CORDOVA, TN (abc24.com) - After months of battling the city of Memphis in court, Stella Marris owner Steve Cooper finally got a dance permit that will allow him to have dancers employed at his Cordova restaurant.
Nearby businesses and homeowners fear the permit will allow Cooper, who owns several strip clubs around town, to turn the eatery into the equivalent of an adult club.
"Stripping brings crime and drugs," Elita Staten told abc24.com.
Staten, works at “Helping People God's Way” in Cordova.
"With girls walking around in lingerie that's not the best thing there is," said Staten.
It's not the best thing for Cordova resident Erika Holmes either.
“It's kind of weird, but I'm not going to go to it or anything," Holmes told abc24.com.
Andy Metcalfe told abc24.com adult clubs bring the worse kind of people.
"You think prostitution, you think drugs, you think the type of people that will visit, not the type I want around here," said Metcalfe.
Employees of Stella Marris said they're not sure when the club will open.
