New adult cabaret must comply with nudity rules

Carson City has ordered the owner of JB's The Cabaret at the Carson Hot Springs to clean up its adult entertainment act or face penalties, officials said Monday.

The gentlemen's club opened Thursday night at the family-style resort, featuring acts that included lap dancers in thongs and pasties.

A notice of code violation was issued by the city the next day.

By city zoning rules, the location allows only tourist-commercial businesses to operate. Adult entertainment is allowed in the city only east of Deer Run Road in a small industrial area.

"I'm ordering them to cease how they're operating, what they wear and how they're acting," said Community Development Director Walt Sullivan. "Basically, the employee dancers are dressed inappropriately, and, as such, their acts are what we feel are considered an adult entertainment facility."

The city will issue notices twice before seeking fines. If the business owner doesn't comply with regulations after that, he faces a maximum $1,000 fine or six months in prison, Sullivan said.

Cabaret owner Brad Herndon did not return phone calls Monday. However, he did order a help-wanted ad this week asking interested "Bikini Go Go/Lingerie dancers" to apply for employment.

City code-enforcement officers continued to investigate the business Monday. The bar is facing two additional city notices, including one from the health department investigating a possible lapse in the restaurant's license.

The treasurer's office was planning to issue a "notice to comply" for minor violations, said Treasurer Al Kramer. Herndon hadn't applied for a name change or a business-type change before opening. The restaurant is still licensed as Joe Bob's Roadhouse, a chicken restaurant that closed in March.

Herndon said last week he tried to find a church to take over the building, but city zoning didn't allow it. He then marketed it in several ways before settling on the gentlemen's club. Herndon's company, held in partnership with his father, Don Herndon, also owns two traditional taverns in Reno and one in Sparks.

Carson Hot Springs Resort manager James Shellhamer said he is waiting to see what happens. Herndon has paid the lease in full up to December 2005.

"I think everybody wants to see what's going to happen," Shellhamer said. "If he's going to do something against the law, I'm sure the city will handle it."

City Supervisor Shelly Aldean said she met with city staff Friday to discuss the cabaret business.

"If there's nudity or something that is not legally permitted in that zoning district, the city needs to address it as expeditiously as possible," Aldean said. "I don't feel it's appropriate for that area."

Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.