Sex club or catering hall? Holmesburg waits for answer

HOLMESBURG (WPVI) -- Residents are wary that the old Rosewood Catering building in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia is renovations away from turning into a sex club.

A city permit issued in April shows Tom Sherwood, owner of adult playground 'Saints and Sinners,' was cleared to start renovations on the property and to continue it as a catering building.

However, this is the same property Sherwood advertised last year would become the second location of his Port Richmond private club.

Though Licenses and Inspections says those plans aren't public record, Action News has learned renovations made to the existing catering hall will include new interior partitions.

"No one has been issued a permit for a sex club. A permit has been issued for renovations to a catering hall. If what ends up at the location is a sex club and not a catering hall, L&I will shut it down," Karen Guss of L&I said.

Councilman Bobby Henon says he hasn't heard from the owner, and our emails and calls to Sherwood went unanswered.

"This time, catering is fine, just come forward and reassure the community and myself that that's really what's going to happen," Henon said.

Some residents are indifferent, while many remain skeptical they're being played.

"I really don't see anything wrong with it, as long as they don't have neon signs stating it's a sex club or whatever and no people soliciting in the neighborhood," resident Fran Lindmar said.

"We'll take them for their word right now," resident Pete Montini said.

Once renovations begin, L&I will be doing routine walk-through inspections to ensure the building remains a catering facility.

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