West Chester rescinds 'erotic nightclub' permit

West Chester Township officials have rescinded a business permit and license they previously approved for an "erotic nightclub" planned in the township.

Township trustees also passed legislation Tuesday to prevent any "sexual encounter establishment(s)" in the Butler County township until next summer.

Before the vote, several residents addressed trustees. It was apparent many did not know the license and permit had already been rescinded before the meeting.

All of the residents spoke out against the proposed business, with most receiving loud applause from the crowd of at least 100 people when they finished. One person told trustees if they let the prospective business into the township they will have to answer to God.

This received an amen.

The legislation, which trustees passed by saying "absolutely," comes less than a week after township officials credited the owners of the prospective Champagne Club for "doing their homework" in regards to zoning laws.

The establishment was originally considered a "sexually-oriented business" and could only open in certain parts of the township zoned for that.

When the public became aware of the owners' plans to open the members-only club in a largely industrial area, but about 600 feet away from a day care on Harwood Court, Township Spokeswoman Barb Wilson told the Enquirer that officials understood the concern.

"But zoning has to be an objective process," Wilson said. "The zoning code can't be selectively applied."

West Chester Township Administrator Judi Boyko told The Enquirer officials rescinded the permit and license on Friday after receiving additional information from a background check conducted by the FBI.

In a letter sent from the Ohio Attorney General's Office, and obtained by the Enquirer, the FBI background check indicates co-owner and applicant Eric Adams "may not meet qualifications for licensing or employment."

Boyko said the permit and license were rescinded because the township officials approved them without complete information.

Champagne Club co-owner Melissa Warren told the Enquirer the action taken by township officials to rescind her permit and license "is not legal."

"There will be issues if they go through with this," said Warren. "This isn't just about this type of business. If local officials start doing this, that is taking away people’s rights."

She is requesting more information from the Attorney General's Office and said the issue with Adams' background check was not a big deal. She declined to specify what she thought it was.

"We've jumped through every single hoop," Warren said.

The legislation is similar to what Sharonville officials did recently when they learned The Pink Pyramid, a sex-themed shop, was planning to open in the city's downtown.

It's not an effort to block the Champagne Club from opening, Boyko said, but merely an attempt to give trustees and the community an opportunity to study the issue of what is considered a "sexually-oriented business" and what is considered a "sexual encounter establishment."

Champagne Club owners Warrens and Adams said in an emailed statement to the Enquirer last week they "aim to be a welcoming and cooperative business neighbor."

Warrens and Adams also own a Champagne Club in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which, according to its website, "is about getting sexy people together in an erotic nightclub and letting them explore at their own pace."

The club is members only and operates mostly on Friday and Saturday nights. An upcoming event at the Indiana club is "Hot Wives Club," which "is geared towards couples where the husband enjoys watching his wife be a pornstar," according to the website.