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Minneapolis council allows strip club to open near Christian nightspot

By Terry Collins, Star Tribune

Last update: August 4, 2006 - 11:45 AM

The Minneapolis City Council today voted to grant a business license to a strip club whose neighbor will be a popular Christian nightspot.

The council voted 10-3 to grant the license to Divas Gentlmen's Club even after the council's public safety and regulatory services committee recommended to deny it.

The issue at the council meeting was whether Three Degrees' claim to be a church was enough to uphold a city ordinance that no sexually themed business "shall be allowed within 500 feet of a religious institution place of assembly."

Mike Nigai, Divas' co-owner, said he was happy with the outcome. "We've waited a year for this. Now we can get down to business," he said.

Nigai said the club could open within the next two to two-and-a-half months.

The co-founder of Club Three Degrees, Nancy Aleksuk, said that she was surprised by the result and that the club might look into legal action.