Tarrant County officials revoke Temptations Cabaret’s business license

Tarrant County, Texas - In a recent resolution impacting the nightlife of Tarrant County, a special board unanimously voted for the removal of the business license of a strip club, infamous for its hazardous ambiance.

Temptations Cabaret, an establishment offering adult entertainment, came under the scrutiny of county officials due to a distressing uptick in violent incidents, as previously reported by Dallas Metro News. These culminated in a fatal shooting event this past May in the club's parking area, leading to one person's death and three others' injuries.

The law enforcement authority in the county, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, has a complex history with this venue. Over a two-year period from 2020 to 2022, the office conducted 57 arrests within the establishment.

During this same time period, emergency services noted an unusual trend: the number of 911 calls from Temptations Cabaret surpassed the combined total of emergency calls from the remaining ten bars and nightclubs in the unincorporated areas of Tarrant County.

"We don’t stand for activity like that," county commissioner Manny Ramirez stated. "If it’s a public safety hazard to our citizens, we’re going to stand up and do something about it."

Echoing the concern, Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez said, "Such activities are a blight on our county. If a public establishment poses a safety risk to our citizens, we’re obligated to take decisive action."

Interestingly, the forthcoming termination of the strip club’s license, which has been closed since May, does not directly stem from its well-known reputation for inciting violence. The underlying reason, identified by the county’s sexually oriented business board, is the club's close proximity to residential properties.

A rule established in the 1990s mandates that adult entertainment venues maintain a minimum distance of 1,000 feet from any Tarrant County residence. An exemption clause temporarily bypassed this rule for Temptations Cabaret, enabling it to operate closer to homes.

However, the club failed to renew its permit on time in 2022. This procedural oversight resulted in the establishment applying for a permit as a new business, hence negating the protections offered by the exemption clause.

Despite these issues, the operations of Temptations Cabaret were approved by the Tarrant County Administrator’s office, a perplexing move considering the venue’s infringing proximity to neighboring homes. This decision is seen as a precursor to the recent verdict that seeks to end the club’s troubled existence.

"Our due diligence was incomplete," said the retiring administrator G.K. Maenius on Wednesday. "My office made a mistake."

Maenius revealed that despite the club’s disreputable status, grievances by nearby residents about the establishment hadn't reached a level necessitating his office’s intervention. Nevertheless, following the shootings, his office began a thorough examination of the club’s paperwork, triggering the process to revoke its operating license.

The sexually oriented business board, inactive for several years, convened to finalize this decision. To add gravitas to the decision-making process, each of the county commissioners nominated a representative to the previously vacant board. These nominees were quickly sworn in just before Wednesday’s important hearing.

"Before this, we didn’t pay that much attention," Ramirez stated. "Now, it’s on our radar."

Ramirez, a retired Fort Worth police officer who now serves as a reservist, recollected responding to emergency calls at Temptations Cabaret from his tenure a decade ago. Despite this, he insists that his actions are not a targeted crusade against sexually oriented businesses.

"All of these business owners should be on notice and understand that you better play by the rules," Ramirez added. "You better not cause a public safety hazard to our citizens. Otherwise, we will be looking to shut you down."

The situation is especially unstable for Temptations Cabaret as it lacks a liquor license, making its sexually oriented business permit its only lifeline to remain in operation.

While the club’s lawyers have suggested they may appeal the board’s decision in district court, they have not yet made a final decision.

Simultaneously, the Tarrant County District Attorney has declared his intention to pursue a separate public nuisance lawsuit against the club, signifying the county’s commitment to public safety, irrespective of the establishment’s current state of closure.