Jiggles strip club in U District ordered to shut down

A King County Superior Court judge on Friday ordered Jiggles, a University District strip club, to shut down.

Judge Suzanne Barnett ruled the closure was effective immediately. Her ruling followed about an hour of oral arguments.

The city sought to shut down the club, arguing the owner had not received the proper permit to switch from being a comedy club, known as Giggles, to an "adult cabaret." Jiggles opened in December.

For Jiggles to operate legally, first it would have to obtain a permit from the city establishing a new use for the property, Barnett ruled.

However, the club at 5220 Roosevelt Way N.E. sits near a school, child-care center, community center and a public park.

Under city law, new "adult cabarets" — essentially, clubs with nude dancers — must be at least 800 feet from such places where children congregate.

Club owner Bob Davis argued he's had the proper permits all along. In a declaration to the court, he said he's been trying to "lawfully open an adult-entertainment club" in Seattle for years, but "the city has obstructed my efforts."

In 2005, Davis was awarded $500,000 after suing the city over its strip-club moratoriums. In 2008, he won $350,000 for a similar suit filed in Bothell.

Davis has a lawsuit pending in U.S. District Court challenging Seattle's law regulating locations for strip clubs.

Kimberly Mills, spokeswoman for the City Attorney's Office, said Davis will not have to pay any fines in the Jiggles case.

If he wanted to, Mills added, Davis could open another business there, such as a restaurant, which would be allowed.

Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com