Restaurant, nude dancing to be offered at 49 Milford St. 

By Theresa Knapp

After more than a decade of municipal filings, local decisions, court appeals, and court decisions, residents can now see evidence the town of Mendon is about to get its first strip club. 

Earlier this year, Showtime Entertainment LLC, a Sutton-based business owned by George Funari (according to its application), finished the exterior of the building at 49 Milford Street, which will include a “restaurant and nude dancing” according to documents found at www.mendonma.gov/zoning-board-of-appeals/agenda/agenda-zba-2  

The property is the former site of Oak Tree Supply which is owned by Christopher Funari (brother of George Funari). The interior work has yet to be completed. 

Locus map included in Showtime Entertainment's special permit application. Source: www.mendonma.gov

The brothers also own the land at 51 Milford Street, a portion of which is slated for overflow parking; all parking onsite is valet-only. 

This project covers 3.42 +/- acres, including 259 feet of frontage on Milford Street (Route 16). 

Mendon’s first “Adult Entertainment Establishment” is within the town’s “Adult Entertainment Overlay District,” just a short distance from the Hopedale town line (north), Mendon Twin Drive-In (south), and nearby Crestview Drive neighborhood (east). 

Showtime’s original application in 2008 was for a 2,000 square foot building with seating for 74 people. At that time, residents expressed concerns about security, an abutting cannabis dispensary, wetlands, drainage, and traffic. Neighbors expressed specific concerns about light and noise, among other things. 

Then, in Feb. 2021, Showtime filed another application for a special permit – this time for a 4,806 square foot, one-story building that would accommodate 165 patrons. In March 2021, the Planning Board unanimously approved that special permit application.  

Showtime’s liquor license was acquired in Dec. 2018. 

There are currently 35 strip clubs in Massachusetts, according to www.newenglandstripclubs.com.

Several requests to Mendon town officials for comment were unanswered.