Nude Bar Earns Right to Bear All in Madison
By Nathan Kerns, Staff Writer
6/19/2008
Nighttime Entertainment, an adult entertainment company, petitioned to the Boys State Appeals Court yesterday to allow the construction of a new nude bar in Madison. Despite the company purchasing the necessary permits and paying the standard fees for a commercial structure, Madison city originally blocked the motion of building the bar, citing a city ordinance that bans the public display of nudity.
Additionally, Madison’s legal team argued that nearly 10% of Madison residents oppose the idea of a nude bar in their town and therefore, opening one would result in citizens leaving the city. “This is a discrimination against the adult entertainment industry,” says Nighttime’s attorney, Berkcan Akpinar. “[Nighttime] bought the residence, and they bought the permit. They should be able to do what they want as long as it is within the reach of the law.” After the hearing, both parties reached a compromise in which Nighttime agreed to pay a 7% sin tax in exchange for permission to open the bar.