Sunday, June 10, 2007
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Clooney and Pitt to Buy the Boom?
dear friends – we wanted you to be the first to know about our new campaign to find a buyer for the Boom Boom Room and Coast Inn. We are formally asking superstars George Clooney and Brad Pitt to buy the Boom and keep it as a gay club in a ¼ page ad running tomorrow, Monday, June 4th in Daily Variety.
They were reported to have purchased the property along with Beverly Hills billionaire Steven Udvar-Hazy in the fall of 2005. And now that Mr. Udvar-Hazy has officially put the Boom and the Coast Inn (in which it is located) up for sale, we are hoping that George and Brad will come in and save the day and SAVE the BOOM – Forever!!!
We have some more activities planned throughout the week to coincide with the opening of Ocean’s Thirteen starring George and Brad which opens this Friday. We’ll keep you posted.
The news release announcing the campaign is below, as is a copy of the Variety ad, the story from the Orange County Business Journal that told of their purchase of the Boom back in the fall of 2005 and a great photo of the two stars.
Best regards,
Fred Karger
Founder
www.savetheboom.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Fred Karger –Founder
949/494-4750
Robert F. Gentry – Co Chair
June 4, 2006 760/770-8787
George Clooney & Brad Pitt -- Help Save the BOOM!!!
Gay Community Runs Ad in Daily Variety Appealing to Stars for Help
LAGUNA BEACH, CA – The one year old grassroots effort to save the landmark Boom Boom Room and Coast Inn in Laguna Beach reached up to Hollywood today to help SAVE the BOOM!!! (www.savetheboom.com)
In a ¼ page ad running today in the Daily Variety, there is an all out appeal to superstars George Clooney and Brad Pitt headlined: “George and Brad, Please Help SAVE the BOOM!!!” The ad goes on to ask the superstars, “Now we are appealing to both of you to buy our 60 year old landmark before it is converted into a boutique hotel.”
Clooney and Pitt were widely reported to have purchased the nightclub and hotel back in the fall of 2005 along with Beverly Hills Billionaire Steven Udvar-Hazy. E! Entertainment On Line broke the story and it became a big international news item. Spokespeople for the two stars denied their partnership with Mr. Udvar-Hazy at that time.
“The Gay Community of Laguna Beach is being thrown out into the Pacific Ocean and we are looking for some help from our friends,” said Bob Gentry, former Laguna Beach Mayor and City Councilman and Co-Chair of SAVE the BOOM!!!! “We have been talking to lots of potential buyers over the past several months and we thought we would try this bold approach to appeal to these thoughtful and caring stars.”
The ad states, “Both of you are true leaders in human and civil rights. Over 100 years of gay history that the Boom represents is a stake in Laguna Beach.”
It was reported 10 days ago that the property was officially put up for sale. Mr. Udvar-Hazy purchased the ocean front hotel and bar built in 1927 in the fall of 2005. He and his architects have been working with city planners to convert the gay hotel and bar into a boutique hotel and upscale restaurant. A Los Angeles realtor reported that Mr. Udvar-Hazy was planning to take his hotel and restaurant concept to another city in Orange County.
“When we first found out that our landmark bar was about to close, we got organized and decided to fight its closure,” said Fred Karger, founder of SAVE the BOOM!!!. “The landmark Boom Boom Room was set to close last Labor Day (2006), but Mr. Udvar-Hazy was very helpful and gave us a one year reprieve. With Labor Day 2007 rapidly approaching, we figured we’d see if these great stars would come help the gay community down here in Laguna.”
“The citizens of and visitors to Laguna Beach are behind us,” added Karger. “We gathered 6,000 signatures on petitions to SAVE the BOOM!!! in just 3 months last summer. The petitions were asking the Mayor and the City Council to help us. Our cries for help have been heard. Now we are appealing to George Clooney and Brad Pitt to Please Help Save the BOOOM – Forever!!!.”
The Daily Variety Ad is in the previous posting today.
-- more --
Posted date: 10/31/2005
Clooney, Pitt to Buy Boom Boom Room
Nightclub, Hotel Could Be Converted Into Restaurant and B&B
By Rick Reiff
Orange County Business Journal Staff
George Clooney, Brad Pitt and an airplane finance tycoon are buying one of Laguna Beach’s best-known gay bars and plan to turn it into a ritzy restaurant and bed and breakfast, according to sources.
