There has been a pub­lic out­cry from local res­i­dents regard­ing the deci­sion to place a top­less bar near Stanwood.

Mecosta Township Hall has been packed with res­i­dents who view the gentlemen’s club as “inde­cent” and “tasteless.”

At Ferris State University, a num­ber of stu­dents agree the deci­sion to place the top­less bar in Mecosta County is a bad decision.

“Mecosta County is too small for this to even be an idea,” Chavon McMurray, applied speech com­mu­ni­ca­tion major Chavon McMurray, said.

However, she said one of the biggest issues is find­ing women will­ing to work in the establishment.

“It would give the girls there a bad rep­u­ta­tion. Especially if they are Ferris State stu­dents,” McMurray said.

Expected to be located near U.S. 131 north by the Stanwood exit, Gentlemen 131 Inc. would be placed where the Ruddy Dux Food and Spirit build­ing once stood.

Ferris stu­dent Corey VanBuren said he sup­ports the deci­sion to have the top­less bar in Mecosta County.

“I believe they should have a top­less bar. It’s a point of per­sonal and eco­nomic lib­erty,” VanBuren said.

VanBuren said as young adults and col­lege stu­dents, a top­less bar is not an estab­lish­ment col­lege stu­dents are unfa­mil­iar to. Still, VanBuren agrees the loca­tion of the bar is a bad busi­ness deci­sion due to its remote location.

“I don’t know if they would have the tar­get pop­u­la­tion around here,” VanBuren said. “The loca­tion won’t sup­port it.”

Criminal jus­tice stu­dent Shaprese Smith agreed the loca­tion of Stanwood is bad for the top­less bar. Smith said she feels the loca­tion of the bar will dam­age the rep­u­ta­tion of nearby cities such as Big Rapids.

“It will mess up the whole­some­ness of this small city. This is a col­lege town,” Smith said.

At the Nov. 1 Mecosta Township Hall meet­ing, a six-month mora­to­rium was approved by Mecosta Township Board Members to delay site plan review of the bar. The delay was due to such issues as the pos­si­ble sale of alco­hol and the bar’s level of nudity.

The next town­ship board meet­ing will be Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Mecosta Township Hall, located at 19729 11 Mile Road in Big Rapids.