Dallas- A northwest Dallas topless club that was accused of allowing prostitution on its premises will close for five months to comply with a settlement with the city of Dallas, officials said.
The license for the Penthouse Key Club, 8550 N. Stemmons Freeway, was revoked for one year last August by Police Chief David Kunkle after vice detectives filed 21 cases of prostitution at the business, according to a police department news release.
Since then, another 11 cases have been filed, said Lt. Christina Smith of the police department’s vice unit.
The club has stayed open since August while its owners appealed the ruling to the City of Dallas’ Permit License and Appeal Board, which upheld Kunkle’s decision on Dec. 7, the news release said.
Next, the club appealed that decision to a federal court, but it subsequently agreed to settle with the city, according to the release.
Under the settlement, the business will be shut down from Feb. 26 through July 25, Lt. Smith said. During that time, she noted, the club won’t be allowed to operate as anything else, such as a sports bar or dance hall.
“That sends a message to the community that we’re serious about these places operating as clean businesses,” Smith said. “If a business can’t do that, we’d prefer that they shut their doors completely, and we will work towards that.”
A manager for the club referred questions to its attorney, who was unavailable for comment.