The actors have teamed with Beverly Hills billionaire Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, chief executive of airplane lessor International Lease Finance Corp., to buy the Boom Boom Room and its adjoining Coast Inn on Pacific Coast Highway, sources said.
The bar and hotel could be converted into a restaurant and the first bed and breakfast in a chain of such getaways to bear the names of Clooney and Pitt.Clooney also has teamed with developers who are planning the $3 billion Las Ramblas condominium and hotel complex near the Strip in Las Vegas.
The real money behind the Laguna Beach deal, sources said, is Udvar-Hazy, who ranks 125th on Forbes’ list of richest Americans with an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion.
With a mansion in Monarch Beach, Udvar-Hazy also appears on the Business Journal’s list of the county’s “Weekend Wealthy.”
The link:
http://www.ocbj.com/article.asp?aID=18617706.8819544.1218711.8948284.8234304.573&aID2=93738
-- end --
They were reported to have purchased the property along with Beverly Hills billionaire Steven Udvar-Hazy in the fall of 2005. And now that Mr. Udvar-Hazy has officially put the Boom and the Coast Inn (in which it is located) up for sale, we are hoping that George and Brad will come in and save the day and SAVE the BOOM – Forever!!!
We have some more activities planned throughout the week to coincide with the opening of Ocean’s Thirteen starring George and Brad which opens this Friday. We’ll keep you posted.
The news release announcing the campaign is below, as is a copy of the Variety ad, the story from the Orange County Business Journal that told of their purchase of the Boom back in the fall of 2005 and a great photo of the two stars.
Best regards,
Fred Karger
Founder
www.savetheboom.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Fred Karger –Founder
949/494-4750
Robert F. Gentry – Co Chair
June 4, 2006 760/770-8787
George Clooney & Brad Pitt -- Help Save the BOOM!!!
Gay Community Runs Ad in Daily Variety Appealing to Stars for Help
LAGUNA BEACH, CA – The one year old grassroots effort to save the landmark Boom Boom Room and Coast Inn in Laguna Beach reached up to Hollywood today to help SAVE the BOOM!!! (www.savetheboom.com)
In a ¼ page ad running today in the Daily Variety, there is an all out appeal to superstars George Clooney and Brad Pitt headlined: “George and Brad, Please Help SAVE the BOOM!!!” The ad goes on to ask the superstars, “Now we are appealing to both of you to buy our 60 year old landmark before it is converted into a boutique hotel.”
Clooney and Pitt were widely reported to have purchased the nightclub and hotel back in the fall of 2005 along with Beverly Hills Billionaire Steven Udvar-Hazy. E! Entertainment On Line broke the story and it became a big international news item. Spokespeople for the two stars denied their partnership with Mr. Udvar-Hazy at that time.
“The Gay Community of Laguna Beach is being thrown out into the Pacific Ocean and we are looking for some help from our friends,” said Bob Gentry, former Laguna Beach Mayor and City Councilman and Co-Chair of SAVE the BOOM!!!! “We have been talking to lots of potential buyers over the past several months and we thought we would try this bold approach to appeal to these thoughtful and caring stars.”
The ad states, “Both of you are true leaders in human and civil rights. Over 100 years of gay history that the Boom represents is a stake in Laguna Beach.”
It was reported 10 days ago that the property was officially put up for sale. Mr. Udvar-Hazy purchased the ocean front hotel and bar built in 1927 in the fall of 2005. He and his architects have been working with city planners to convert the gay hotel and bar into a boutique hotel and upscale restaurant. A Los Angeles realtor reported that Mr. Udvar-Hazy was planning to take his hotel and restaurant concept to another city in Orange County.
“When we first found out that our landmark bar was about to close, we got organized and decided to fight its closure,” said Fred Karger, founder of SAVE the BOOM!!!. “The landmark Boom Boom Room was set to close last Labor Day (2006), but Mr. Udvar-Hazy was very helpful and gave us a one year reprieve. With Labor Day 2007 rapidly approaching, we figured we’d see if these great stars would come help the gay community down here in Laguna.”
“The citizens of and visitors to Laguna Beach are behind us,” added Karger. “We gathered 6,000 signatures on petitions to SAVE the BOOM!!! in just 3 months last summer. The petitions were asking the Mayor and the City Council to help us. Our cries for help have been heard. Now we are appealing to George Clooney and Brad Pitt to Please Help Save the BOOOM – Forever!!!.”
