A topless dancing permit for a group of owners wanting to open a Hustler strip club here was shot down by the Detroit City Council today by a vote of 5-3. The group wishing to open the club currently owns Zoo Bar in the location, and had asked for a license transfer. Representation for the group said that the club would employ up to 125 people.
The new club was opposed by some, including an attorney for Perfecting Church, who urged City Council to vote down the license transfer.
The conflict between the group of bar owners and the city began when the group first took the council to court when it tried to prevent the opening of a Deja Vu strip club at the same location. A judge had ruled that the club could open. At that time, owners also had talked about opening as a Hustler club.
The previous ruling permitted the owners to open a Deja Vu nightclub, but the council never transferred the liquor license.
Attorney Frank Palazzolo, who represents HDV Greektown, the owners of Zoo Bar, told the Detroit Free Press that the owners filed another lawsuit this year after the City Council declined to act on the transfer.
Palazzolo said: "My client is disappointed with today's vote and we'll just continue with the litigation that has already been instituted."
Sheila Cockrel, who voted for the transfer, declined to give comment to the report, except to say her vote reflected the "serious litigation" that is still pending.
