REGINA'S OPEN DESPITE NOT HAVING LICENSE

Five days after the city's adult business license ordinance went into effect, Regina's House of Dolls remains in business.

The strip-tease bar hasn't applied for the city's adult business license.

"Regina's is open and intends to stay open," said attorney Thad Taylor of the Rosener law firm that represents the bar.

Nightclubs Inc. of Missouri, which manages Regina's, will decide if the club will ever apply for the adult business license.

Manager Paul Eubanks refused to comment on the record because criminal charges are pending against him.

The ordinance requiring the bar to obtain an adult business license is unconstitutional, Taylor said.

"It is unfortunate that the city is concerned about the club where there have been no problems in the last five months," he said.

The club has no intention of closing and will defend any criminal charges filed against employees.

Cape Girardeau Police document the alleged violations and report back to other city officials. No action has been taken to close the business.

The city had contacted Regina's in June but didn't send an application for the adult business license, Taylor said.

He added the dancers are "independent contractors" and are required to have their own licenses. Only one has applied for the license.

Between 30 and 40 employees of Regina's House of Dolls should be licensed, according to the city ordinance.

"Declaring any dancers criminal is the same as saying the SEMO drama club is a bunch of criminals," he said.

Eubanks was charged in May with failing to keep dancers 10 feet from the customers.

He will plead not guilty at his July 11 court appearance. The case will then be appealed to the circuit court and tried before a jury, his lawyer said.

"We're ready for a jury trial on each and every charge," Taylor said. There are compelling constitutional rights that can be pursued, he added.