Licensing board votes to keep Foxy Lady closed until at least Wednesday

December 13, 2018 7:44 pm

By: Amanda Pitts

alpitts@abc6.com

@APittsABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — It will be at least a few days until we learn the fate of the Foxy Lady. On Monday afternoon, the Providence Board of Licenses voted 3-to-1 to keep the doors of the well-known strip club closed.

The board will meet again on Wednesday afternoon to make their final decision on revoking the 38-year-old club’s business license.

“This club has already been punished excessively with the closure for five nights, and I would ask that we be allowed to reopen tonight,” said Fausto Anguilla, the attorney representing Foxy Lady.

Public Safety Commissioner Stephen Pare, happy with the board’s decision.

“We believe the public is in danger, and I applaud the board for continuing to close this place,” said Pare.

Pare said Providence Police launched an investigation after looking into a complaint from a dancer who said she was sexually assaulted.

“About a month ago, there was a first-degree sexual assault in which a dancer was completely nude, and there was a patron completely nude. When you have nude dancers and nude patrons, that’s not what Providence is about.”

Undercover cops were sent in, and three women were arrested for selling sex. Police say management was in on it, but managers said they had no clue.

“For them to say they didn’t know about it is ludicrous,” added Pare.

One board member, Peter Mancini, voted against keeping the club closed, saying they’ve stayed out of trouble this long, and the over 200 employees at Foxy Lady shouldn’t be punished.

“Most of these employees are young women, who support their families on what they’re making. Keeping them closed another day is too much as far as I’m concerned.”

The final Board of Licenses meeting is set to start at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.