Investigation on to see if club is dancing around strip laws

The City of Regina is looking into the operations of a possible strip club which has been running within the city.

Regina 151, which describes itself as an event hosting facility on its website, is a members-only club which offers its members complimentary alcoholic beverages during performances featuring naked, dancing women.

While the club does not publicly list its address, a business with the same logo and name is located 110 Dewdney Avenue East. The club states it hosts and plans events for all types of events including birthdays, retirements, bachelor and bachelorette parties.

The club only operates during an event and only members are allowed to enter. The club charges $120 annually for a membership and implements rules such as a dress code, no touching of the performers and no aggressive, abusive or criminal acts.

While there are laws surrounding strip clubs within the province, under the club’s FAQ it indicates the club is within the law and there has been consultation with lawyers.

But the City of Regina is looking into if the club has received proper zoning for the business and if it is breaking any bylaws.

Mayor Michael Fougere said he was first made aware of the club last week and the city is looking into what is exactly happening within the club.

“We are investigating to see whether they comply with our bylaws or not,” Fougere said.

He said the club does not have a discretionary use permit, which would be required for a strip club.

“This is a zoning issue, are they in the right place? Are they allowed to be in there? And of course what is actually happening inside the building, SLGA may say something about that as will the City of Regina, and the police service will help us in that investigation.”

The investigation began earlier this week to determine if any bylaws were being broken. While Fougere couldn’t say how long it would take, he said it wasn’t expected to take very long.

SLGA spokesperson David Morris said the provincial law requires anyone selling or serving beverage alcohol requires a permit from SLGA.

He said if there is a business that is serving alcohol and does not have a permit, it becomes a matter for the police.

“SLGA’s regulatory authority only extends to the businesses that hold a liquor permit,” Morris said.

In an emailed response, Regina Police Service indicated they are aware of the club’s existence and would be working with partners to determine future direction about the club.

Fougere said the owner was in contact with the city about the need for a business license but it wasn’t made clear at the time what the establishment was going to be.

“If you talk about this being the business that he allegedly is in, that likely is not allowed under the bylaw, it’s not allowed to do that so we would have a conversation about that,” Fougere said.

Fougere said the city doesn’t typically issue business licenses for places in the city.

“What you do require if you’re changing the role of the building you’re in is a zoning or application to approve the building itself.”

The business will be running as normal until the city determines if a bylaw has been broken or not.

If the club is found to be breaking bylaws, the owner of the club could apply for a discretionary use permit, which would require approval from city council.

980 CJME reached out to Regina 151 but the club said it will not be providing interviews.