OBT strip club property owners may regain ‘adult entertainment’ license

The site of a topless club forced to close after a vice-squad investigation alleged a 15-year-old girl often performed sexually-explicit dances there could reopen soon if Orange County commissioners agree Tuesday to settle a lawsuit filed by the property owners.

The board will be asked to accept an agreement negotiated by the Orange County Attorneys Office and lawyers for partners of a land trust that owns 2201 South Orange Blossom Trail, which has operated as a strip club under different names for 40 years, most recently as “Flash Dancer.”

Tax Collector Scott Randolph revoked Flash Dancer’s adult-entertainment license in 2023 based on findings by the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation that led to the arrests of club owner/operator William Sierer, 66, and other management employees on charges of human trafficking of a child for commercial sexual activity. All have pleaded not guilty but face possible life sentences if convicted.

Court records allege the girl performed for tips at the club more than 50 times over a span of two years beginning at age 15.

According to court records, the girl, whose identity is shielded in court documents, said she had lied about her date of birth, telling fellow performers she was 20 years old, and got on stage without providing ID by persuading other dancers to “vouch” for her.

Investigators alleged club operators exploited her deriving financial benefits by charging her “house fees” to perform for tips.

But a lawsuit, filed by a Tampa lawyer hired by the land trust, argued the property owners were not involved in the strip club operation and their property rights were “illegally extinguished” by Randolph, who issues licenses under the county’s adult-entertainment ordinance.

Eddie Ayala, spokesperson for the Tax Collector’s Office, said Randolph properly followed the county’s administrative rules.

The suspension and now year-long revocation led to the site losing its “nonconforming use” designation, which is required for the property to obtain an adult entertainment license under the county code, which does not require authorities to notify the property owners.

County lawyers noted license holders and the property owners often are the same entity, though not in this case.

Without an adult-entertainment license, the property would be worthless, Tampa lawyer Shyamie Dixit argued in the filing.

Court filings also alleged the license revocation cost the property owners an estimated $1.65 million in “adult entertainment income” and infringed on “provocative performance,” which the property-owners’ lawyer called a constitutionally protected form of expression.

If commissioners agree to amend the adult-entertainment ordinance by adding a required notice to a property owner before suspending or revoking a license, the county will not have to pay the land trust “settlement monies.” Both sides will pay their own attorney fees.

The settlement would restore the property’s former “nonconforming use” status and allow the property owners or a new tenant to apply for an adult entertainment license through the Tax Collector’s Office. But dismissal of the land trust’s claims is contingent on the Tax Collector issuing a new license, according to a memorandum provided to commissioners by County Attorney Jeff  Newton.

shudak@orlandosentinel.com