NEWPORT BEACH : County Tells Club to Halt Topless Dancing

Orange County code enforcement officials Thursday moved to halt topless dancing at a longtime comedy club, which this week began presenting the unclad entertainment.

After 16 years of hosting stand-up comedy shows which at one time featured David Letterman and Robin Williams, The Laff Stop on Monday began its “Newport Fantasy” shows with female dancers who strip to the waist.

Bill Grant, section chief of the land use division for the county, said that he met with Laff Stop’s attorney Paul Mast to inform him that the club, at 2122 Bristol St. S.E., did not have the proper adult entertainment use permits to host topless dancing. “I told him he had to apply for a use permit and discontinue (the topless dancing) immediately,” Grant said, adding that he had provided Mast a copy of the county codes regulating adult entertainment.

Jorn Rossi, who was busy auditioning female dancers Thursday, had no comment on the decision. Mast also was not available for comment. Grant said his agency is treating the matter “very seriously” and has referred it to county attorneys for review.

Rossi had said Monday that after more than a year of “devastating” business losses, he contemplated a change. He said he had been informed by Mast that because the club had included male exotic dancing for more than 10 years, it would be permissible to include topless females.

The county took action after receiving a protest from Newport Beach officials who do not want such entertainment near their city. The county also received complaints from some nearby residents.

“It is all right to have comedy, but topless dancers is going too far,” said Bert Lynch, who has lived since 1939 in his house next to the club.

Though the Laff Stop is surrounded mostly by other businesses, gas stations and the Corona del Mar Freeway, county officials are concerned because it is near a residential area.

There is also an apartment complex about a block from the club.