Reborn bar now features virgin drinks for teens

Piña Coladas minus the rum will be served to minors when Fairl's bar reopens next weekend as a tropical-themed teen club.

And that's not the only change at the Highway 50 East hangout that lost its liquor license earlier this month for serving alcohol to minors.

Owners Gene and Karen Fairl invested about $7,000 into making the dimly lit bar a hot spot for those under 21, whom they had a hard time keeping out of the bar in the past.

"We have no income so we're trying something different," Karen Fairl said Friday. "We don't want to leave here because we like the people of Carson City."

The virgin drinks will be flowing at the Antigua Teen Club. Top 40 and dance beats will be pumping and the air hockey puck will be flying. At least they will be if teens are attracted to the new club for something other than alcohol.

What's gone: the adult games, the cigarette smoke and, of course, the drunks.

"I think it's going to be a pleasure," Fairl said about working with teens. "I think you can reason with teens more than a drunk. A drunk always thinks he's right."

After investing retirement income into the bar, Gene Fairl, 67, said they want to make this work.

Manager Tony Fair, aka Disc Jockey Shake, said they would like to attract the 13-18-year-old crowd. Fair, a native Floridian, selected the Caribbean theme. Security will enforce the dress code - no jerseys, gang wear or beanies - and check ID at the door. Curfew is midnight for those under 18.

If patrons cause any problems, they'll be kicked out.

The Carson City Sheriff's Department received about 160 calls for service to Fairl's within a year, according to the city. Other problems included minors sneaking in through the back door of the bar and fights breaking out. Fairl said the new security staff will be younger and more able to get along with teens.

Artist Robert Shipman, who created the interior mural depicting dolphins leaping out of the sunlit ocean waves, plans to create a Where's-Waldo-like game for teens. Every so often he'll add a new sea creature to the ocean mural, with a prize to the person who finds it.

"There's a lot of kids who want to have an exotic drink - non-alcoholic - and dance," Fairl said. "Before they couldn't come in here because we served alcohol."

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.

Antigua Teen Club

Former location of Fairl's

3481 Highway 50 East

887-8883

Hours:

2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday to Thursday

2 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday to Saturday

• The disc jockey starts at 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday

• $5 cover Thursday to Saturday; girls in free on Thursday

• No cover Sunday to Wednesday; karaoke Sunday and Wednesday

Carson City's curfew ordinance

• It is unlawful for any person under 17 years of age to loiter, idle or play in or upon public streets, highways, roads, alleys or other public ways, whether on foot or riding by vehicle; or to loiter, idle or play in or upon parks, playgrounds, wharves, docks, beaches, public places and public buildings, places of amusement and entertainment, vacant lots or other unsupervised places, between curfew hours.

• For those under the age of 15 these hours are between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. For those 15 and 17 it is midnight to 5 a.m.

• This does not apply to a minor accompanied by his or her parent, guardian or other adult person having the care and custody of the minor or where the minor is upon an emergency errand or legitimate business directed by his or her parent, guardian or other adult person having the care and custody of a minor.