HOUSTON No matter how you dress it up, residents near 290 and Mangum are not happy with the addition of a new strip club.
The Sunset Strip Club opened up in the old Steak & Ale location this week.
I m a Christian and we don t believe in that, said neighbor Vicki Higerd. We don t like it and it s too close to us.
Higerd is not alone. David Edwards is worried about his son growing up around the sexually-oriented business.
This is where my child s growing up, said Edwards. Now, my child s going to grow up and see whatever riff-raff is going be coming out of that place.
But it s more than upset homeowners.
For years, the Houston Independent School District fought the strip club from setting up shop because it s just down the road from Delmar Stadium, a facility that s used year-round by students for sporting events.
HISD released a statement after the club opened this week.
We are disappointed with the decision to allow a sexually-oriented business to operate so close to a school athletics complex, the statement read.
Higerd agreed.
All of the schools around here go to that stadium to do their football and all of that and soccer and it s just too close to that, she said.
Sunset Strip manager Lloyd Ace invited KHOU 11 News into the club that also doubles as a sports bar.
How do you feel about being the unwanted neighbor? asked KHOU 11 News Reporter Tiffany Craig.
We ll I m sad that we re unwanted, said Ace. I can understand people s feelings but our closest neighbors are across the freeway. This is really a commercial area.
Ace said they got all the necessary permits. The business is more than 1, 500 feet from a school, daycare, park or church.
To try and keep a little peace with the neighbors, Sunset Strip has agreed not to use a spotlight to direct customers to their location.
