KC pair finds demanding respect is solution

Zen is the creation of two businessmen — one black, one white — who faced some harsh attitudes about black people to produce what most said would never work in Kansas City — an upscale hip-hop club.

Zen is the antithesis of Skybox. Skybox, a former hip-hop club in the River Market, lost its liquor license this month after repeated problems. Fights occurred inside and outside the club, and neighbors complained of noise and rude and criminal behavior by club patrons. In a year’s time, police were called nearly 130 times to Skybox. The trouble culminated with a New Year’s Day murder in the club’s parking lot.

Skybox worked at losing its liquor license. Zen is working even harder to maintain the opposite reputation.

Zen owner Stuart Salomon waxes on about creating a bar’s atmosphere. As a longtime Westport club operator, he knows the deal: provide a special experience for clientele and make them feel catered to. Zen’s allure is achieved with fabric-covered walls, red décor, back-lit bars, a VIP area with plasma screens, black leather couches and of course, the dj’d music.

That’s the smoke and mirrors. But the mid-town club’s edge stems from the respect between Salomon, who is white, and the head of security, Marcques Simmons, who is black.

Simmons convinced Salomon to open the club. It took more than a year.

The time was necessary to batter down Salomon’s many hesitations. They discussed higher rates of violence in black communities. They discussed what problems were caused by clubs not being run well and what were real problems that could be expected in opening a hip-hop club.

Along the way Salomon found himself sheepishly learning how little he knew about black customers. Like their tendency to drink less than white customers, ordering fewer, but more expensive, liquors.

Simmons, CEO of the security firm Lions Protective Services, nearly moved to another city, a bigger place such as Atlanta or Washington, D.C., to find what he wanted from his hometown. He wanted to live where high-end clubs catering to black customers are the norm, not a rarity.

Sit long enough with Salomon and Simmons and a few mantras emerge: quality over money; attract high-quality clientele and hire high-quality staff.

On any Saturday night, Simmons will turn away about 120 people. On hip-hop nights, a line will trail down the sidewalk for more than a block, three and four people deep, waiting to pay a $10 cover. The women have their purses searched, the men are all patted down for weapons.

“They won’t let me in,” a man standing at the head of the line said dejectedly Saturday night. He keeps looking down at his feet. He’s wearing black tennis shoes. Not dressy enough. Oversized clothing, sweats, ball caps, plain T-shirts in black, white, blue or red, or the wrong attitude will result in a denied entrance. Rather, many men mingle in the club in blazers, often with ties. Short dresses and heels are common for women.

“It’s a privilege to come out, dress up and come to a club like this,” Simmons said. He has no qualms with revoking the privilege, graciously. Zero tolerance is his guide, but Simmons’ demeanor is pure gentleman.

The same goes for his security staff. They’re wired, linked up by radio microphones like Secret Service personnel. Communication is constant, addressing each other as “sir.”

Simmons pats down several males at the front door and feels a fist-sized wad of cash in their pockets. Red flag. Such cash-heavy customers are used to flashing money for favors. They’ll often try to bribe the doorman to overlook clothing or to give someone a break in the line.

For the reader thinking: “All this to keep the lid on?” Yes. Neither Salomon nor Simmons is naïve. They know mixing liquor with hundreds of people has risks, no matter what the race of the client. Honky tonk bar fight, anyone?

But they speak with one voice in their belief that Kansas City’s black community has wrongly been denied clubs by the antics of a few customers for far too long.

“The quality of the patron comes before the quick buck,” Salomon says. “You have to have honor, even in this crazy business.”

To reach Mary Sanchez call 816-234-4752 or send e-mail to msanchez@kcstar.com.