Pimps and hoes, words on a sign promoting a party at a south-side bar, but some are asking if the words are just a little too strong for public advertisement?
"I couldn't believe it, I had to do a double-take," admits Candy Robinson, after she first saw the sign.
"That's ridiculous, though, why would you advertise something like that?" says SaBrina Fletcher while laughing in shock at the sight of the words.
These women captured a common reaction to the sign in front of the Lucky Mule Saloon, and the manager at the bar has heard it all. "It kind of blows my mind because I didn't think there was any controversy in a party that's been done," says Tony Powers, General Manager of the bar. "But I think it is comical that people are offended by that."
He says "The Mule" prides itself on hosting original themed parties, and this theme is nothing new. "Sad to say, this isn't one of the original ideas, this has been done a lot in major cities."
Still, the party that hasn't happened has a lot of people talking.
"Pimps and hoes, it's a negative, it's derogatory," says Robinson.
"It doesn't bother me, it's not offensive to me," answers Kim Crenshaw.
"That sign, I have no problem with it at all. Pimps and hoes, if you're not a pimp or you're not a ho, and you have a problem with it, don't show up," replies Glenn Bracken.
"I don't think the sign is cool at all," says Fletcher.
As one parent pointed out, what does the message say to the families and the kids that hang out at areas near the bar?
"Around the corner, here, you have a skating ring with children," points out Robinson, "so they [the ring and Lucky Mule] kind of don't belong in the same center."
While the party is just for fun, Powers says he's not trying to cause trouble. "I certainly don't want to be a detriment to society, by any means. But, again, this is light-heartiness." He also adds, "I feel Abilene needs to calm down a little bit."
So while the town keeps talking about the words on this sign, The Lucky Mule says it's just a party with a theme, adding that people probably see and hear worse on TV.
