24 HOUR CHURCH OF ELVIS OWNER ALL SHOOK UP

24 HOUR CHURCH OF ELVIS OWNER ALL SHOOK UP

PORTLAND, Or. (Wireless Flash) – After more than 16 years, Portland’s 24 Hour Church of Elvis is closing its doors. Stephanie Pierce, owner of a museum/wedding chapel dedicated to Elvis Presley, is skipping out of town because of financial woes. But not many locals are bummed by the church’s demise because of Pierce’s allegedly bizarre behaviors. For example, Pierce has been known to chase patrons out of her church – actually a tiny apartment – for not buying Church of Elvis t- shirts. In addition, although she employs a mildly retarded man as an Elvis impersonator, she insists that “The 24 Hour Church of Elvis has nothing to do with Elvis!” The Elvis Church holds its last service today (Nov. 30), but Pierce won’t be crying in the chapel for long. She plans to open it up somewhere else and “show everyone.”

Fri 11-30-01