City Embraces LDS Church's Arguments Against Strip Club

Associated Press/April 29, 2004

Salt Lake City -- City officials, using arguments advanced by the Mormon church, are seeking to revoke the license of the Crazy Goat Saloon, a downtown strip club.

The city claims the saloon is too close to a church -- a Baptist-affiliated coffee house that is closing Friday -- and too close to West Temple, a main downtown thoroughfare.

A revocation hearing has been set for May 11.

"I expected it. I know who's running the show," Crazy Goat co-owner Daniel Darger said Wednesday.

"The church (says) 'Jump,' and they say `How high?"' he said.

The church claims having a strip club downtown would harm its downtown renovation plans, which include revitalizing the ZCMI Center and Crossroads Plaza.

Representatives for the city and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declined comment, the Deseret Morning News said.