New Plans for Former Topless Club in Jackson Township, Monroe County

By Brianna Strunk | bstrunk@pahomepage.com

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) - Many residents in Monroe County weren't happy when a topless bar came to town, then became an abandoned eyesore. Now the Jackson Township property is getting new life for the first time in years.

As steady streams of traffic roll through Route 715, drivers see a beat up building with broken glass and a caved-in roof.

Coley Chambliss of Reeders describes it as, "an eyesore at this point now."

All that remains of 'Thrills' is a piece of it's sign broken-off in the dirt. The former go-go bar opened in 2010, featuring topless dancers, a bar, and restaurant. After constant battles between Jackson Township leaders and the club owner, a judge ordered 'Thrills' close for good in 2013.

Some neighbors declined to go on-camera, but told Eyewitness News they didn't mind the nightclub. But a majority remember 'Thrills' as a nuisance, and say the loud music kept them up at night.

"I don't feel it should be a nightclub or anything like that because you will draw different types of people that's probably undesirable," adds Chambliss.

According to County records, Mountainleap LP of Albrightsville, Carbon County bought the two-acre property in July for $16,000 dollars.  Eyewitness News reached out to the company. A spokesperson says owners plan to make it a community-friendly and energy-efficient housing complex. They've already boarded up the building after trespassers were spotted inside.

Neighbors say since the club shut down it's become a dumping ground for items like tires, a litter box, and household trash. They're happy the new owner has started cleaning up the site.

Many neighbors and nearby residents have one wish for the run-down building:

"Something that's for the good of the people, helping people," says Chambliss.

New owners seem to share the same vision.

While 'Thrills' was still open, Jackson Township supervisors re-zoned the area to "Residential One". That means a bar or restaurant could not come back to the property. The new owners say they are still waiting on safety reports to decide weather or not to knock down the building altogether.

Photo and Story By Brianna Strunk | bstrunk@pahomepage.com of WBRE/WYOU/pahomepage.com