But as they watch the dancers this time around, guests may be asking, "When do they strip? Not anytime soon. Liquor, club lights and loud music are still available as dancers dressed in exotic outfits continue to show off their moves for tips. But those moves are the only things showing The clubs lost their adult entertainment licenses, and dancers are no longer appearing nude. But the change didn't happen overnight.
When Lester became ill, he sought to transfer his licenses to family members, but the Augusta Commission did not allow it. When Lester died in April , his next of kin lost the protection. The next month, the clubs sued the city, claiming the ordinances violated protections of the First and 14th Amendments and also called the ordinances overly broad, vague, not furthering any governmental interest and developed without any data to support them.
On Sept. District Court Chief Judge J. Taste the spirits of Augusta: Breweries, distilleries offer drinks unique to the area. Downtown offerings: Downtown Augusta offers food, music, drinks. Here are some nightlife hotspots. The 19th hole: Augustans weigh in on best places to go after a day at Masters Tournament. The City of Augusta, represented by Frails and Wilson of Augusta, then offered the two venues a means of staying in business. Discotheque filed for the licenses the next day, according to documents provided by the city.
The appeal is in the briefing stage now. Both parties submitted their preliminary briefs, but an extension was granted on March 14, so Discotheque's lawyers could submit an updated reply brief, for which the due date is April For visitors, that means the clubs will be open during the tournament, but, despite the case's appeal status, they will operate as bars, not adult entertainment.
When the protection transfer was being considered in , there was a significant outcry for both sides on the issue. Edge's real estate company is headquartered two blocks from Discoteque, and his company also has two commercial properties listed for sale and for lease nearby, according to public records. He further explained that anytime he has talked with someone interested in starting a business downtown, "They won't go past Sixth Street, and if you ask them why, they'll say because of the strip clubs.
