INDIANAPOLIS -- A live lingerie modeling studio is in danger of being shut down after it opened without the proper license, city officials said.

The owners of Secret Dreams at 3234 W. Washington St. applied for an adult entertainment license in September, but opened in December without the requisite inspections, the city told 6News' Jack Rinehart.

Municipal codes stipulate that if the city doesn't act on a license request within 45 days the license is granted automatically.

But the Department of Code Enforcement said inspectors made several attempts to visit the business through October and November.

"We did our due diligence, we kept going out there," said spokeswoman Laura Gibbons. "The minute we found out that it looked like they were going to open, we were out there immediately."

She said the modeling studio, which also sells adult videos and novelty items, was originally zoned for automotive use and is in violation of several zoning laws, including operating an adult entertainment business within 500 feet of a residential dwelling district, along with landscaping requirements and sign violations.

Workers at area businesses said activity at the lingerie shop leaves little to the imagination.

"I don't like it being there," said Lorinda Fine, who works at a nearby collection agency. "I don't think that a lot of things going on over there are legal."

A woman who asked for anonymity said that when people go into the business, the studio posts a sign stating that they will be back in 20 minutes.

"The door is locked. No one else can get in at that time," she said. "They say they're modeling the lingerie, but I find that hard to believe."

A worker at the business refused to comment on Thursday.

Secret Dreams will go before the zoning board on Tuesday to ask for a variance to allow it to operate within the residential dwelling district. City planners have recommended against the petition.