“Count the Green, Or Get In Between”: New Lounge Location Shakes Things Up
Sunland Park, New Mexico, already sits on a precarious line—geographically, culturally, and now, maybe legally. The border town is leading the state in retail revenue thanks to its lucrative proximity to El Paso, but its next move might shake more then just a chessboard. Enter Station X: a bold, polarizing proposal that combines a dispensary, a consumption lounge, and—just to stir the pot—a Bucks Cabaret strip club.
You’d think this was Vegas South, but it’s not. And that’s the problem.
No Shoes, No Shirt…
Community pushback has been loud. Some residents see it as a chance for economic growth. Others see it as a powder keg ready to go off. Noise, traffic, public safety—it’s all on the table. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission tried to mitigate risk by banning adult entertainment and outdoor consumption lounges, but discussions were delayed once lawyers got involved. When that happens, you know it’s about to get messy.
Bucks Cabaret: More Than Just Neon Lights
Bucks Cabaret isn’t just some new name rolling into town. The Texas-based adult club chain is notorious for headlines that don’t look good on paper. Their Fort Worth location? Six dancers arrested in 2019 for public lewdness, one with an added prostitution charge. El Paso? A stabbing that led to a five-year prison sentence just last year. Not exactly the type of press a quiet New Mexico town wants when trying to diversify its tax base.
But What About Shotgun Willie’s?
Let’s not pretend adult clubs and dispensaries can’t coexist. Just ask Glendale, Colorado. Shotgun Willie’s has been holding it down since 1982 in the Cherry Creek area, and it’s got dispensaries like Emerald Fields right next door pulling strong reviews. There's a mutual understanding there—a maturity to how the business ecosystem functions. But then again, Colorado has had years to fine-tune its rules and cultural norms.
Back to New Mexico…
Here’s the real question: can New Mexico handle it?
Locals have been asking for more places to consume, to hang out, to feel like they're part of a scene—but historically, we’ve struggled to handle our own nightlife. Just look at the Saltyard venues. Once hot spots, now infamous for late-night brawls, noise complaints, and cops circling the parking lot like buzzards.
So what makes Station X different?
If Sunland Park gives the green light, this could either be a beacon of progress or the next great compliance failure. Mixing adult entertainment, legal consumption, and late-night traffic isn’t impossible—but it demands professionalism, tight operations, and an understanding that New Mexico’s not Las Vegas. We can barely agree on parking signs, let alone where to puff and party.
Final Thought
Station X might look like a cash cow. But if the operators can’t build trust and stay clean from day one, it’ll turn into another cautionary tale. One that regulators, neighbors, and maybe even lawmakers won’t forget the next time a license request hits their desk.
