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In business legislature development courts proposals being considered to tax, regulate adult entertainment container park temporarily stalls store owner caught selling stolen goods By Andrew Doughman staff writer By Joe Schoenmann staff writer By Brian Nordli staff writer Though work on the downtown Container Park came to a stop in late March, the array of businesses that will make it home is coming into focus. The mall-like structure at Seventh and Fremont streets will increase by up to 30 the number of new businesses downtown when completed. The brainchild of the Downtown Project, the retail/restaurant/tavern space is being constructed mostly of prefabricated cubes manufactured by local company Xtreme Manufacturing and will occupy most of a city block. With an estimated completion date in October, the outdoor space will be home to eateries Pork 'n' Beans and Big Ern's barbeque (now under a tent on Seventh between Fremont and Carson Avenue), taverns the Boozery and VIP Bar, a wine-seller called Bin 702, and a walk-up coffeeshop, The Beatnik. Sources say work was temporarily stopped as the city and Downtown Project work on permit approvals. A Las Vegas convenience store owner received five years probation and must abandon his convenience stores as part of a guilty plea for purchasing contraband cigarettes, said Daniel Bogden, U.S. attorney for the District of Nevada. Amer "Sunny" Ramo, 55, was required to give up his gambling, liquor and business licenses. Ramo owned Sunny Market in North Las Vegas, as well as Sunny Market II and JB Liquors in Las Vegas. He pleaded guilty to one count of receipt, possession and purchase of contraband cigarettes, officials said. A Metro Police undercover detective sold Ramo liquor, baby formula and cigarettes that the detective claimed were stolen, Bogden said. Police then issued a search warrant at Ramo's Sunny Market and found the property purchased from the undercover detective, Bogden said. Ramo was arrested in July. CARSON CITY — Two state Senators introduced bills that would regulate strip clubs and other live adult entertainment venues. Sen. Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, wants to charge nude entertainment clubs a $10-per-customer fee. His bill, introduced last month, would require the state to deposit those fees into accounts for victims of domestic violence and programs related to domestic violence as well as accounts for compensation of victims of crime. Nude, as defined in the bill, means fully unclothed or "clothed in a manner that leaves uncovered or visible through less than fully opaque clothing any portion of the breasts below the top of the areola ... if the person is female, or any portion of the genitals or buttocks." The business would not have to charge customers the fee but would | 8 APRIL 2013 20130408_VI11_F.indd 11 | need to find some mechanism to record daily attendance numbers and pay quarterly. Manendo said his main focus is about revenue and that he thinks the bill can raise millions of dollars. Because the bill raises a new fee, it requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to pass into law. Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, also introduced a bill on the same day that would regulate adult entertainment venues. Under penalty of a misdemeanor, her bill would ban anyone less than 21 years old from performing at such a business. The bill exempts licensed brothels, but generally applies to any business "which emphasizes and seeks, through one or more performers, to arouse, appeal to, excite or gratify the lust, passions or sexual desires of the patrons of the establishment." 11 4/4/13 2:28:05 PM