PAUL SCHRAG: THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCCESS >>>
It’s happening again. Nightclubs are struggling with increasing crime in downtown Tacoma, part of a perennial problem that local officials and business owners have wrestled with for years.
While there seems to be ample room for small bars, lounges and other late-night establishments, high-volume clubs such as The Loft, Drake’s, Juno, and McCabe’s have struggled to stay open. Tacoma lost Drake’s and The Loft in recent years for various reasons, leaving big, terribly visible, sadly unoccupied buildings to serve as a reminder.
When one club closes, its remaining counterparts inherit new business and more potential for trouble, and the cycle starts all over again. And again, this isn’t a new problem. It’s not a simple one either.
The bottom line, however, is simple â€" clubs downtown continue to struggle with crime. Read the rest of our investigation on the Weekly Volcano Web site.