Several citizens from Lehighton have expressed concern about a recently opened business in the borough’s downtown.

About 25 residents attended Monday night’s borough council meeting, several commenting on the Pleasure Lounge & Night Club on First Street.

Resident Sandra Whiteman asked council who allowed the business in the first place, and wondered what was going to be done about it.

“I love my town very much, and wish to keep it a beautiful place,” Whiteman said.

Resident Paula Sebelin said the community has many concerns about several incidents that have been reported, and noted that police have been called out to the business multiple times.

Sebelin asked if it’s going to take someone to get shot, run over by a drunken driver, or police not being able to make it home to their families, before something is done.

“I’m speaking out for the concerns of the community,” Sebelin said. “I ask to continue to keep our community safe.”

Resident Margaret Monge said there are many residents in the community who have concerns about the business.

“My concern is drugs and crime,” Monge said. “I would like to know who approved this?”

Monge added that the borough isn’t a city.

“This is our town, our community, not theirs,” she said. “(We’ve all heard) the saying Make America Great Again; Make Our Town Great Again.”

Resident Debbie Neff said, “I think we opened a Pandora’s box with this business.”

“We’re trying to build and get our downtown back,” Neff said. “This is not what I’m envisioning.”

Neff added that she will not support the restaurant, and added she believes it’s a front for more behind the scenes.

“I would appreciate if we can look and do something about this,” Neff said.

Tina Henninger said she owns a business along First Street.

“We’re very concerned with what we see,” Henninger said. “We worked so hard to build the downtown; I would hate to see that go because of one problem.”

Resident Lou Didona said unfortunately the business was allowed to move in, and that it isn’t right to put the borough’s police officers in possible jeopardy.

“We don’t want that to happen,” Didona said. “We don’t want to have someone get shot in the downtown.”

Afterward, township solicitor Jim Nanovic said that the borough is aware that a number of people have expressed concerns regarding the Pleasure Lounge.

“We are also aware that there has been a great deal of discussion regarding this business on social media,” Nanovic said. “Some of that discussion and some of the comments we have heard accuse the borough of allowing this business to exist within the borough.”

Nanovic said that in late 2022, the owners of the property applied for a zoning permit to operate a restaurant/night club.

The property, Nanovic noted, is located in a commercial zone, and this use is a permitted use within that zone.

He said a zoning permit was issued by the borough zoning officer; an occupancy permit has been issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry; and a liquor license has been issued to the owner for operation of a restaurant/bar on the premises.

“It is unlawful to deny a permit where our ordinances require that such a permit be issued,” Nanovic said. “It has been the policy of the borough to welcome new businesses into the borough.”

Nanovic added that since the borough has received complaints regarding hours of operation, it has, through its police department, investigated the possible violations of any ordinance or state statute.

He added that where a borough ordinance has been violated, the police have issued citations.

Nanovic said the Liquor Control statutes are enforced by the Pennsylvania State Police, and that the Liquor Control Board is aware of the business.

Further, he said the liquor license issued to the business does allow the serving of food late into the evening and into the early morning hours.

“We will treat this business no differently than any other business within our community,” Nanovic said. “We expect them to adhere to the borough ordinances and to the state statutes.”

Nanovic added that if a member of the community believes that the business is violating any of those ordinances or statutes, they are encouraged to call 911 to report this violation so that police can be informed as to the nature of the complaint and will address those complaints.

“We emphasize that we will not treat this business different than any other business within the borough,” he said. “We welcome the business, and expect them as a member of our community, to respect the laws of our town and the Commonwealth.”