Angola Showgirl gets liquor license; Steuben County Alcohol and Tobacco Commission overruled

ANGOLA, Ind. (WANE) On Wednesday Nov. 28, The Steuben County Alcohol and Tobacco Commission denied the transfer of a liquor license to BBL Inc., the Showgirl clubs corporate entity.

On Tuesday, Dec. 4, the Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission overruled the Steuben ATC ruling.

KPC News reports the reason for the initial denial was because of residents' concerns about the negative impact a sexually oriented business could have.

Ava Butler, owner of BBL Inc. and the Showgirl clubs in Fort Wayne, announced his intentions to open a strip club in Angola at the former Sliders location at 310 W. Wendell Jacob Ave in August. Butler purchased the property and applied for a license to operate a sexually oriented business in the city of Angola.

The same week his liquor license was denied by the Steuben County ATC, Butler's application for a license to operate a sexually oriented business was also denied. This denial came after the Angola City Council changed the zoning rules on where sexually oriented businesses can set up shop in the city.

Before the zoning change on Monday, Nov. 19, sexually oriented businesses were allowed in retail and shopping districts.  Now, they're only allowed in an industrial district. The old Slider's Restaurant is in a retail, shopping zone.

It is not known what Butler's plans for the business will be if he is unable to open the location as a strip club now that he has a liquor license.

-----------

NewsChannel 15 would like to thank our partners at KPC News for some of the details of this story.