Many would agree the vision for Channelside is simple. Make it a premier entertainment destination for locals and visitors with restaurants, shops and a movie theater.

But does that include nightclubs and bars? And what is a nightclub? A country-western bar? A dueling piano bar?

Those are some of the questions swirling in the latest controversy over Channelside and its tenant lineup.

Last week, Guy Revelle, a partner in Stumps Supper Club, Howl at the Moon, Splitsville and Tinatapas at Channelside, went to the Tampa Port Authority meeting to air concerns about Channelside's owner, Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., leasing space to two country bars. Sling Shots opened in January, and McGraw's Country Club Saloon is set to open later this summer. (The Port Authority owns the land under the center.)

Revelle and his partner, Mark Gibson, say the businesses violate Channelside's lease with the port, which prohibits standalone nightclubs. They worry the influx of bars will create a mini-Ybor City, drowning out the restaurants and stores still struggling to survive.

Caught in the middle is Michael Dennis, whose company owns Sling Shots, Banana Joe's, Margarita Mama's and Velvet Room. He signed a lease to open McGraw's, and construction on the 8,500-square-foot space is under way.

He feels "sucker-punched'' by the criticism. He suspects Revelle and Gibson's ire relates to their lawsuit with Channelside's owner over upping the rent for Stumps and Howl at the Moon.

Hashing this out will take time and money, all of which distracts from the main mission of boosting Channelside's profile.

Parking and marketing remain huge obstacles to the center's success. I'd guess they threaten Channelside's growth more than line dancing and wild cowgirls do.

Anyone who has driven to Channelside on a weekend night knows parking can be a challenge - and a deterrent for future visits.

Good luck finding a spot in the Port Authority's garage. Chances are, cruise passengers got there first.

Then there's the $6 valet. Not ridiculous, provided you don't mind waiting 20 minutes for your car. And don't forget to tip.

There's also self-parking at the lot where the Starship Yacht docks. It's free during lunch but goes up to $5 a car after 1:30 p.m., which seems needlessly early.

Revelle, Gibson and Dennis say they survive on weekend night business and special events. Daytime and weeknight traffic remains sluggish. Hooters and Bennigan's get a decent lunch crowd; others are slow.

Getting a stable tenant mix has been difficult. Signature Room Grille closed above Hooters last fall. Big surprise?

Not really. The restaurant opened in 2004 amid expectations of capturing the new wave of residents within walking distance in the Channel District. Problem was, no one lived there yet. Even today, the Channel District is largely under construction.

Ashkenazy has fallen woefully behind in marketing the center.

Three weeks ago, Channelside resumed its Friday night summer fireworks at 9. The shows were a big hit last year and drew a lot of visitors.

But unless you live within earshot, you probably didn't know about the kickoff. No press releases went out. No radio plug. Nada.

In fact, Channelside's marketing director, Susan Martin, left several months ago to work for Hyde Park Village. Her name remains as the contact on Channelside's Web site, channelsidetampa.com.

City street signs don't help, either. They just offer directions to the aquarium and port. No mention of the Channel District or Channelside.

So while lawyers and bigwigs sort out the tenant mess, plenty of work remains. Let's hope someone takes the lead.