Strip Club Expansion Project Near Completion

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Written by: 195 on Mar 10, 2010

MEMPHIS, TN - There’s an update on a controversial East Memphis strip club. An expansion project at the Gold Club is nearly complete, despite the efforts of nearby residents to stop it. Shelby County code enforcers decided last fall the Gold Club's expansion does not violate any zoning laws. Since then, the project has really taken off.

'We are open!' reads the sign out in front of the Gold Club.

The strip joint at Summer and White Station now looks much bigger than it did this summer-- bigger, but residents say not better.

“I think it's going to draw more people into that place and just a lot of drinking and such. I just don't approve of that” says Rick Metts.

A wall was knocked out between the strip club and the adult bookstore to make the Gold Club one large space. Code enforcers say the actual footprint is still the same as it's always been, but Romeo Duran doesn't care. He says the club is bringing property values in his neighborhood down, and that's not all.

“My mother-in-law tried to sell for I think $160,000. Now it's going down to $140,000 or $135,000” says Duran. “Somebody stole my van from in front of my house. I just can't believe it myself.”

There's not much residents can do now. Code enforcers say this expansion project is legit. Now that it's almost complete, Metts says he's re-thinking the 15 years he's spent in this area.

“I'm a family man. I raised my kids here in this neighborhood. They went to White Station and now they're in the military.”

Strip joints like the Gold Club were dealt a big blow earlier this month.

A federal appeals court ruled in favor of an ordinance that would tighten restrictions on Shelby County strip clubs. The measure would forbid alcohol in adult businesses. The county heads to court again soon to try to start enforcing the law.

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