Owners Say Sacramento Strip Club Bounced For Russian Church
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The owners of a Sacramento strip club are blaming a bad deal with the county for closing their doors after more than two decades.
Owners of City Limits Showgirls say it's too late to spare their club, but they're calling out what they say is hypocrisy by the county.
The strip club is really the only thing flashing on Auburn Boulevard. There's a building for lease next door, and some industrial areas, but owners say the closure is part of the county's beautification project.
On Friday, it's nearing the last dance for City Limits in Sacramento.
"I'm super disappointed," a man we'll call Jack said. "Where else is one to go for his weekly release?"
Jack, who prefers not to show his face, is mystified. After all, he says there's an adult boutique just down the street.
"Seems a little unfair," he said.
But general manager Paul Lamberty says the battle's been fought.
"Yeah, it's been a good run for the most part," he said.
Lamberty says the controversy started years ago when the county kicked out a couple of businesses at the time as part of a rezoning project on Auburn Boulevard. City Limits got the best attorney money can buy.
"The same attorney that was involved in the Times Square battle, when they were trying to clean up Times Square," he said.
The county negotiated, giving the club seven more years to operate, and the time has come.
"We run things pretty clean, and what I find pretty hypocritical is in the last few years, there's like fifty massage parlors that have opened up here," he said.
The strip club will be replaced with a Russian church. The VIP room will be replaced with a day care.
Alex Pawelccyk, who works across the street at the military supply store, is ambivalent.
"I don't think it's going to make a huge difference unless it's something for the community," he said.
Jack says it makes no sense.
"There's plenty of churches; there's only two other strip clubs that I'm aware of," he said.
Sacramento County supervisors didn't respond in time for the story.
The final party for City Limits will be on July 31.
