City Council Votes to Allow Live Entertainment at Clarke's

The Manassas Park Governing Body unanimously approved Clarke's Grill & Sport's Emporium's request Tuesday for a Conditional Use Permit  (CUP) to allow live entertainment inside and outside the restaurant.

 The body discussed the CUP at last month’s meeting where they heard from residents of Manassas Park who all had glowing things to say about the establishment.

 Spencer Hayden of Cougar Court said he has watched two restaurants come and go in the spot where Clarke’s is now.

 “ … The first two owners, while they cared about the community, they didn’t care enough about the community to work with the community as a whole, meaning all the members, to draw businesses in and keep it live and keep it happening,” Hayden said. “One of the things the owners of this new restaurant, Clarke’s has been able to do is be able to involve the community.”

 Another resident told the city council it’s one of the only places he’ll go with both his wife and daughter.

 Former Manassas Park Councilman Bill Wren said the live music would attract patrons to Manassas Park that would go to Manassas or elsewhere for entertainment.

 “My family loves this place. It is so attractive to the family unit and of course I like it,” Wren said. “It works and keeps people here in Manassas Park.”

 The permit allows Clarke's  to have live entertainment, “consisting of a band with no more than three members, a disc jockey, karaoke and an associated dancing area to be used by patrons for non-professional dancing.”

The patio may be used periodically and have up to two performing artists or singers outside, but no percussion instrumentation will be allowed. Live entertainment will be allowed inside between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. and outdoors between 6:30 and 10 p.m., seven days a week.

At the October Planning Commission meeting, Manassas Park city attorney Dean Crowhurst said that after approval, the CUP would be reviewed in a year, but if there are any complaints made to the city, the commission could schedule a public hearing that would impose restrictions on the CUP or, possibly revoke it.