The Daily Variety Ad is in the previous posting today.
-- more --
Posted date: 10/31/2005
Clooney, Pitt to Buy Boom Boom Room
Nightclub, Hotel Could Be Converted Into Restaurant and B&B
By Rick Reiff
Orange County Business Journal Staff
George Clooney, Brad Pitt and an airplane finance tycoon are buying one of Laguna Beach’s best-known gay bars and plan to turn it into a ritzy restaurant and bed and breakfast, according to sources.
The actors have teamed with Beverly Hills billionaire Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, chief executive of airplane lessor International Lease Finance Corp., to buy the Boom Boom Room and its adjoining Coast Inn on Pacific Coast Highway, sources said.
The bar and hotel could be converted into a restaurant and the first bed and breakfast in a chain of such getaways to bear the names of Clooney and Pitt.Clooney also has teamed with developers who are planning the $3 billion Las Ramblas condominium and hotel complex near the Strip in Las Vegas.
The real money behind the Laguna Beach deal, sources said, is Udvar-Hazy, who ranks 125th on Forbes’ list of richest Americans with an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion.
With a mansion in Monarch Beach, Udvar-Hazy also appears on the Business Journal’s list of the county’s “Weekend Wealthy.”
The link:
http://www.ocbj.com/article.asp?aID=18617706.8819544.1218711.8948284.8234304.573&aID2=93738
-- end --
Pitt and Clooney Mixed up in Gay Bar Fight
Filed under: Brad and Angelina, Celebrity Pay Dirt
Known for their goodwill efforts in poverty-ravaged parts of the world like Darfur, Brad Pitt and George Clooney are now being asked to come to the aid of a slightly less disenfranchised group -- Laguna Beach gays!
The Boom Boom Room, a popular Laguna Beach, Calif. gay bar for over 60 years, was sold to a Beverly Hills billionaire two years ago for over $12 million. That's a lot of cosmos!
In 2005, Pitt & Clooney were incorrectly labeled as co-investors in the bar, whose rightful owners were planning on turning into yet another upscale (and undoubtedly hetero) oceanfront hotel. The Heche Hilton! With those plans now scrapped, the bar (which is scheduled to stay open until Labor Day) is back on the market and a grassroots organization is appealing to the Hollywood hunks to help Save the Boom! C'mon guys, you know you want to! To make sure they get the message, TMZ has exclusively obtained the ad Save the Boom is running in Monday's Variety, which hopes to persuade Brad and George to "buy our 60-year-old landmark before it is converted into a boutique hotel." And homophobes say gays are the ones doing all the converting?!
If the "Oceans 13" stars decide to purchase the bar and keep the same clientele, they'll find out the only thing easier to get at The Boom than a drink is ... a phone number!
More News on Boom For Sale
dear friends -- thought you would want to start your day with this excellent story from this morning's Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot by Josh Aden. it not only helps in our search for a gay buyer, but get across the emotion of what we are fighting for. there is a place for reader feedback at the end of the story if you would like to send back a comment. thanks for all your interest and support as we work to SAVE the BOOM – Forever!!!
best regards,
fred karger
founder, www.savetheboom.com
949/494-4750
http://www.coastlinepilot.com/articles/2007/06/01/business/cpt-boomboom01.txt
Gay buyer sought for Boom Boom
Members of Save the Boom hope to find a future owner who will preserve the site as is.
By Josh AdenThe race is on to find a gay buyer who can afford $19 million for the landmark Boom Boom Room and Coast Inn, after Steven Udvar Hazy decided not to build a hotel in Laguna Beach .Hazy, who bought the legendary bar and an adjacent liquor store a little more than a year ago, is putting the properties back on the market.
Fred Karger of Save the Boom, which gathered thousands of signatures on petitions asking the Laguna Beach City Council to keep the bar intact, is pleased that Hazy is pulling out.
"It's our spot, and it has been for 60 years. We're not giving up, and we're going to fight for it," Karger said. Hazy, a billionaire airline businessman, originally bought the property in hopes of developing it into a boutique hotel.
According to Los Angeles-based real estate agent Christian Goodell, who is working on the sale with Hazy, Hazy has decided to open his hotel elsewhere in Orange County .
"He has been trying to do a development there that doesn't look like its going to fly for whatever reason and he is moving the concept to a different site," Goodell said.
