The Main Street Coffee House pretended to be a church by having worship services on Sundays - this, it was hoped, would force the nearby Crazy Goat Saloon to close because it is illegal to have a sexually oriented businesses (SOBs) within 1,000 feet of a church . The cafe, however, wasn't financially viable and is closing - which means that the strip club can stay open, at least for now.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports:

The LDS Church, which is suing the city for issuing the saloon an SOB license, had argued that the coffee shop was a church and recently asked the city to investigate. Run by the Summit Church, the coffee house is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and is considered a satellite church for the Holladay Baptist Church. ... Daniel Darger, co-owner of the saloon, was pleased to hear of the closure. "That certainly does take one of [the LDS Church's] irons out of the fire."

The LDS Church also asked the city to investigate whether the Crazy Goat is too close to West Temple, which is designated a gateway corridor. That review is still under way. And the lawsuit contends an SOB will harm the church's two Main Streets malls, which will be renovated.

I hope that the machinations of the Mormon Church don't force the Crazy Goat to close - too often the LDS basically acts like they own Salt Lake City, ignoring the rights of everyone else who lives there.

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