One of downtown Turlock's hottest nightclubs may soon be sharing a building with a Christian church.
Calvary Chapel of Turlock, which purchased the building that currently houses On Broadway with Two Guys and Red Brick Bar & Grill in April, is requesting a permit from the City to remake the catering hall and bar into a church and worship center.
The transformation of the building is planned to take place in phases. The owners of Two Guys and Red Brick, Steve Backus and Ed Samo, have a five-year lease agreement to continue business at the S. Broadway location and so there will be a time when both the nightclub and church are sharing the building.
The future of Two Guys Catering and Rick Brick is unknown at this time.
"Right now we'll just go until the end of the lease and see what happens," said Backus.
The first phase of planned renovations will see the north side of the building turned into a 140-seat worship center.
"This is the first time the church has owned a building. We're very much looking forward to moving in," said church administrator Jason Clendenen.
Calvary Chapel currently rents space from Blessed Hope Assyrian church at 125 S. Orange St. in Turlock.
The church's request to begin renovations will go before the Turlock Planning Commission on Thursday. City staff have already looked at one of the issues that could arise from the addition of the church — parking.
City staff estimated that the church, with a congregation of approximately 150 to 200 people, would need about 27 parking spaces Monday through Saturday and 120 spaces on Sunday. Upon evaluation of the available parking spaces, city staff said the downtown area could handle the anticipated parking needs for the church.
This is the not the first time the S. Broadway facility has seen change. In 2007, three years after Two Guys Catering opened, the catering hall converted the 4,700 square foot parking lot on the south end of the building into an outdoor venue. Then in 2011, Two Guys opened Red Brick Cafe, a bar and live entertainment venue in the existing space.
Along with Calvary Chapel's request to renovate the 153 S. Broadway facility, the Planning Commission is also expected to:
- Adopt an Active Transportation Plan that includes projects and programs designed to encourage and support biking and walking within the City of Turlock. The plan also includes recommendations on Safe Routes to School to help children get to school by walking and biking.
- Consider changes to the city's Zoning Ordinance regarding: exceptions to the underground utility requirement; clarifying the definition of several areas including "convalescent hospital" and "bar" versus a "restaurant" that serves alcohol; the establishment of an annual permit for bars and nightclubs; a revised landscape ordinance that takes into consideration new state guidelines for water conservation; and various time frames and deadlines for processing permits and the amount of time an RV can remain on the street.
The Turlock Planning Commission will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Yosemite Room of City Hall, 156 S. Broadway.