The Goodell Group, which is part of Keller Williams Real Estate, has experience dealing with boutique hotels as well as predominantly gay establishments such as the San Vicente Inn in West Hollywood , Goodell said.
Goodell said that while Hazy is open to selling to buyer who would preserve the Boom Boom Room as a gay establishment, Hazy is overall a businessman, and Goodell expects him to take whatever the best offer is.
"There are questions as to whether we can beat the clock," Goodell said. "The race is on to see whether I can find a gay operator before he sells to the highest bidder."
Goodell said he expects the price to be around $19 million for the bar and hotel, as well as the liquor store across the street on So. Coast Highway .
He said Hazy would most likely want to keep the properties together to sell as a package."Ideally he would like to sell the Coast Inn and the Boom and the adjacent liquor store together," Goodell said.
Goodell said there are already a number of offers, but no decisions have yet been made. Hazy did not return phone calls seeking comment. Karger is working with Goodell in seeking a gay benefactor to purchase the bar. "We'll only be happy if the new owners agree to keep it a primarily gay establishment," Karger said.
Karger said the Boom had a record season last summer and with Woody's, another gay fixture in Laguna, gone, he expects it to be even busier this summer. He described buying the bar as a good business idea. "This could be a goldmine," Karger said. Karger said he feels it's important to preserve places like the Boom Boom Room as mementos of the era before anti- gay discrimination laws went into effect in Laguna Beach and elsewhere. Because there were no churches or other places for gays to gather openly, they congregated at "watering holes," Karger said. Karger's campaign to save the Boom kicked off a year ago during Memorial Day weekend, 2006.
Karger and his supporters gathered thousands of signatures in support of keeping the bar open, many of which came from Laguna Beach ."It's been very unique because for the first time ever the gay community went out into the town and asked for help and we got a resounding show of support," Karger said.
After Karger's campaign took off, Hazy agreed to give the Boom operators a one-year lease extension, until September.
QUESTION OF THE WEEKIs the Boom Boom Room vital to Laguna Beach's gay-friendly reputation? Write us at P.O. Box 248 , Laguna Beach , CA , 92652 , e-mail us at coastlinepilot@latimes.com or fax us at 494-8979. Please give your name and tell us your home address and phone number for verification purposes only.
best regards,
fred karger
founder, www.savetheboom.com
949/494-4750
http://www.coastlinepilot.com/articles/2007/06/01/business/cpt-boomboom01.txt
Gay buyer sought for Boom Boom
Members of Save the Boom hope to find a future owner who will preserve the site as is.
By Josh AdenThe race is on to find a gay buyer who can afford $19 million for the landmark Boom Boom Room and Coast Inn, after Steven Udvar Hazy decided not to build a hotel in Laguna Beach .Hazy, who bought the legendary bar and an adjacent liquor store a little more than a year ago, is putting the properties back on the market.
Fred Karger of Save the Boom, which gathered thousands of signatures on petitions asking the Laguna Beach City Council to keep the bar intact, is pleased that Hazy is pulling out.
"It's our spot, and it has been for 60 years. We're not giving up, and we're going to fight for it," Karger said. Hazy, a billionaire airline businessman, originally bought the property in hopes of developing it into a boutique hotel.
According to Los Angeles-based real estate agent Christian Goodell, who is working on the sale with Hazy, Hazy has decided to open his hotel elsewhere in Orange County .
"He has been trying to do a development there that doesn't look like its going to fly for whatever reason and he is moving the concept to a different site," Goodell said.
The Goodell Group, which is part of Keller Williams Real Estate, has experience dealing with boutique hotels as well as predominantly gay establishments such as the San Vicente Inn in West Hollywood , Goodell said.
Goodell said that while Hazy is open to selling to buyer who would preserve the Boom Boom Room as a gay establishment, Hazy is overall a businessman, and Goodell expects him to take whatever the best offer is.
"There are questions as to whether we can beat the clock," Goodell said. "The race is on to see whether I can find a gay operator before he sells to the highest bidder."
Goodell said he expects the price to be around $19 million for the bar and hotel, as well as the liquor store across the street on So. Coast Highway .
He said Hazy would most likely want to keep the properties together to sell as a package."Ideally he would like to sell the Coast Inn and the Boom and the adjacent liquor store together," Goodell said.
