The town of Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, had its “Sexually Oriented Business” ordinance declared void after a lawsuit was filed by Crazy Horse Inc., operator of Thee DollHouse nightclub. The suit challenged the eligibility of councilmember Edward Campbell, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute narcotics in 2001 and thus barred from holding office until 2024 under state law. A Horry County judge ruled that Campbell should not have been allowed to serve or vote on the ordinance, invalidating the law. The town’s motion to reconsider this ruling was denied, despite arguments that Campbell was a de facto officer with a presumptive right to his seat.
The invalidated ordinance had imposed new restrictions on nightclub operations, including limits on hours and entertainer-patron interactions. The lawsuit filed in 2025 remains unresolved, while the Atlantic Beach town council plans to introduce a new ordinance regulating sexually-oriented businesses at an upcoming meeting. This ongoing legal and legislative activity highlights continuing tensions over governance and regulation of adult entertainment in the town.
