Buffalo’s last stand

Erin Neff

Wednesday, May 17, 2000 | 11:24 a.m.

While the reporters sit on folding chairs under sun-shielding umbrellas waiting for the Ted Binion murder trial verdict, a 3,000-pound mechanical beast is beckoning them to pay attention to a much different message.

The 14-foot buffalo taking up three parking spaces outside the Clark County Courthouse is the latest BIG attention-getter from the very public Buffalo Jim Barrier.

Normally Barrier's antics are confined to pitching Dodges on television or hyping one of his wrestling league's events.

But to borrow from typical World Wrestling Federation hype: This time it's personal.

And despite the hulking Barrier's size, he's portraying himself as the David in a Goliath battle against the Crazy Horse Too adult club.

Barrier claims he is in jeopardy of losing his 22-year-old business, Allstate Auto & Marine, because the neighboring adult club on Industrial Road wants to expand and needs his property to do it.

But it isn't Crazy Horse technically that has problems with Barrier. The property landlord, Schiff Properties, has issued Allstate Auto Repair a five-day notice to cease and desist certain actions.

The cease and desist order, which Barrier is fighting in court, claims that vehicles parked at Allstate Auto block fire lanes, obstruct movement of other vehicles and create fire and security hazards.

"I am in compliance," Barrier said, fiddling with a ketchup packet while seated in a cluttered office at his auto shop. "Who's blocking what? It ain't me. It's Crazy Horse."

The phone momentarily interrupts his passionate explanation. Shortly after answering, Barrier's brown eyes smile.

"The Buffalo and the Bear, baby, what a great pair," he yells into the phone at the caller, who turns out to be Wayne Newton's bodyguard.

All afternoon calls come in to the autograph picture-lined business from old customers who drove by the buffalo or read about Barrier's fight in local newspapers.

Barrier claims Crazy Horse has been trying to muscle him out ever since the club opened 14 years ago.

But Valarie Fujii, attorney for Schiff Properties, says Crazy Horse isn't behind the action to evict Barrier.

"I was trying to keep Crazy Horse out of it, but Barrier keeps saying it's them and I felt the owner had to respond," Fujii said.

That's why she said Rick Rizzolo, Crazy Horse's owner, signed an affidavit supporting Schiff's effort to evict Barrier.

"On a daily basis, James Barrier's businesses take up as many as 23 parking spaces for vehicles, which are inoperable, immobile, unregistered and unlicensed," Rizzolo affirmed in the affidavit. "These are parking spaces that could be utilized by other tenants, and thus (they) constitute(s) a nuisance."

Barrier insists his vehicles aren't causing the problems. He also juxtaposes photos and surveillance tapes of Crazy Horse at night with his store during the day.

Fujii, who has pictures of her own showing otherwise, is not impressed.

"He is still not in compliance," Fujii said. "He still has multiple signage that's not allowed, unlicensed cars, safety cones reserving spaces and that buffalo.

"We've asked him to get rid of the buffalo," she added. "He'll move it to the side or to the back, but it's still there."

Fujii claims Schiff Properties' liability increases as a result of the buffalo because both city code and state transportation officials have complained about it.

"The government agencies are coming down on us," Fujii said.

One of Barrier's videotapes begins with two commercials he made for a local car dealership. Then dated and timed video of the property reveals assorted garbage around the parking lot, with no parking problems near Allstate Auto or Buffalo Wrestling Federation's school.

Barrier's wrestling school is on the other side of Crazy Horse from Allstate Auto.

"Why are they doing this to me?" Barrier asks. "I've got four kids. I need to stay in business."

Barrier claims Crazy Horse has forced him to spend $250,000 in compliance-related issues since the club opened.

"I'm not going to be thrown out of here unjustly," Barrier says, before heading to the front counter to answer a transmission question for one of the dancers next door.

District Judge Michael Cherry was originally slated to hear the landlord-tenant eviction dispute. Barrier has asked that Cherry not be allowed to hear the case because Barrier believes Cherry is friendly with Rizzolo.

Judge Valorie Vega will decide Monday whether Cherry can hear the case. At that point, expect more demonstrations from Barrier and his buffalo.

"I know I'm a little guy, and the sex and drugs are supposed to rule," Barrier said. "But I'm the real deal, and I'm not going to let the big guy push me around."

Erin Neff

covers Las Vegas government for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-4062 or 229-6436, or by e-mail at erin@lasvegassun.com.