MOUNT AIRY, N.C.—
Don't tell Andy, Opie and Aunt Bee, but Mayberry could get its first strip club if the owner of a night club petitions the city to rezone his property.El Tequila Night Club on West Lebanon St. currently sports a sign depicting a pole dancer, the most obvious clue the owner might be considering hiring exotic dancers.
But according to Jeff Coutu, the city's director of planning, the district El Tequila is located in currently does not allow adult businesses.
City officials sent the owner and renter of the building occupied by El Tequila a letter advising that opening an adult venue would violate the city's zoning ordinance. The only places where adult entertainment venues are allows are districts set aside for the industry.
If the owner of El Tequila wanted to open a strip club, he or she would have to petition the city.
"If they were able to get it rezoned, then they would have to get what's called a conditional-use permit, and that goes before the Board of Adjustment," said Coutu.
The night club's owner could not be reached for comment Thursday.
"(It) just doesn't fit in with the whole Mayberry thing," said Ben Cooke, a resident who said he would oppose a strip club in Mount Airy.
Laurie Stevens agreed it wouldn't fit with the city's image, but said she'd be OK with it: "Because the whole Mayberry theme, I don't think it would go over well with that."
