SF Topless joint can't give money away

SF Chronicle ^ | 11-22-03 | Joe Garofoli

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Mike Gasperec just learned the hard way that supposedly hang-up-free San Francisco and the Bible Belt have one thing in common: They're tough places to give away a strip club's money.

Four nonprofit organizations representing San Francisco's homeless, poor and cancer-stricken turned down a $4,330 gift from Gasperec's Penthouse Grille and Broadway Showgirls Cabaret topless club in North Beach over the past several weeks, saying they have reputations to protect.

[Ed_in_NJ]

If it were a gay operation, there'd be no problem - in SF, nobody wants anything to do with something obviously 'straight.'

[southernnorthcarolina]

Four nonprofit organizations representing San Francisco's homeless, poor and cancer-stricken turned down a $4,330 gift from Gasperec's Penthouse Grille and Broadway Showgirls Cabaret topless club in North Beach over the past several weeks, saying they have reputations to protect.

As far as I'm concerned, these organizations no longer have "reputations" to protect. Gasperec's money is just as green as anyone else's; the real obscenity here is to refuse to accept it because it has passed through a club the nonprofit organizations don't approve.

This is reminiscent of Belle, the brothel owner in Gone With the Wind. She wasted to make a donation to the hospital tending the war wounded in Atlanta, but was indignently refused by all, except the good-hearted Melanie, who accepted the donation (which came wrapped in a monogrammed handkerchief she recognized as Rhett's) with gratitude. That, obviously, was fiction, but it was no doubt based on a similar real-life situation. It was a good lesson, one that hasn't sunk in in San Francisco 54 years after the movie (or 140 years after the year the scene depicted).

[southernnorthcarolina]

Typo...

She wasted wanted to make a donation to the hospital tending the war wounded in Atlanta...

[Kirkwood]

I can understand both sides, but the clubs should make anonymous donations if they really are really serious about helping these organizations.

[evad]

should make anonymous donations

Send it to the Boy Scouts...
..anonymously

[I_Love_My_Husband]

I just walked by Ruth's store on the way home from work. Ruth is a very friendly neighborhood lady, with neighborhood people saying hello to her just walking by the store and people IN the store not buying but just hanging out. Lots of hats there.

[JohnnyZ]

Send it to the Boy Scouts... ..anonymously

Hell, if they want to help the Boy Scouts, promise 'em all a lap dance when they turn 18!

[gcruse]

The organizations refuse donations, then the residents complain strip clubs contribute nothing to the community, and want them moved out. I'm disappointed in SF,though. I thought they were more depraved than that.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Four nonprofit organizations representing San Francisco's homeless, poor and cancer-stricken turned down a $4,330 gift

My parents were wrong.  Apparently, beggars can be choosers.

[Tauzero]

ROTFL!