Wildcat 93701
| Wildcat 93701 has (or appears to have) closed April 29, 2011! | |
|---|---|
| This article is about Wildcat 93701 - When we tried to contact them, their phone, web and/or email do not seem to work.
The information I have here is for historical/archival purposes and I would like to expand it with when, why, where and who started Wildcat 93701; what did they do and when; where and why did is close; where they are today - any information will be helpful.
| |
Former site of porn shop to receive blessing
- BY STEVEN MAYER, Californian staff writer smayer@bakersfield.com
- Apr 29, 2011 Updated Sep 12, 2016
How many clergy does it take to consecrate a patch of land that for years housed one of Bakersfield's most infamous adult bookstores?
More to the point, is it even possible, given the Gomorrah-like history of the old Wildcat store on Chester Avenue?
Beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, no fewer than five local men of the cloth will rise to the challenge at an event scheduled by San Joaquin Community Hospital.
"As a faith-based hospital, SJCH's mission is to share God's love with our community by providing physical, mental and spiritual healing," the hospital said in a news release Friday. "The presence of the Wildcat across from the hospital campus has, for many years, stood in direct opposition with that mission."
The hospital last year purchased the land and building for $750,000, according to public records.
San Joaquin President and Chief Executive Robert J. Beehler told The Californian following the purchase that the primary motivation was to close down the Wildcat.
But later an idea began to blossom that envisioned a medical corridor on both sides of Chester Avenue.
Wildcat had been at the downtown location for some 25 years. San Joaquin is in the process of demolishing the buildings.
San Joaquin officials said they will release more details of the planned development at next week's event, which will be held near the demolition site.
Meanwhile, no one knows for sure whether the longtime sales of novelty toys, inflatable sex dolls and X-rated movies will leave a lasting stain at 27th Street and Chester Avenue.
Either way, the community faith leaders expected to be on hand Thursday may have their work cut out for them. They include Kevin Rhamie, pastor at Southside Seventh-day Adventist; Tom Touchstone, pastor at Valley Bible Fellowship; Steve Yeary, pastor at Brimhall Road Assembly of God; Howard Silver, acting rabbi at Congregation B'nai Jacob; and Monsignor Michael Braun, of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Reached Friday, Silver said he won't be focused on blessing the site so much as giving thanks for its new purpose as a provider of medical care and comfort to those who are suffering.
"I just want to thank God for our ability to help people who are in need," he said.
But will the site's checkered history have a lengthy half-life?
In 1986, Russian scientists poured tons of concrete over Chernobyl sealing it away forever following the meltdown at the doomed nuclear power plant.
That may not be necessary in this case.
Chat rooms • What links here • Copyright info • Contact information • Category:Root