Golden Melons to open in Ranch's San Marco

APRIL FOOLS — Get your dollar bills ready: It’s about to get racy in the Ranch.

A Los Angeles-based entrepreneur has purchased the anchor space at San Marco Plaza. And although the spot will still be home to evening entertainment, it surely will attract a different clientele to the Lakewood Ranch shopping destination.

Golden Melons, a gentlemen’s club, will become the new anchor. The owner said he plans to begin work inside the space within the month. A grand opening is slated for later this summer.

The club will feature five stages, private dance areas as well as an exclusive VIP section. It will offer a full liquor bar as well as a complimentary barbecue buffet during lunch hours.

Although most of the entertainment will cater to men, Golden Melons also plans to offer a “Go Nuts” night every Thursday for its female patrons. The club also will experiment with community outreach programs such as an amateur night and weekend car washes. The business also plans to be active participants in the East County’s numerous philanthropic opportunities.

Like similar clubs, Golden Melons will be open nearly 24 hours a day, closing only between 3 a.m. and 11 a.m.

In addition to the amenities within the space, Golden Melons has applied for county permits to erect two 500-pound, neon-lit cantaloupe sculptures on the side of the building.

The announcement of San Marco Plaza’s new anchor comes just after Golden Apple Dinner Theatre owners were denied financial assistance from the Sarasota Downtown Improvement District.

Golden Melons will become the East County’s first adult entertainment business. The owner said he considers Lakewood Ranch’s upscale nature to be a perfect fit for his business and also cited the addition of at least 50 new jobs as a boon for the economy.

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