A Moncton swingers club that opened in June to vows from politicians to shut it down has closed, at least temporarily, for personal and financial reasons, the owner said Friday.

Club Venus faced a storm of controversy on opening. Owner Lenna Doiron said her members-only club, located in a former church, filled a need for local swingers by offering couples who wanted to swap partners a place to meet each other.

Doiron said while she didn't expect everyone in the community to be a fan of the club, she wasn't expecting the backlash from politicians. She added that swingers clubs are a legal business, as the Supreme Court ruled in 2005 that it is legal for people to meet behind closed doors in clubs and have sex.

"To me, they worry about the wrong things in this city," she said. "There are teenagers on drugs, prostitutes on St. George Street."

Before the club opened, Provincial Health Minister Mike Murphy, the MLA for the area, said he planned to explore all legal options available to close it down and to have health inspectors constantly monitor the establishment.

Moncton Mayor Lorne Mitton said the city was exploring possible zoning issues, as Moncton does not have zones for adult entertainment, and that he would do whatever it took to close Club Venus, including sending in inspectors, bylaw enforcement officers, and the RCMP.

"I didn't appreciate the government officials going after me," Doiron said. "It shocked me and it hurt my feelings. I'm a citizen of Moncton and they bashed me. I didn't expect them to treat me like that."

Reaction in the community was mixed, with some locals finding the concept repulsive and others shocked that their politicians had nothing better to concern themselves with.

Doiron closed the club's doors on Friday, citing financial and personal reasons. But the club may not be closed permanently, she says.

After pouring her life savings into Club Venus she's not ready to walk away from the business just because some people don't agree with it.

"I was very shocked with the (backlash)," she said. "I didn't think Moncton was so close-minded."