About 150 strip club workers marched on city hall in Doraville, Georgia, on Monday as a near decade-long legal saga rumbled on.
Oasis Goodtime Emporium dancers, servers and bartenders—both current and former—praised the club’s record as an employer, with one dancer telling officials how it helped her pay for college and another worker how it supported her during her son’s illness.
But the city says the business, which employs about 600 people, has been flouting alcohol licence rules and owes about $7.5 million in addition to a fine, local station WSB-TV reports.
City officials accuse Oasis of selling alcohol despite an ordinance banning its sale in sex-orientated businesses, including strip clubs. The business had offered to settle the bill but that offer was rejected, with city officials pushing for a fine, according to WSB-TV.
Street View
Outside city hall on Monday, Jennifer Long, who has worked at the strip club for more than 21 years, called the business a “family” and bosses “treat everyone with respect.”
Long told WSB-TV how her bosses allowed her time off and organized a fundraiser for her son after he was diagnosed with cancer
“Oasis stepped in and told me I could take whatever time I needed, she added. “They would cover everything, they did a huge fundraiser for my son.”
Dancer Hayley Hiers, aged 22, said she was able to graduate debt-free from college through working at Oasis.
“I’m a [political science] graduate from Kennesaw [State University] summa cum laude, and right now I’m applying to law school and I’m studying to take the LSAT,” she said.
Street View
But, Doraville city leaders said they had to enforce the law and that they would act in accordance with the law.
“It’s important for cities to enforce their laws. They’re operating completely illegally,” said Mayor Joseph Geierman.
“I feel that businesses in the city of Doraville should follow the law of the city, and I support any action we take.”
With the city set to press ahead on action, Oasis general manager Jeff Horwitz said he fears the worst for staff.
“We own the land and the building. We’ve never had a violation. They’re going to put all these people out of work and not all of us can just go get another job.”
Newsweek has contacted Oasis and the city of Doraville for comment.
