Strip Club Surprises City With Letter About Relocation

A controversial nightclub in Casselberry is finally closing its doors. But Monday, city leaders felt blindsided after reading a letter from the owner of Club Juana.

The club has been on South U.S. Highway 17-92 for more than 40 years, but will be bought out for a road project.

For decades, the club has fought zoning and court battles just to be there. Casselberry leaders thought it was all going to end when the owner announced he was closing on June 17.

But Monday, in a letter, he instead asked the city for a new list of locations where he could reopen.

Club Juana's acts have changed over the years. For Mike Pinter, it's family history.

Email News Sign-Up Multiple Choices - Auto sign-up (LEFT ALIGN) GET WFTV NEWS HEADLINES BY EMAIL 9 a.m. Headlines Noon Headlines 4 p.m. Headlines News of the Strange Breaking News Alerts "Very emotional for me," he said.

His parents bought Charlie’s Bar 43 years ago and named it Club Juana, one of Casselberry's oldest businesses and most controversial.

"We've had a lot of trials and tribulations here. It's been an experience," Pinter said.

For instance, the club created a theatrical "Macbeth in the Buff" show to get around a nudity ordinance. Pinter said the time has come to give in and avoid an eminent domain battle in court.

"I've been pretty fortunate. I've had a good run here and been here 43 years, my whole adult life, and it's time to move on I guess. At least the government tells me that," he said.

The State Department of Transportation is buying the property for more than $3 million to build a fly-over bridge for 17-92 to cross 436. But, Pinter said, it isn't the end of the road for Club Juana. The letter to the city of Casselberry asks for a list of several sites where he'd be allowed to re-open.

"I imagine there will be a lot of very heated discussions about where the multiple sites are and I don't know where they're going to be," said Casselberry Mayor Bob Goff.

Goff said he wasn't expecting the club to come back and he anticipates residents fighting to keep the club from their backyards. But, Pinter said, the show will go on.

"I don't think they're gonna be overly joy'd, but you know I run a legitimate business and I run it right and there's no reason why I shouldn't be allowed to be in business," he said.

Part of the deal with the state means, in addition to the purchase price, the Department of Transportation will pay relocation costs within 18 months.

Pinter said he hoped to reopen even sooner than that.