Former Atlanta strip club opens its doors to churchgoers

<p>The Gold Club, a former Atlanta strip bar, is now more like the God Club.</p><p>At least, thats what members of the Christian Church of Buckhead jokingly call their congregation, which moved into the building that once housed neon lights, fully stocked bars and private lounges where women danced for $200 an hour.</p><p>The church, which is temporarily leasing the site, held its first services Sunday, after spending several months cleaning out the place, hanging curtains and building a nursery and altar.</p><p>The Rev. Dan Garrett said he even expects some former patrons and workers at the Gold Club to join his newly formed congregation. Hes met a few recently, and some have even stopped in to help clean out their old haunts, he said.</p><p>I dont judge anybody who went here, and I dont judge anybody who worked here, Garrett said.</p><p>The Gold Club, a notorious Atlanta attraction that often would draw tourists, celebrities and pro athletes, was shut down after owner Steve Kaplan pleaded guilty in 2001 to racketeering charges and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.</p><p>A group of developers paid $5.25 million for the property and will lease it to the church before building an upscale condominium tower on the 1.5-acre site in the spring.</p><p>Information from: Constitution</p>