Austintown cites strip club with zoning violations

AUSTINTOWN — Austintown Township Trustee Lisa Oles says the picture of a woman and oversized banner used as advertising for the Go Go Girls Cabaret strip club on Clarkins Drive are an embarassment to the township.

Zoning Inspector Michael Kurilla says the advertising is also illegal.

The result is that the club’s manager, Robert Neill of Youngstown, is expected back in Mahoning County Area Court in Austintown May 12 to face a minor misdemeanor charge of violating the zoning ordinance. He was convicted earlier last week on seven other charges related to the club.

On Feb. 7, Judge David D’Apolito of Mahoning County Court in Austintown set a pretrial date of May 12 for Neill to answer the charge relating to the advertisment on the satellite dish. The dish is located near the business and is visible from state Route 46 and U.S. Route 76.

Kurilla has also sent a letter to the club and to the owner of the hotel on whose property the club is located, saying that the purple banner also violates the township’s zoning code. The hotel, now known as the Economy Inn, still has signage containing its former name, Best Value Inn.

Neill did not return phone calls seeking comment. Mike Patel, manager of the hotel, said there was no way to contact the owner of the hotel because he is out of the country. He said he is leaving matters pertaining to the club’s advertising up to the club.

“It seems like they’re flaunting that advertisement in our face,” Oles said. “I don’t feel that a cartoon face on a satellite dish or the purple and lime green fence or the banner is very appealing to our community. I feel it’s an embarrassment.”

The fencing near the satellite dish has been painted over since it first appeared in purple and lime green, she said. It is now purple and white.

Oles said she has received numerous complaints about the picture and banner since they went up.