pockets and purses before the teens enter.
These measures collectively mean that this club is safer for kids than any other public establishment! Kids can smuggle booze and drugs into their friends’ homes anyday, anytime. Kids can go to a shopping mall, meet up in the parking lot at night to watch a fight (where there could be knives and guns). Girls can be picked up walking home from schoool on the sidewalk and raped and killed and dumped in a ditch. If you live in fear, you won’t ever live!