Fred Karger, who founded the Save the Boom!!! campaign to try and save Laguna’s historic Boom Boom Room and Coast Inn, appeared on radio station KX 93.5 FM’s morning show “Real Lives” Saturday, Dec. 1 to talk about his continuing effort to bring a gay restaurant and bar back to Laguna Beach.
“When the Boom and neighboring Woody’s both closed over five years ago much of the LGBT travel and tourism to Laguna shut down as well,” according to the Laguna Beach resident, a retired political consultant turned gay rights activist and watchdog, who ran unsuccessfully last year for the Republican nomination for president.
“The gay community helped make Laguna the diverse, exciting, vibrant and creative city that it is beginning over 100 years ago when over 40 artists moved down here from San Francisco. We want to work with the city to encourage a nice restaurant and bar to come back to Laguna, which would greatly help reinvigorate our economy. There are way too many empty storefronts around town and that can be remedied by the gay community coming back to Laguna.
“We also want to work with the city to help preserve our memorial garden located just below the Boom Boom Room on the bluff to the ocean called the Garden of Peace and Love. It’s hallowed ground that serves as a memorial to so many who have died from HIV/AIDS.”
