When Cafe Risque opened in March, the dancers wore skimpy bikinis.That was within legal limits, outlined in a law which prompted a lawsuit as owners of the cafe sued Harnett County in federal court. This month,the two sides agreed to settle the issue out of court. The lawsuit hasbeen dropped along with the dancers' tops.
They dare to bare at the Cafe Risque on Interstate-95 in HarnettCounty. Now, dancers there can take off everything except theirbikini bottoms. The court fight over how much they have to wear is over.
Chris Brown of Cafe Risque said the county saved a lot of money by nottrying to fight the business in court.
The cafe wasted little time updating most of its billboards along I-95. One sits right across the highway from a bible college. O. TalmadgeSpence, president of Foundations Bible College, was disappointed with thecourt settlement.
But, county officials say they've tried to make the best of a bad situation. Fearing a loss in the courts, Dwight Snow, Harnett Countyattorney, said they gave in on topless dancing but were able to establishsome controls on the cafe's operations.
According to the settlement, the cafe cannot go totally nude, it cannotexpand without permission from the county, and it cannot employ dancersconvicted of sex or drug related crimes.
The billboard across from thebible college should be gone within a week or so.
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