SANTA ANA : Changes at Nude Club Bring It Under Council Scrutiny

Paddy Murphy’s, a well-known nightclub that features adult entertainment, has changed its name and its exterior, drawing renewed scrutiny from a City Council member.

While the club still offers nude dancers for clients willing to pay the $5 cover charge, the name on its sign now reads, “Ecstasy.” The club also has made improvements to its building and signpost.

City Council member Tony Espinoza questioned this week whether the club had the proper permits for the changes.

The club has long been under fire from some residents who oppose nude entertainment, and Espinoza acknowledged that he wants to make it difficult for the club to do business in Santa Ana. “The majority of people would be offended by strip bars,” he said.

Robyn Uptegraff, the city’s executive director of planning and building, said after Monday’s council meeting that she will research whether the club needed, and had obtained, permits for the changes. Another city official said the West Warner Avenue business is still licensed as Paddy Murphy’s.

An assistant manager at the club, Eric Lingo, said the business had the proper permits for the changes, which included painting the signpost and walls to look like marble and adding four columns and pink awnings.

Espinoza was at the center of another issue Monday: a $6-million market proposed for downtown.

The councilman had previously been unable to vote on the project because of a conflict of interest. But the statute of limitations on the conflict, which involved campaign contributions, expired last week.

Espinoza was among the council members Monday who voted 4 to 3 to hold public hearings on the project. The council had previously deadlocked 3 to 3 on the issue.