Tops off

There has been a public outcry from local residents regarding the decision to place a topless bar near Stanwood.

Mecosta Township Hall has been packed with residents who view the gentlemen’s club as “indecent” and “tasteless.”

At Ferris State University, a number of students agree the decision to place the topless bar in Mecosta County is a bad decision.

“Mecosta County is too small for this to even be an idea,” Chavon McMurray, applied speech communication major Chavon McMurray, said.

However, she said one of the biggest issues is finding women willing to work in the establishment.

“It would give the girls there a bad reputation. Especially if they are Ferris State students,” McMurray said.

Expected to be located near U.S. 131 north by the Stanwood exit, Gentlemen 131 Inc. would be placed where the Ruddy Dux Food and Spirit building once stood.

Ferris student Corey VanBuren said he supports the decision to have the topless bar in Mecosta County.

“I believe they should have a topless bar. It’s a point of personal and economic liberty,” VanBuren said.

VanBuren said as young adults and college students, a topless bar is not an establishment college students are unfamiliar to. Still, VanBuren agrees the location of the bar is a bad business decision due to its remote location.

“I don’t know if they would have the target population around here,” VanBuren said. “The location won’t support it.”

Criminal justice student Shaprese Smith agreed the location of Stanwood is bad for the topless bar. Smith said she feels the location of the bar will damage the reputation of nearby cities such as Big Rapids.

“It will mess up the wholesomeness of this small city. This is a college town,” Smith said.

At the Nov. 1 Mecosta Township Hall meeting, a six-month moratorium was approved by Mecosta Township Board Members to delay site plan review of the bar. The delay was due to such issues as the possible sale of alcohol and the bar’s level of nudity.

The next township board meeting will be Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Mecosta Township Hall, located at 19729 11 Mile Road in Big Rapids.