Tarrant County's Sexually Oriented Business Permit and License Review Board voted unanimously Wednesday to revoke the permit of a strip club along Interstate 30. Temptations Cabaret had been operating near I-30 and Linkcrest Drive in western Tarrant County.
In May, the Tarrant County Sheriff's Department said a customer who was asked to leave the club shot and injured three people outside. A security guard then fatally shot the suspect.
But Tarrant County argued the club had previously drawn attention for shootings, other violence, and drug calls.
At a hearing before the Sexually Oriented Business Permit and License Review Board Wednesday, County Administrator G.K. Maenius acknowledged people who live nearby had started to testify at commissioners' court meetings. He said that led to an investigation that showed the club was operating in violation of rules banning sexually oriented businesses within 1,000 feet of homes.
"I will tell you our due diligence was incomplete, and that my office made a mistake," Maenius said.
A lawyer for the club told the board Tarrant County was trying to enforce unrelated rules retroactively because of the shooting. Latrice Andrews said the property should be "grandfathered" in because it had been operating at the same location for years.
"There are other issues, I understand that, that this county wants to address," she told the board. "But this is not the means of doing it."
Andrews said the timing of the decision to survey the area for the club's proximity to homes was suspect. She said the club's permit had always been renewed, describing the change now as "inequitable."
During the hearing, Maenius said the club should not be "grandfathered" because it had previously missed application deadlines. Last year, he said the owners paid a fee equivalent to a new business instead of a renewal.
"We received a check for $350 with this application," he said.
"So by all accounts, this is an application for a brand new sexually oriented business?" Board Member Zachary Cate asked.
"Yes sir," Maenius replied.
Tarrant County's transportation director told the board that 18 homes were within 1,000 feet of the club.
The state has also filed a public nuisance lawsuit against the club.
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