Sisters Vs. Strippers: Nuns To Sue Over Strip Club Next Door To Convent
(CBS) -- A group of nuns say the strip club that opened just over their back fence in Stone Park has to go.
WBBM's Bob Roberts reports they say the law is firmly on their side.
Nuns Protest To Close Strip Club Located Next To Convent
The nuns, several local residents, and the village of Melrose Park intend to file suit Friday seeking to shut Club Allure, which is on the Stone Park-Melrose Park border.
About 60 people have joined the nuns at a protest vigil against the strip club Wednesday afternoon. The club, at 3801 W. Lake St., in Stone Park, is literally just over the fence from the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo Scalabrinian Sisters convent and novitiate, at 1414 N. 37th Av., in Melrose Park.
Their lawyer, Tom Brejcha of the Thomas More Society, said state law is clear that adult clubs cannot operate within 1,000 feet of a school or house of worship. The nuns have both, and the club is just over their back fence.
Pat Zito is a 47-year resident of the area and is one of the local residents who are joining the nuns in filing the suit. She said Club Allure has been every bit as bad as she feared since it opened last fall, and then some.
"We do not feel as secure as we did before. There is garbage put on the streets that was not there before, things we do not like children to even question, and the noises in the middle of the night," said Zito.
Screeching tires, loud music even women's screams. Zito says she never feared men preying on local teens until now. She is joining the Scalabrinian Sisters in filing suit against the club.
Their lawyer says state law is clear that adult clubs can't operate within 1,000 feet of a school or house of worship. The nuns have both and the club is just over their back fence.
Sean O'Brien, the owner of the strip club, told CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez that he will leave the legal issues to the lawyers but he disputed claims of any rowdy customers.
"I don't understand why they feel unsafe. I invite anybody that wants to accuse us of being loud and noisy and having lights everywhere to stop back here at 10 o'clock at night and see what you think yourself," said O'Brien.
The lawsuit also names the village of Stone Park as a defendant, for allowing the strip club to open in the first place. The nuns hope to put more pressure on Stone Park to close the club by staging vigils every Friday night.
