ELYRIA — The county sued the owners of the Club 57 strip club for foreclosure, contending the club has $63,578 in delinquent taxes, assessment and penalties.

David Shapiro, the club’s manager, said he was unaware of the lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday.

“I’ll have to look into that,” Shapiro said.

The lawsuit lists as defendants DAS9 Properties, a Cleveland Heights limited liability company, as a defendant along with PS Realty Partnership of Phoenix. Shapiro was listed as the statutory agent for DAS9 Properties.

The lawsuit contends the county treasurer has a best and first claim on the club’s building at 1854 Lorain Blvd., a building that formerly housed Mountain Jack’s restaurant.

The tax foreclosure lawsuit was assigned to Judge Mark Betleski, the same judge hearing a case about whether the club in contempt of court because the dancers were allegedly violating an order he put in place in November. A hearing on the contempt issue is set for July 9.

Betleski’s order required the dancers to keep covered so the club wouldn’t be considered an adult-entertainment establishment. City ordinances prohibit such businesses within a quarter-mile of another establishment that sells liquor.

Club 57 is located next to the Elyria Holiday Inn, which has a liquor license.

Undercover police officers visited the club in December and February and reported seeing dancers exposing more than they were permitted to under Betleski’s order. They also learned that private dances were offered, according to court documents.

The city has been fighting the club since before it opened in 2006 as Diamond Men’s Club West.

In addition, Shapiro is under indictment for allegedly allowing a 15-year-old girl to work as a stripper at the club. He has pleaded not guilty to the felony child endangering charge and reportedly told police the girl told him she was 18. Prosecutors contend the girl, a runaway from Michigan, looked young enough that Shapiro should have checked her ID.

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.

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