`SAFE PLACE' IN CITY
Nightclub just for youths opens at downtown venue
There's a new night club in downtown San Rafael, but the only drinks served will be alcohol-free.
The DeepEnd at 919 Fourth St. is tailored exclusively for the under-20 crowd. Starting at 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, patrons from 15 to 19 years old will be able to enjoy music, dance and socialize at the venue, the former site of the Fenix restaurant and music hall.
Steven Saunders, the Mill Valley resident who owns the club, opened it on Sept. 16. Saunders — a parent, soccer coach and president of the West Marin Youth Soccer League — said the county has needed something like this for a long time.
“We don't need another bar, we need something for the kids,” said Saunders, who uses the name JoJo. “This is just for kids, where they can
come and have a safe place and feel comfortable, with no drugs and no alcohol.”
To ensure the safety of guests, Saunders said, the venue has security staff to enforce strict policies prohibiting illegal activities. He said the guests must show identification at the door.
The club will provide snacks and non-alcoholic drinks for sale, and DJs will play Top-40 music, hip hop, electronic dance music and more.
Saunders is also planning to offer weekly hours for middle-school students starting Oct. 6. The hours will be 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays, giving parents a window to go get dinner and come back to pick up the children, he said. Parents interested in seeing the club can visit during open houses from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Saunders said he is planning a Halloween party
"All the teens feel that there is nothing to do here in Marin, and we all drive to San Francisco or the East Bay."
— Ashley Balete, Tamalpais High School