City councilman in Westlake promotes a nightclub for teens
By Debbie Sporich
Acorn Staff Writer

Thanks to Westlake Village City Councilman Chris Mann, youth in this area may get an under 21 nightclub as early as September.

Area 51 is the concept name for Mann’s under 21 nightclub, and so far he’s the only principal person working on it.

"My idea was to create an environment that will be fun, enjoyable, a cool place to be and free of drugs, alcohol and violence," Mann said.

Mann came up with the name Area 51 as he began looking at potential space for the nightclub. "I ended up at several warehouses and I thought, ‘What if it was a secret government military base like the one in Groom Lake, Nev. that became famous because that’s where all the aliens are apparently?’

‘‘That really adds kind of a fun element to the club," Mann said.

According to Mann’s business plan, Land of the Free, Inc., will be filed as a California S Corporation with Area 51 acting as the operating name for the nightclub.

Mann is currently seeking investors willing to put up the $61,000 he estimates as start-up money and a venue with about 10,000 square feet of space.

Until funding has been settled, Mann is talking in conceptual terms only.

Outlined in his business plan is a management team that includes Mike Rubino as the entertainment coordinator, Lauren Mann in human relations and Mike Sloyan as head of security.

Mann said he wasn’t opposed to looking for space outside of the city of Westlake Village, but it was his first choice because he believes it’s centrally located.

Area 51 would primarily target high school-age teenagers between 14 and 18 from the greater Conejo Valley area. Mann believes he’ll draw customers from Oxnard, Camarillo, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, West Hills and Chatsworth.

The plan calls for Area 51 to be open Thursdays through Sundays and feature a deejay, dance music and live local bands.

On Sunday nights the club may feature Christian music. "There’s a large growing area of Christian bands and Christian music, and I thought that would be a nice thing to do on a Sunday night," Mann said.

A minimal cover charge will be required, non-alcoholic refreshments will be sold and recreational equipment such as pool tables, electronic dart boards and air hockey would be available. Special events throughout the year would also planned.

At 23, Mann is the youngest councilman to have ever served his city and he’s currently the youngest councilman serving in California.

Mann graduated from California Lutheran University with a bachelor of science degree in psychology, a bachelor of arts in political science and a master’s degree in public policy and sdministration. He’s spent the last three years working as a child behavioral specialist at Casa Pacifica in Camarillo, which is a residential and shelter care facility for troubled or at-risk youth.

He owned and operated a mobile deejay company during his high school and college years.

Mann would also like to invite members of the local youth commission to join him and form an advisory board.

"I need young people who are more in tune with what will work with teenagers — what’s cool; what’s not cool. It’s a private business, but it’s for the kids, and I’d like to see them have as much input into this as possible," Mann said.

So far he’s had two very promising meetings with potential investors, he said, and he’s identified two possible sites for the nightclub including business parks off of Via Colinas and La Baya Drive in Westlake Village.

Youth and tenaciousness are on his side. And the timing appears to be right for Mann to launch such an endeavor.