‘Absolutely no truth’ to Aredale strip club rumors

By: 
Nick Pedley

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    The owner of a former bar in Aredale says rumors about a strip club opening there are completely false.
    Dave Henderson, who owns the former Duck’s Bar and Grill on Main Street, said he’s had no contact with anyone interested in the property. Rumors spread recently alleging that the past owner of a strip club in Nora Springs was planning to transform Duck’s into a similar business. However, Henderson said Friday he has never even heard of the strip club’s owner, Doug Peterson, before.
    “There is absolutely no truth to the rumor,” Henderson said. “I’ve had no contact with [Peterson] whatsoever.”
    Henderson inherited the bar from his brother, Don “Duck” Henderson, after his death in 2015. The building has been for sale ever since. Henderson said he hired Krukow Real Estate this week to market the property.
    Duck’s Bar and Grill was well known throughout the area for offering a unique brand of entertainment like midget wrestling, live music and other attractions. Henderson believed the bar still has lots of potential and was hopeful it would sell soon.
    The recent rumors apparently hit a nerve with area residents. Strip clubs, also called “juice bars,” became a hot-button issue in north Iowa this winter when the Pole Barn Theater opened in Nora Springs. The business featured nude dancers and allowed patrons to bring in their own alcoholic beverages like beer and wine. However, it closed in March after inspectors found multiple building code violations at the property, which the owner deemed too expensive to fix.
    Many cities have zoning ordinances that dictate where adult-oriented businesses like strip clubs can be located, but Aredale Mayor Jack Bolles said the small Butler County community does not. He contacted legal counsel after hearing rumblings about a strip joint moving to town earlier this month.
    “We’re looking at what we can do to keep that kind of business out,” Bolles said. “I don’t think our citizens would go for it.”
    City attorney Brian Miller was unsure whether any existing ordinance could prevent a strip club or similar business from opening in Aredale. He said he would continue investigating the issue at the mayor’s request.
    “Most small towns don’t have much for zoning rules because they’ve never really needed to have something like that,” Miller said.
    Despite local concerns, Henderson remained adamant the strip club rumors were false and believed gossip was overblown.
    “It’s not happening,” he said.

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