No more jiggling; judge orders U-District strip club shuttered

Jiggles strip club, previously known as Giggles Comedy Club, is shown on Roosevelt Way NE. Jiggles strip club, previously known as Giggles Comedy Club, is shown on Roosevelt Way NE. Photo: Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com Photo: Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close No more jiggling; judge orders U-District strip club shuttered 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A King County judge has ordered a University District strip club closed following a request from the City of Seattle.

On Friday morning, Superior Court Judge Suzanne Barnett ruled in favor of the city. The motion imposes an immediate permanent injunction - effectively closing the Jiggles club.

Renaming the shuttered Giggles comedy club Jiggles and opening with nude dancing late last year, club owner Robert Davis had contended city restrictions on the placement of strip clubs violate the U.S. Constitution and faulted the city for perceived delays in issuing permits.

For its part, the city argued Davis opened the club at 5220 Roosevelt Way N.E. in violation of city zoning restrictions that bar strip clubs from opening within 800 feet of schools, parks or child care centers. Attorneys for the city also said Davis did not obtain a necessary permit before opening the business.

Attorneys for the city said Davis had not even applied for a required land use permit, which would have prompted a city review he would not have passed due to the club's location.

"Jiggles should not be allowed to operate across the street from a school," said Senior Assistant City Attorney Carlton Seu, referring to the University Child Development School located across from the club.

"From the front door of Jiggles you can look across and see the playground," Seu continued.

Offering her judgment after hearing arguments from attorneys on both sides, Barnett said the city's buffers are reasonable restrictions allowed under the First Amendment.

An attorney for Davis would not say immediately after the hearing if an appeal is planned. She said the judge's order has put 40 people out of a job.

Writing the court, attorneys for Davis describe him as one who has worked for years to open a strip club in the city, only to be thwarted by city officials.

Davis has tried to open strip clubs at at least three locations in the past six years.

In court documents, Davis argued that a City of Seattle business license for an adult entertainment club was sufficient to operate the business. Operating under that contention, Davis opened Jiggles on Dec. 16 and has promoting it as a strip club since.

Addressing the court, attorney Kristin Olson contended Davis had all the permitting he needed when he obtained a business license to operate a strip club in 2007. She also faulted the city for what she described as unwarranted delays in issuing permits.

"The City of Seattle just can't get the U.S. Constitution right, particularly with regard to the First Amendment," said Olson, an attorney with the Bellevue firm O'Shea Barnard Martin & Olson.

Olson went on to describe the buffer ordinance at issue as "unconstitutional." She is currently pursuing a lawsuit on the matter in federal court.

Barnett's order was expected to go into force immediately.

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