Goodell said there are already a number of offers, but no decisions have yet been made. Hazy did not return phone calls seeking comment. Karger is working with Goodell in seeking a gay benefactor to purchase the bar. "We'll only be happy if the new owners agree to keep it a primarily gay establishment," Karger said.
Karger said the Boom had a record season last summer and with Woody's, another gay fixture in Laguna, gone, he expects it to be even busier this summer. He described buying the bar as a good business idea. "This could be a goldmine," Karger said. Karger said he feels it's important to preserve places like the Boom Boom Room as mementos of the era before anti- gay discrimination laws went into effect in Laguna Beach and elsewhere. Because there were no churches or other places for gays to gather openly, they congregated at "watering holes," Karger said. Karger's campaign to save the Boom kicked off a year ago during Memorial Day weekend, 2006.
Karger and his supporters gathered thousands of signatures in support of keeping the bar open, many of which came from Laguna Beach ."It's been very unique because for the first time ever the gay community went out into the town and asked for help and we got a resounding show of support," Karger said.
After Karger's campaign took off, Hazy agreed to give the Boom operators a one-year lease extension, until September.
QUESTION OF THE WEEKIs the Boom Boom Room vital to Laguna Beach's gay-friendly reputation? Write us at P.O. Box 248 , Laguna Beach , CA , 92652 , e-mail us at coastlinepilot@latimes.com or fax us at 494-8979. Please give your name and tell us your home address and phone number for verification purposes only.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Boom Boom is Up For Sale
Dear friends – thought that you would like to see the latest story written by Dan Beighley for the Orange County Business Journal on the landmark Boom Boom Room and Coast Inn being officially put up for sale by the owner, Steven Udvar-Hazy. We will keep you posted as this story unfolds.
http://www.ocbj.com/article.asp?aID=18122108.15246.1478841.4678329.7008525.901&aID2=113748
Best regards, Fred Karger, Founder www.savetheboom.com
Posted date: 5/25/2007
Udvar-Hazy Gives Up Boom Boom Room Redevelopment
By Dan Beighley
Orange County Business Journal Staff
Billionaire Steven Udvar-Hazy has given up plans to build a resort in LagunaBeach and plans to sell three properties there, including gay bar the Boom Boom Room.
His plans for a boutique hotel were met with protests from gays who staged a campaign to save the Boom Boom Room.
It's unclear why Udvar-Hazy is giving up his plans and selling the properties.
“Save The Boom” organizer Fred Karger said he's been busy since last May with a bid to influence Udvar-Hazy to preserve the gay icon.
For the past two months, Karger said he has sought to find potential buyers to approach Udvar-Hazy about selling.
“We’re going to re-triple our efforts now,” Karger said.
The Coast Inn, which houses the Boom Boom Room, a liquor store and gay boutique, Gay-Mart, are up for sale for about $20 million, according to The Laguna Beach Independent.
Udvar-Hazy bought the buildings plus an adjacent house for about $25 million in 2005.
The ocean front home isn't up for sale.
Udvar-Hazy made a fortune in aircraft leasing. He lives in Beverly Hills with a second home in Monarch Beach.
http://www.ocbj.com/article.asp?aID=18122108.15246.1478841.4678329.7008525.901&aID2=113748
Best regards, Fred Karger, Founder www.savetheboom.com
Posted date: 5/25/2007
Udvar-Hazy Gives Up Boom Boom Room Redevelopment
By Dan Beighley
Orange County Business Journal Staff
Billionaire Steven Udvar-Hazy has given up plans to build a resort in LagunaBeach and plans to sell three properties there, including gay bar the Boom Boom Room.
His plans for a boutique hotel were met with protests from gays who staged a campaign to save the Boom Boom Room.
It's unclear why Udvar-Hazy is giving up his plans and selling the properties.
“Save The Boom” organizer Fred Karger said he's been busy since last May with a bid to influence Udvar-Hazy to preserve the gay icon.
For the past two months, Karger said he has sought to find potential buyers to approach Udvar-Hazy about selling.
“We’re going to re-triple our efforts now,” Karger said.
The Coast Inn, which houses the Boom Boom Room, a liquor store and gay boutique, Gay-Mart, are up for sale for about $20 million, according to The Laguna Beach Independent.
Udvar-Hazy bought the buildings plus an adjacent house for about $25 million in 2005.
The ocean front home isn't up for sale.
Udvar-Hazy made a fortune in aircraft leasing. He lives in Beverly Hills with a second home in Monarch Beach.
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