Is Hott 22 in NJ Closing?

[Sophia_Starina]

Read on the Stripclublist that it's either closing or moving.... what's the scoop?

[zeke]

guess not.

[snoopy]

i saw an news article in the star ledger that the owner lost another round in the town's quest to zone him out (residential/adult whatever).

they're appealing it so i doubt they can close him down during the appeals process. but i think they pretty much have him zoned out eventually though.

[Optimist]

What about Stilettos? Do they want to zone everybody out?

[Sophia_Starina]

What about Stilettos? Do they want to zone everybody out?

I haven't heard that yet... news to me

Why's everyone picking on the nude clubs? LOL.

[Optimist]

This article say four million has been spent on this foolishness. Union County has a lot better things to worry about! The county seat has three or four clubs that have been here for years with no destructive effects on the neighborhoods. WTF We need to put that money in the schools.

http://blog.nj.com/njv_johnbury/2008...r_hott_22.html


[snip]
My first stop naturally was Title 2C:34 of the NJSA where the state defines obscenity and indecency. Apparently there's nothing wrong with nude female dancing if done in a building surrounded by a perimeter buffer of at least 50 feet with an identification sign no more than 40 square feet that is more than 1,000 feet away from any church, school, playground, hospital, or residentially zoned area.

With that under my belt I took my yardstick to Hott 22. Unfortunately, because of family considerations, I could not justify a personal fact-finding visit inside the club until such time as the owner invites me to see his side or the considerations take that trip to Alaska. For now, I'll work under the presumption that what's going on inside is indeed obscene. But is it illegal?

The sign looked small enough and the buffer looked big enough but it seemed as if there were a couple of houses within 1,000 feet though, because of the street layout, they were invisible and inaccessible to Hott 22.

Next, I took a ride along Route 22 from Hillside to Union to check out the supply. There were four video stores, all specializing in 'adult' material. There was Shooters 22 which was identified as a 'bikini' strip club on the internet. There were at least two motels that didn't look as if they catered to the long-haul trucker trade.

Would the court rule that this was enough sex-oriented entertainment to meet the demand? Maybe the demand will grow if we increase supply? I'd like to see the standard deviation on that scatter plot.

The town may be able to close the place down because of the two houses a few hundred feet above it. They might bring in people to testify that their demand for "sex-oriented entertainment" is being met. Again, the cross-examination at those depositions might have youtube appeal. [snip]

[Sophia_Starina]

I love an article with a sense of humor!!!

[Optimist]

Here's more about the ruling.
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/union/...090.xml&coll=1

[snip]
Wertheimer began his 11-page decision noting the case "presents novel legal issues with little precedential guidance in this state." He said both sides agree the state law prohibiting a sexually oriented business from being within 1,000 feet of an area zoned for residential use is constitutional, and that Hott 22 is in violation of that statute.

Wertheimer said the question put to his court in a non-jury trial April 28, 30 and May 5, 2008 was whether application of the law "would allow adequate alternative channels of communication within the relevant market area," a condi tion upheld as a constitutional re quirement in precedent-setting court rulings here and in other states.

Defense experts testified there are 19 alternative sites for Hott 22 in Newark, including one bordering Route 22. They said other sites are available in Bayonne, Carlstadt, Carteret, East Rutherford, Harrison, Lyndhurst, Montclair, Se caucus and Woodbridge. [snip]

Are they joking? All of those towns are outside the fricken county!!! How are the reasonable alternatives???

[Sophia_Starina]

LOL... heck I wouldn't complain. After years of going to the club I wouldn't mind a bit if the club came to me!!!!

[TheTempest]

Oh crap. I didn't even know about this.

And Montclair? FUCK. Hott22 has a better chance of moving to Timbuktu. That town would NEVER let them in.

Seriously, it's the most obscure club ever. Hardly anyone knows where it is - they all think it's a part of the bowling alley it's attached to. The lettering on the side of the marquee is almost the same color as the canvas. People have walked in asking if the lanes were open!!

-fumes-

[RoseLeigh]

Oh crap. I didn't even know about this.

And Montclair? FUCK. Hott22 has a better chance of moving to Timbuktu. That town would NEVER let them in.

What-they could put it next to the Montclair Bookstore! tell me that wouldn't make you happy. Seriously though-Bayonne? Carteret? Woodbridge (ooh, next to the mall!). They'd have to call it Hott 1&9.

