City Times Staff

A stripper pole still adorns the center floor of the former Steel Nightclub — one of many items up for sale to make room for a new downtown church.

Divine Word Evangelical Lutheran Church, located in Plover, bought the former Steel Nightclub building in December and has plans to renovate the space into a campus ministry. The space has been vacant for about five years.

The church is holding an open house on Saturday, June 4 from noon until 3 PM. Most items inside the establishment — including the stripper pole, black lighting, interior gating, multiple wooden and metal bars/counter tops, along with various furniture items — will be sold as is for cash.

“We need to get rid of all this stuff before we can really start renovations,” said Pastor Jim Roecker, adding the church was planning to begin construction on the space in mid-June and complete the project this fall.

“God makes all things new…as you take things out of the bar, you take part of that process of making this new,” Roecker said.

Roecker also said there is no admission fee and the public is welcome to visit the space during the open house; snacks will be provided.

The former nightclub has yet to be renamed as a church. Prior to operating as a nightclub, the space was home to Friends of Clark Place and the American Legion Post 6.

The building is located at 1009 Clark Street.