ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602210023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: KRISTEN KAMMERER STAFF WRITER
Despite rumors that it's closed its doors, Bumpers Cafe is open for business as usual - minus the exotic dancers.
"I personally feel that my constitutional rights have been violated," said Troy Lawson, the bar's co-owner. Lawson decided to scrap his plans for exotic dance shows when Radford City Council passed two ordinances prohibiting "certain public nudity" and "obscene performances" within city limits.
The dancers, who were brought in from other bars and towns, have been replaced by popular local disc jockeys.
"Things are going back to the way they were - for now," Lawson said.
Lawson and his wife, Charlene, have owned and run Bumpers for nearly two years. Last Friday night, they sat drinking tall cups of coffee at a table near the juke box, and talked about why they tried to bring exotic dancing to their bar.
The decision wasn't an easy one to make, they said, but they wanted to try something new because the bar's growth had slowed because of competition from fraternity parties at Radford University.
"Fraternity parties are like unsupervised bars ... and we can't compete," Troy Lawson said.
Radford fraternities, meanwhile, say the problem is more likely independent or private parties.
"People bring a keg in an apartment and don't charge at the door," said Chris Miller, president of the Inter-Fraternity Council.
Regardless, Lawson said, "we wanted to find something to offer that was different, that no one else had."
Lawson said he learned of several legal "go-go bars" in Richmond and West Virginia that people from Radford and surrounding towns would visit on the weekends. This convinced him that dancers would bring more business to Bumpers and expand its clientele.
Charlene Lawson, who has lived in the area most of her life, was hesitant at first. "I had never seen a show before and didn't know what to expect." But after talking it over with her husband, she agreed that it made financial sense.
Two weeks before opening the show, Lawson wrote a letter to Bob Lloyd, Radford's city clerk, asking for permission to have the dancers.
According to Lawson, Lloyd informed him that there was no ordinance preventing him from adding exotic dancing to his business but that he would take the matter to the city manager and the city attorney for their opinions.
A week later, Lawson had heard nothing. Finally, he was told that while the city could not give him written approval, it could not stop him.
Soon after that, Lawson heard that the consideration of two new ordinances had been added to City Council's regular agenda. Lawson attended the meeting on Feb. 12, intent on defending his position, but as the meeting proceeded, he decided not to speak up. "I could tell by the atmosphere that I wasn't going to get a fair hearing," he said.
That night, council voted unanimously in favor of the ordinances aimed against the dancers with little discussion. The 50 citizens who crowded into the chambers punctuated the council's comments with "amens"
Two days later, Lawson said, a police officer came to his bar with a drawing of a woman wearing "appropriate clothing." Lawson was told that if his dancers wore anything less, it would be illegal.
Jonny Butler, Radford's deputy chief of police, said the sketch was not an official police document and was meant to be a visual representation of the city's new ordinance.
Though most people at the Radford council meeting said they were for the ordinance, the Lawsons say they have their supporters - though they're not as vocal.
"You can't blame a man for trying to make a living," said one downtown business owner, who didn't want his name used because his customers include church and school groups and he feared losing them if he came out in favor of exotic dancing.
Lawson said, "People who know us, know we're all business and that we're good people. It's not like we're outsiders from New Orleans, bringing some [show] to town."
Lawson's parents, who live in Radford, are not among local supporters. "My parents are very religious people and they don't approve of our decision," Lawson said. "I respect their point of view, but they know me and they know it's just business."
Other residents, who do not see exotic dancing as "just business," have called the Lawsons repeatedly to voice their strong disapproval.
"The people who are speaking up the most are the people who don't know us at all," Charlene Lawson said. "We're not the devil ... we're just a normal family."
The Lawsons both work long hours at several businesses to support themselves and their two daughters, 6 and 2.
Charlene Lawson said she's been shocked by the strong reactions of some of Radford's citizens. "Frankly, it hurts."
Troy Lawson, who is consulting with a lawyer, declined to elaborate on future plans. "I won't put my family in jeopardy," he said. "But we're not going to be the scapegoats."
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Gene Dalton. Bumpers co-owner Troy Lawson decided toby CNBscrap plans for exotic dance shows when Radford City Council passed
two ordinances banning nude sancing. color.