WHATELY — Franklin County’s only strip club will remain closed for the immediate future as ownership creates a reopening plan.
Club Castaway, at 226 State Road, which closed due to Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions in March 2020, has yet to reopen since restrictions were lifted on May 29.
Nick Spagnola, the club’s owner, said there are plans in place to reopen, but no specific timeline is available.
“Whately Investments LLC is working on a plan to reopen,” Spagnola wrote in an email. “The club has been in operation since 1974. Our acquisition of 226 State Road is a long-term investment.”
Spagnola and Julius Sokol, businessmen from East Boston, purchased Club Castaway in 2019 from longtime owner Demetrious “Jimmy the Greek” Konstantopoulos, and opened the club’s doors under the new ownership in October that year. The club was only open, however, for a few months before the pandemic forced its closure.
Whately Town Administrator Brian Domina said the club’s ownership has not reached out to the town regarding reopening plans. He added the business’ liquor and adult entertainment licenses were both renewed for calendar year 2021 in December. The alcohol license fee was also waived by the Select Board due to “economic hardship caused by COVID-19.”
Spagnola also wrote the club will approach the town when its plans for reopening are ready.
“When we are ready to disclose plans,” Spagnola wrote, “we will engage the Selectboard and appropriate stakeholders.”