Chicago Adult Businesses Ordered to Close

According to the Chicago Tribune, Judge Margaret Mullen ordered Dancers, Baby Dolls and Video Magic to cease operations, ending a nine-year fight between the three businesses and the county. Mullen has now scheduled a hearing for Aug. 8 to decide how much to fine the businesses for staying open without a proper license.

The ongoing battle between the county and the three businesses has been raging since 1998, when the local board passed an ordinance requiring that all adult-oriented businesses be licensed and follow certain stringent regulations. All three businesses filed lawsuits against the county in 2003, to no avail.

In 2005, the Illinois Supreme Court declined to hear the case, and last year the U.S. Supreme Court refused the appeal as well. The county then filed for an injunction to force the businesses be licensed, or be closed permanently.

The new regulations ban nude dancing completely, and require both strip clubs to close by midnight (neither currently serves alcohol, so they remain open until 4 a.m.). According to the report, both clubs would also have to build a stage that is at least 18 inches above the seating area, and patrons would have to be seated at least 8 feet from the stage. The minimum age would be raised from 18 to 21, and direct contact between dancers and patrons would be illegal.

Lou Pissios, an attorney who represents the trio of businesses, told the Chicago Tribune that they would close Thursday, and 100 to 125 employees would lose their jobs. "Those are families with children and households and mortgages," Pissios said.

The owners of both Dancers and Baby Dolls testified during the trial, both saying that the new ordinance would significantly hurt their businesses.