Juneau Strip Club Owner Confident Of Amicable Solution To License Issue

(Juneau) The owner of a Juneau strip club says he anticipates that a current issue related to the establishment’s liquor license agent will be worked out. On Tuesday, the Juneau Common Council rejected a request to name Mike Siegel as the agent for the liquor license at the business known for years as Silk Exotic.

Siegel, who also owns the Hardware Store strip club in Clyman, says he closed on the purchase of the East Oak Street bar on December 30th from the company Mercury One, which purchased Silk Exotic from the original owners one year ago. The current corporation owned by Siegel is JSSC doing business as Solomon. Because Siegel bought-out the previous corporation he says there was no need to apply for a new liquor license, otherwise he would have had to close while waiting for that license. Siegel says the club remains open, has a liquor license and the new Solomon name will be installed by months end.

City officials tried unsuccessfully to stop Silk Exotic from opening over a decade ago and could only update city zoning ordinances to prevent future strip clubs in the downtown by limiting their proximity to schools and churches, which was the case with Silk. Mayor Dan Wegener says with the apparent change in ownership, the new zoning requirements should apply. The city attorney is researching the matter.

Siegel says the facility is able to operate under the liquor license of the previous agent until this matter is worked out. He says the council has questions that need to be answered to look out for the best interest of their constituents. He anticipates all the problems will be worked out in an amicable way and says he looks forward to a good working relationship with city officials.

Siegel says he has lived in the community for the past 12 years, noting that he currently serves as village president in Clyman. He also detailed his community involvement saying that he is active with fundraisers for the local food pantry, emergency responders and youth sports. “They are getting a much better owner than they had previously,” he says. Siegel says he would appeal the council decision if necessary but he does not think the matter will even get that far before the issue is resolved.