Jersey needs to take that money and fix it's damn roads or something! It's not like Rt 22 is some sexy stretch of road or anything. It's just the accident and traffic highway. And porn shops.

[Optimist]

Woodbridge (ooh, next to the mall!). They'd have to call it Hott 1&9.

I love this!

[Melonie]

While there may not be any New Jersey precedents, there are certainly precedents from other states including New York as well as federal precedents. Bottom line is that no community can completely ban adult entertainment ... because doing so constitutes the pre-emptive denial of the right of free speech. Every community must therefore formulate zoning laws which DO allow for suitably zoned locations within that community.

Ultimately, a local adult business zoning ordinance with a 1000 foot perimeter provision being enacted by a community that does NOT have any locations available where there isn't a residence within 1000 feet is going to be struck down on appeal. New York City went through this very issue at the state and federal level. At the end of all of the litigation, the borough of Manhattan was ordered to establish an 'adult business zone' despite the fact that there are residential properties nearby. Manhattan complied and established the 'adult business zone' near the West Side Highway. There is simply no way that Union County or the borough can force Hott 22 to relocate outside the borough / county lines.

Not to worry anyhow ... by filing the appeal another 3 years will be wasted on litigation before the subject comes before the bench again !

[Optimist]

Not to worry anyhow ... by filing the appeal another 3 years will be wasted on litigation before the subject comes before the bench again !

SWEET!

[Melonie]

^^^ I've met Hott 22's owner too, and he didn't strike me as the type to be pushed around by anyone ... regardless of the potential legal fees involved !

[snoopy]

...they all think it's a part of the bowling alley it's attached to. The lettering on the side of the marquee is almost the same color as the canvas. People have walked in asking if the lanes were open!!

potential customer: "uhhh, i meant the bowling lanes".

heh, i can imagine the havoc that causes for birthday bowling parties though.

dammit, how come i don't get to go to Rt.22 birthday bowling parties there? i get the sucky one at madison all the time though. bleh.

but i agree, hott 22 (never been there though) is very non-descript. i would never have known wtf it even was among the various store signages and whatever. first time i saw the sign from 22, i thought it was a music store or something.

[cutey5032]

Hahaha, the bowling alley!! The first time I worked there, I must have drove past that damn club 20 times before I figured out where the hell it was. It's a weird setup inside too but that just adds to the charm haha

[TheTempest]

potential customer: "uhhh, i meant the bowling lanes".

heh, i can imagine the havoc that causes for birthday bowling parties though.

dammit, how come i don't get to go to Rt.22 birthday bowling parties there? i get the sucky one at madison all the time though. bleh.

but i agree, hott 22 (never been there though) is very non-descript. i would never have known wtf it even was among the various store signages and whatever. first time i saw the sign from 22, i thought it was a music store or something.

Yeah, I guess I could see an issue when people accidentally walk in the vestibule with their children (it's happened) but they don't actually get into the club,and I blame that potential source of indecency on the LACK of advertising.

The lanes are actually quite nice, with a full liquor bar and awesome bar popcorn. LOL

I'm surprised you could see the sign from the highway. It can be very difficult to read when whizzing past at 50mph.

[snoopy]

Yeah, I guess I could see an issue when people accidentally walk in the vestibule with their children (it's happened) but they don't actually get into the club,and I blame that potential source of indecency on the LACK of advertising.

The lanes are actually quite nice, with a full liquor bar and awesome bar popcorn. LOL

I'm surprised you could see the sign from the highway. It can be very difficult to read when whizzing past at 50mph.

y'know? i actually didn't (haven't) noticed the bowling alley!

i only noticed hott22 because of the odd name (i think i was looking for verizon - down the road or the quizno's, i forget which). it was only later on that i saw the ad once in the sports page of the ledger and it was "oooohh, so that's what that place is! duh!" <head-smack>

imo rt.22's gawd awful for finding places. if you miss something, you're screwed. those michigan u-turn's suck ass.

so i avoid 22 almost at all costs. i only go there when i have to (clients down the road or for my reefing hobby - that's marine fish tanks, silly ).

but i guess/understand the guy wants a very low-key presence due to all that zoning crap.

[zeke]

get a gps....they are so cool....u can get a great text to speech for $199.