NEDERLAND, Texas — The Nederland City Council voted unanimously Monday to deny the request from Texas Poker Club to open a Nederland location.
Club owners were looking to expand out of Beaumont, requesting a specific use permit for a suite, located at 3503 Nederland Avenue near South 35th Street.
The request was met with resistance as many Nederland residents voiced concern at an October 14 public hearing, bringing up potential issues such as parking and safety.
June Burnaman lives near the proposed location and is happy that city leaders listened to their community.
"I was glad and I'm thankful that the city took in our considerations for the safety of the citizens here in Nederland," Burnaman said.
The city previously said there are 26 parking spaces for the building being looked at, but only half a dozen would solely be used for the club.
"We figured it out that they didn't have but five or six parking spots where they wanted to go over there," Nederland mayor Don Albanese said. "I don't how you can sustain business with five or six people."
Texas Poker Club owners told 12News they would've looked to partner with nearby businesses to share parking space at night, which is what they're doing now at their Beaumont location along Highway 105.
The hours of operation was another issue residents had concerns with, running from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Owners did not show up for Monday's vote, but did speak with 12News earlier in October about adding a second location in Nederland.
"There's a market for it, for a legal game and that's what we want to bring," said owner Dan Mulvaney. "A way for people to play poker in a fun, safe environment, we're trying to bring something cool to Nederland."
The bet to expand didn't pay off for club owners on Monday, but perhaps all is not lost.
Texas Poker Club opened its Beaumont location in August 2018 and has more than 400 members, including players from Mid-County.
Despite the city council's vote, people in Nederland say they're not opposed to poker being dealt within city limits, as long as it's away from neighborhoods.
"I would think if the people from the poker club would re-submit and find some places out where there's not any house close by, it would go," said Albanese."
Burnaman agreed, telling 12News "I'm not against poker or any kind of gambling, by all means, just not in a residential area."
12News reached out to the owners of Texas Poker Club for a statement following the vote, but did not here back.
State law prohibits the use of gambling, but because this club is private and doesn't profit off the pot, it's legal.