BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
Several weeks ago, members of a local organization planned summer events. One of those events was to take place at a local club in Tampa. However, the experience left the members and their guests drenched by the rain because they did not have access to the building.
Ms. Janet Brooks, President and co-founder of the Black Women Business Owners, Executives, and Entrepreneurs (BWBOEE) said the organization had planned to host “The Summer Groove Jazz Café” at The Fox Jazz Club, 5401 W. Kennedy Blvd., on August 19th. The event was scheduled from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Ms. Brooks, who had never been to the club, said she arrived about 3:30 p.m., because she wanted to be on hand to greet the guests and meet the management.
However, when she arrived, she discovered the door was locked and they did not have access to the facility. Ms. Brooks said that when someone from the club did arrive, that person did not have a key.
She further stated that everyone was dressed for the occasion and when the rain started, there was no shelter. “It was a torrential rain and it just flooded. Everyone was upset, but we are all professional women and maintained our cool.”
Ms. Brooks said that they were not the only ones out in the rain. She stated the club’s chef and staff did not have access, either. “They were outside with us.”
Someone arrived with a key around 5:40 p.m., Ms. Brooks said, but by that time, the event was a disaster. “No one was upset with us, and we apologized to everyone who had attended. Our guests were very good and tried to stay positive. It’s unfortunate our organization didn’t get to have our event as planned. I don’t believe any of our guests will go back to The Fox.”
She further said that they had place a deposit on the facility and the deposit was returned. However, no one from the club had contacted her prior to the interview to explain what happened or to apologize for the fiasco.
“We were looking forward to having a good time. People were still coming close to 6 p.m., and we would have had a large crowd. I don’t see how you own or manage a place and not show up.”
On the bright side, Ms. Brooks said even with the disastrous results, five women who arrived to attend the event expressed an interest in joining the organization.
Ms. Brooks said she heard the people who had planned an event after theirs had cancelled. “The professional side of me wants to give them the benefit of the doubt and say that it was an honest miscommunication. But today is Thursday, and I still haven’t heard from the club.”
Joe Robinson, who is a VIP member, attended the event said the rain began a few minutes before 5 p.m.
“The sky became dark and the wind was howling. It must have been blowing 25 to 30 mph. We couldn’t go to our cars because the downpour was too hard.
“I directed the ladies under the canopy, but when the rain hit the gutters, we were drenched. We were standing in about two inches of water. I was surrounded by about two dozen fine women and we all were soaked. It was really bad because they were wearing expensive clothes and wearing $200 and $300 shoes for this event.”
Club Owner Responds
When contacted by the Sentinel, the owner, Toby Oldham, told a different story. He stated that the group used a promoter who was aware that the club did not open for business until 7 p.m.
Oldham said, “We are a very high end club and we don’t mess up. I spoke with him on Saturday night to get a head count and he knew the time the club opens. I told him that I would open at 6 p.m. That is why my staff arrived at 5:30 p.m.
“If I had known the event was from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., I would have told him ‘no’ because that would mean my staff would have had to work until 1 a.m. I want to get to the bottom of this. I want to meet with everyone at one time and discuss it.”
Pictured: Some of those gathered at The Fox for the Summer Groove Jazz Event, hosted by the Black Women Business Owners, Executives, and Entrepreneurs, were photographed before the rain. From left to right: Shelly, Brandy, Crystal, Netra Cromuel, Joe Robinson, Damita Wren, Judy, Joyuita House, and Beleria Floyd. (Photograph by Toby Scott of Chow and Scott Keepsakes).
