By Nadia Maria Smith
CS&T Staff Writer
The King’s Men and their supporters are rejoicing at the news that Coyotes Show Club in Quakertown is closing.
The King’s Men, an anti-pornography Christian men’s outreach group based in the same town, has been routinely protesting the establishment since the adult entertainment business set up shop more than a year ago.
The building was originally a restaurant. When that failed, the strip club moved in, under Milford Township’s radar, according to Damian Wargo, the director of operations of King’s Men.
The group successfully worked with Milford Township commissioners in establishing 34 stipulations that would regulate any future adult entertainment businesses in the township. The stipulations include regulating hours, location and what can go on in their place of business. Nudity was banned. But since Coyotes was already established, the business appealed the township decision, ignored the stipulations and continued to showcase nude dancers, Wargo said.
“This is why it is so important that the community be proactive against adult entertainment businesses and make sure they limit the scope of what they can do before they come into your town. It could prevent or dissuade them from coming in the first place,” he said.
However, while the appeal is pending, DMMW Inc., the owner of the property that is leased to Coyotes, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early January when it was unable to pay back a $2.18 million loan to Univest National Bank and Trust.
Following a hearing two weeks ago, federal bankruptcy court in Philadelphia approved a plan that “Coyotes would close and then the bankruptcy court would allow us to proceed with the foreclosure and the sheriff’s sale,” said Univest spokeswoman Kim Detwiler.
The club has since been closed and the building (ADD) auctioned off to Univest for 1.9 million dollars, who in turn will be selling it to a reputable business, Wargo said.
“We give thanks to God for this victory and this place is closing,” he said. “We are very thankful for all the help, support and prayers of so many people.”
Coyotes was consistently on the King’s Men “No More Porn” tour – a series of protests at adult entertainment businesses and adult novelty stores around the Archdiocese each month.
By protesting during prime business hours, the group discouraged patronage of the club, especially for those who did not want to be publicly associated with going to such a place. It made a financial impact, Wargo said.
Father Frederick J. Riegler, the pastor of St. Isidore Parish in Quakertown, agreed.
“You would not get anyone from the neighborhood going there because people would recognize them,” he said. “What the [King’s Men protesters] did was show up at different times, almost shaming people to stay away, which was very effective.”
Father Riegler joined the group in protesting the club early on.
“Our parish collected signatures for the petition against the club that was presented to the township. Some of our parishioners were right there in front of the physical protests, too,” he said.
“Without the grassroots efforts, [Coyotes Show Club] would have gotten away with it,” Father Riegler said.
Wargo added: ‘We don’t have to stand around and tolerate pornographers. With consistent effort and prayer we can rid our communities of pornography. We had more than 100 people participating in the protests and more than 1,000 people supporting us with prayer, which shows that the ability to make a difference is there. Protesting new adult businesses before they can get a foothold in the community is a good target for people who want to end pornography.”
For more information on fighting pornography, go to the King’s Men web site www.thekingsmen.us.
CS&T staff writer Nadia Maria Smith may be reached at npozo@adphila.org or (215) 965-4614.
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