CLUB DOESN'T GET LICENSE, STRIPPERS DON'T STRIP

The city prohibited Peppy's Sports Bar and Dance Club from holding a strip show Thursday night.

Cape Girardeau interim Police Chief Steve Strong said Peppy's waited until the last day to obtain necessary licenses even though a copy of ordinances was sent to the business Tuesday.

Strong said he refused to approve the licenses based on a section of an ordinance that prohibits an adult-entertainment business from operating within 1,000 feet of another such business. Strong said Peppy's, at 823 S. Kingshighway, is approximately 550 feet from Regina's House of Dolls, a strip-tease bar.

Peppy's lost about $20,000 as a result of the show not being a strip show, said its general manager, Doug Armour. Instead, the show was held but the performers were clothed, he said.

Armour said Strong waited until nearly 5 p.m. before declining to sign off on the adult-business license the club was required to have before having its "Centerfolds" show.

Strong said the final application did not come to his desk until after 4 p.m. Thursday.

Strong said: "I learned of the show Monday when I came in to work. On Tuesday we were able to make contact, and they were given a copy of the ordinances. As far as sitting down with them and going over them, I don't sit down with anybody and go over them. I mean here are the ordinances.

"So did they know? Well, if they read the ordinances."

Armour said he paid nearly $400 to get his business, himself, bartenders, servers and the dancers licensed in the city.

He said as far as he knows that money will not be reimbursed by the city. Peppy's also spent more than $3,000 advertising the show and refunded 350 advance tickets at $7 a piece at the door Thursday night, he said.

Armour said the loss doesn't include what would have been made off of liquor sales.

"This was a very popular idea; people really wanted it," Armour said. "We're going to lose a lot of money over this, I'd say in the neighborhood of $20,000.

"The city sold us all of our employee, our server licenses, our manager license and things, and at 5 minutes until 5 they decide they're not going to give us our adult-business entertainment license."

Armour said the copy of the ordinances the city sent him Tuesday did not include the restriction against adult businesses operating within 1,000 feet of each other.

Earlier Thursday, Cape Girardeau police Lt. Dennis Dolan, who was the police representative working with Peppy's for their licenses, said he did not see a problem with Peppy's getting permission for the show.

"They're in the process of getting them right now," he said at 2 p.m. "They're already licensed for liquor, and the requirements for one are covered by the other. All the background checks are done."

An officer was sent to Peppy's to inspect the stage, which is required to be raised 2 feet and distanced 10 feet from the patrons.

"As far as I know, that officer was not aware of this section of the ordinance," Strong said. "But you'd have to check with him."

Armour said his lawyer believes he has a class-action lawsuit against the city, if he chooses to pursue it.

"According to the attorney we didn't fall under adult entertainment anyway," he said. "The thing is, how can you win with the city? The simple fact is we are in business here and they would come in here and do everything they can to shut us down."