Mystery Ad Suggests Stella Marris a 'Topless' Restaurant

CORDOVA, Tenn. - An advertisement in an out-of-state newspaper is threatening to reignite controversy over a Cordova restaurant. The question: could it be transformed into a strip club operation?

So far Memphis adult business king Steve Cooper seems to have kept his end of the bargain in bringing Cordova a new restaurant experience in opening Stella Marris last October. But, a strange newspaper ad has some worried.

Appearing in the March 15th edition of the Jonesboro, Arkansas Sun newspaper, there was an ad that seemed to project an eye-opening message. Only at the Cordova fine dining restaurant, owned by controversial Memphis businessman Steve Cooper, the words "Topless" and "Stella Marris" legally aren't supposed to be anywhere near synonymous.

Just who placed the mysterious ad is drawing a wary eye from members of the Cordova Leadership Council who fought for nearly two years to keep Cooper from opening a business he promised was not a front for a potential strip-club operation. But, Council attorney Brian Stephens admits he doesn't know if the ad, similar to one management at the Tunica Times refused to run, is for real or just a "red herring" meant to stir up the pot.

"It could be that somebody else placed the ad," said Stephens. "We just don't really know where this came from and there's something definitely fishy about it."

Shelby County Commissioner Steve Mulroy is also among those confused by the purpose of the ad in light of existing zoning restrictions meant to insure "Marris" wouldn't be transformed into an adult entertainment venue.

"Is the intent to go get a zoning variance of some kind and get the zoning changed that it could stay?" posed Mulroy. "I wish I knew. I don't know."

Meanwhile, across the street from "Marris" preparations are underway at First Tennessee Fields, a family fun center, to host a youth baseball tournament this weekend. Ironically that event comes during the same week Shelby County Commissioners moved one step closer toward passing a new provision to the county's strip club ordinance to keep adult businesses from operating 1,500 feet from sports fields.

"However, it is my understanding that the new regulation we're just passing now can't be retroactive," said Mulroy. "So, if you're already there you're grandfathered in."

"We are monitoring the restaurant right now and there's no inappropriate activity going on. And so as long as they keep doing what they're doing, which is have a restaurant with some music at night, that's great," said Stephens.

Memphis City Councilman Bill Boyd said City Code Enforcement and the Office of Planning and Development have been monitoring activities at Stella Marris as well.