Strip club sold to Utah-based group

The Pahrump Valley Times confirmed this week that the Kingdom Gentleman’s Club, along with several other parcels of land at Highway 160 and Homestead Road was recently sold to a party out of Utah for $1 million.

Former Nye County Commissioner Gary Hollis confirmed the sale of the property on Tuesday. It had been owned by brothel owner Joe Richards.

“After many years, there will be no sexually-oriented businesses at the intersection,” Hollis said. “This was something Joe Richards was looking to do for a long time. I made an announcement at the commission meeting just to inform county officials. I don’t know what the new owners have planned for the property. That will all come out in due time.”

He said the kitchen equipment had been removed but wouldn’t disclose any plans for the property other than to say demolition of the building wasn’t in them.

Pahrump Town Board Vice Chair Bill Dolan said on Tuesday that he’s received calls as of late from residents who’ve said they’ve noticed an unusual amount of activity at the club.

“I’ve had some inquiries into what was going on at the Kingdom because it was dark every night. They also said a large moving truck was there on Saturday morning at the backside of the establishment,” he said.

Though it is still unclear what will become of the property, the vice chair said there are a number of good options for the site, which is zoned general commercial. Retail, mixed use, schools, hospitals and gas stations would qualify in that zoning district. There is also a three-bedroom home and land adjoining the nightclub and it, too, was included in the sale, Hollis said, making it more viable as another kind of enterprise.

“I would first like to see those risqué billboards removed,” Dolan said. “I’ve heard a few things over the years about what would be a good fit there. Back in 2009 or 2010, the county and the town looked at buying it for a welcoming center. The chamber of commerce at the time, volunteered to run it free of charge, for being allowed to have a chamber office there, but all that fell through of course. We really need something there that would bring some pride to that intersection that would lead to more tourism and individuals visiting our community.”

In exchange, Richards would have removed all sexually-oriented advertising from the exterior of the establishment and agree to sign a non-development agreement for the property.

At the time, Town Attorney Bret Meich told board members that according to NRS chapter 269 (Nevada Revised Statute), the town never had the authority to either de-annex or annex property.

“The law is pretty clear that an ordinance is necessary to annex property. We can certainly review past ordinances to see if an ordinance was passed amending the boundaries of the town annexing property,” he said during a February town board meeting.

In January the issue appeared before the Pahrump Town Board when Richards and Hollis requested that the land where the club now sits be de-annexed.

According to documents related to the Kingdom sale, GNSL Pahrump LLC, based in Bountiful, Utah acquired the property after finalizing the deal late last month.

Information obtained from the Nye County Recorder’s office shows the business along with six parcels of land was sold on Aug. 28 of this year, as requested by Chicago Title of Nevada which is handling the escrow.

According to the deed of trust, Mountain West Debt Fund LP based in Salt Lake City, Utah is named as the lender.

Taylor Capital Group, LLC, with offices in Salt Lake City and Henderson, Nevada, is the general partner and investment manager of Mountain West Debt Fund, LP.

There have been efforts to shutter the adult-themed business over the years, after Richards decided to open what is essentially a “strip club” at the corner of one of the busiest intersections in the community.

When contacted for comment on the deal, Richards would only say that the property was still up for sale.

Efforts to contact the new owners of the property were unsuccessful by press time.

The Kingdom Gentleman’s Club received its business license on Dec. 5 2003, according to the town’s business license department. The original plans presented only said it would be a restaurant and bar, but drawings showed what resembled a stripper’s pole and stage.

Brothel owner Dennis Hof bought Richards’ brothels in Crystal and Lathrop Wells, closing escrow on the Cherry Patch 2 in Lathrop Wells in October 2011. He was given his brothel license for the Cherry Patch 1 and Mabel’s brothel in Crystal in August 2010.