Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 3, 1993 TAG: 9308030064
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
A hearing officer for the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Department found last week there was "lewd or disorderly conduct" at The Park, a mostly gay dance club on Salem Avenue Southwest.
The 15-day term could be reduced to seven days if the business pays a $500 fine, according to Wallace Vann, assistant special agent in charge of the Roanoke ABC office.
Vann said Monday that the suspension is not yet effective, because the nightclub has 10 days to decide whether to appeal the decision made by the hearing officer Friday. If the case is appealed, it would go before an ABC board in Richmond.
The "lewd or disorderly" action involved a male stripper at the club the night of March 28, Vann said.
The striptease was the final act in a show that involved female impersonators, he said. An investigation that followed concentrated on administrative charges concerning the sale of alcohol at the event.
Three years ago, Roanoke City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting nude dancing in shows that display nudity primarily as a sales device for commercial purposes. Violators are subject to misdemeanor charges.
But Vann said he does not expect additional charges to result from the investigation.
A manager at The Park declined to comment Monday.
by CNB