After Jaguars El Paso shut down due to hundreds of alleged violations — including violent crimes — its former owners may be opening under a different name

Update: The City of El Paso says that it is actively pursuing legal action against RCI Holdings "for ongoing violations of the City’s Sexually Oriented Business (SOB) ordinance."

A city spokesperson says this recent reporting has increased officials' concerns over the opening of "Chicas Locas."

"The City is seeking court intervention to impose fines on RCI Holdings for its previous violations and to prevent the company from operating without the necessary licensure," the city spokesperson explained. "The City is also seeking an injunction to prevent any additional unlawful activities from occurring at the Chicas Locas location."

---

Editor's note: A previous version of this story said that the owners of Jaguars may be in violation of the settlement with El Paso County, but we've changed the language of the article to reflect that the company may only be in volation if they do indeed open a sexually oriented business. The previous version also said the Chicas Locas was opening at the same address of Jaguars, according to an Instagram post, but ABC-7 has not been able to authenticate the post.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The former Jaguars El Paso Nightclub has been in the headlines for numerous violations over the years. However, it wasn't until earlier this year that the establishment was temporarily closed because of alleged "ongoing illegal activities."

Now, ABC-7 has learned that the company that owns the former nightclub, RCI Holdings, Inc., may be opening a new business under the name 'Chicas Locas' (Crazy Girls), according to its website.

If RCI Holdings, Inc. opens that new business, it may be out of compliance with a settlement between it and the County of El Paso.

ALLEGED VIOLATIONS

A temporary restraining order obtained by ABC-7, that was filed by the El Paso County Attorney's Office on February 23, outlined over 200 alleged violations:

• Discharge of a firearm: 13 violations.
• Delivery, possession, or use of a controlled substance: 57 violations.
• Prostitution/promotion of prostitution: 13 violations.
• Aggravated assault: 22 violations.
• Disorderly conduct: 52 violations.
• Criminal trespass: 1 violation.
• Criminal mischief: 1 violation.
• Sale or storage of beer or alcohol without a permit or license: 22 violations.
• Employee under 21 at sexually oriented business: 1 violation.
• Violation of City of El Paso’s Sexually Oriented Business ordinance: at least 26 violations.
• At least sixteen (16) of the violations noted also involved a gun.
• At least twelve (12) violations involved a criminal street gang member.

The temporary restraining order was a prelude to a settlement reached between the county and the former owners of Jaguars in March.

The county's lawsuit was separate from a similar lawsuit, filed by the City of El Paso against the nightclub on February 22.

On Monday, City Council discussed the item during its executive session, but took no action.

ABC-7 also reached out to the City of El Paso for comment, but has yet to receive a response.

CONDITIONS OF THE COUNTY'S SETTLEMENT WITH FORMER JAGUARS OWNERS

The settlement lists numerous conditions that the former owners of Jaguars must follow, should they open a new establishment.

They include but are not limited to:

• Obtaining a license from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which allows a business to sell and serve alcohol.
• If a new business opens, it must not operate as a sexually oriented business.
• The word 'strip' cannot be used when promoting the business.

RCI Holdings, Inc. may be in violation of its settlement with the county if they open another strip club. On its website, Chicas Locas is described as the "#1 Rated Latin Strip Club."

Upon multiple searches using different categories on the TABC wesbite, ABC-7 could not find any applications for a TABC license, either approved or submitted by RCI Holdings, Inc. as of yet. It is unknown if the company applied for a liquor license under a different name.

An Instagram post by '@chicaslocaselpaso' from last week shows that a Chicas Locas is opening September 12 at 11377 Gateway Blvd W, El Paso, TX 79936 -- the same address where Jaguars was previously located. However, we don't know if that is an official Instagram page managed by the actual owners.

ABC-7 reached out to the only listed contact on the Chicas Locas website for comment, but we have not received a response as of the publication of this article.

The company's website lists its five Chicas Locas locations, with its El Paso location listed as "coming soon."

We also contacted the El Paso County Attorney's Office to ask if RCI Holdings, Inc. could be in violation of the settlement. A spokesperson said they cannot comment on something that has not happened yet.

ABC-7 will keep you up-to-date on any developments on air, online and on the KVIA News and CTV apps.