Tacoma landmark shut down by city inspectors
TACOMA - A Tacoma landmark has been shut down after investigators found several building and electrical code violations.
Bob's Java Jive has been a popular hangout for nearly 80 years. Built in 1927 and listed on Tacoma's register of historic places, the Java Jive is a coffeepot shaped building with an interior decorated with stuffed animals, fake ivy and plastic and paper cutouts.
The bar even once featured two chimpanzees named Java and Jive who played drums. But city inspectors say if owners don't cleanup, they won't open-up again.
A yellow warning sign reading "enter at your own risk" greets regulars at Bob's Java Jive now.
Inside J.R. McPherson ponders the future of this 80-year hangout.
"We're barely surviving, kind of tough just being open even," he said.
But McPherson and his wife Danette Staatz, who owns the building, now face a bigger challenge. City inspectors shut the doors Wednesday after a thorough inspection revealed endless building code violations.
"Really low quality extension chords, what we call Zipchords, light duty; improper wiring practices that have to do with the building's wiring," Deputy Fire Marshall Phil Pherell listed off.
Pherell was called to Bob's Java Jive after customers complained of overcrowding inside this building in December. When inspectors arrived, they found extension chords tangled in webs.
"You can see chords running through down and around and over and through," Pherell said.
There were also flammable decorations hanging from the wall. The gas fireplace isn't installed properly, and there's a long list of problems related to plumbing, wiring, and stairways.
Pherell also says the exits also aren't properly marked. All in all, it adds up to one big hazard.
"This is a place of public assembly and has a high requirement for life safety protections," Pherell said.
Inspectors want Staatz to hire a contractor and map out a solution within a week. Customers aren't allowed without the fixes.
But that will require money -- something McPherson says they don't have.
"(I) keep hoping, hoping somebody will help us out," he said.
Without that help, the landmark will have to say goodbye for good.
Bob's Java Jive has been a popular hangout for nearly 80 years. Built in 1927 and listed on Tacoma's register of historic places, the Java Jive is a coffeepot shaped building with an interior decorated with stuffed animals, fake ivy and plastic and paper cutouts.
The bar even once featured two chimpanzees named Java and Jive who played drums. But city inspectors say if owners don't cleanup, they won't open-up again.
A yellow warning sign reading "enter at your own risk" greets regulars at Bob's Java Jive now.
Inside J.R. McPherson ponders the future of this 80-year hangout.
"We're barely surviving, kind of tough just being open even," he said.
But McPherson and his wife Danette Staatz, who owns the building, now face a bigger challenge. City inspectors shut the doors Wednesday after a thorough inspection revealed endless building code violations.
"Really low quality extension chords, what we call Zipchords, light duty; improper wiring practices that have to do with the building's wiring," Deputy Fire Marshall Phil Pherell listed off.
Pherell was called to Bob's Java Jive after customers complained of overcrowding inside this building in December. When inspectors arrived, they found extension chords tangled in webs.
"You can see chords running through down and around and over and through," Pherell said.
There were also flammable decorations hanging from the wall. The gas fireplace isn't installed properly, and there's a long list of problems related to plumbing, wiring, and stairways.
Pherell also says the exits also aren't properly marked. All in all, it adds up to one big hazard.
"This is a place of public assembly and has a high requirement for life safety protections," Pherell said.
Inspectors want Staatz to hire a contractor and map out a solution within a week. Customers aren't allowed without the fixes.
But that will require money -- something McPherson says they don't have.
"(I) keep hoping, hoping somebody will help us out," he said.
Without that help, the landmark will have to say goodbye for good.