Strip club on the move — and the neighbours hate it

Everyone loved it when league great Darren Lockyer ran a beer and burger bar there. But a strip club king is moving in, and locals are not happy.

Honey B's Strip club at 2 Caxton St is moving down the street to a building once owned by Darren Lockyer.

Rugby league great Darren Lockyer’s former Caxton St eatery has been bought by strip club owner Tony Shead, alarming neighbours and some business figures.

While Caxton Hotel co-owner Ross Farquhar said it could prove a positive for the struggling precinct, drawing more foot traffic, others were worried about the image of the iconic street.

Mr Shead, who also owns the Honey B’s adult venue at 2 Caxton St, has now bought 55 Caxton St and has applied for a change of use.

He was contacted for comment.

Mr Shead also owns Love And Rockets, a short walk away around the corner at 130 Petrie Tce, which Westside News understands is being expanded.

Honey B’s, at the intersection of Judge St, is set back from Caxton St and is less noticeable to passing car and foot traffic.

“We don’t have a problem – before Lefty’s was there it was the Velvet Cigar,’’ Mr Farquhar said.

Mr Farquhar said the State Government’s lockout laws had devastated nightlife in the area.

Lefty’s closed last year but reopened under new management last week, in some rare good news for the area.

Workers have been busy renovating the 55 Caxton St property, which Mr Lockyer ran as Hank’s Burgers and Beers. It has been empty for about two and a half years.

Mr Shead’s company, Springmount Pty Ltd ATF Springmount Trust, applied to transfer its commercial hotel licence to 55 Caxton St last December.

“While the approved trading hours for the licence are 10am to midnight (it) has applied for extended trading hours to 3am, Monday to Sunday,’’ an Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation spokeswoman said.

“The licensee has also applied for an Adult Entertainment Permit to trade between 10am and 5am, Monday to Sunday.

“Both (applications) ... were advertised for public comment.

“These applications are the subject of ongoing assessment and, as such, OLGR cannot advise as to when a determination will be made.’’

Neighbours, who did not wish to be named, said they had heard Mr Shead planned to operate a topless bar from the building, but Westside News has not been able to confirm that.

There is currently a large “we’re moving’’ sign on the 2 Caxton St Honey B’s shopfront.

The street has struggled in recent times, partly due to tough lockout laws, with a string of high-profile eateries and bars closing.

In 2013, residents expressed fears the area would turn into a red light district when Mr Shead applied to move Love and Rockets to Caxton St, despite his claims at the time that it had an “excellent track record’’ at its 130 Petrie Tce and Valley locations.

A petition was signed by 300 people and 46 formal objections were received, including one by then state Treasurer and local Labor MP Andrew Fraser.