Strip Club News

A federal judge ruled that Grand Rapids, Michigan may begin enforcing new restrictions against strip clubs prohibiting nude or topless performances. The judge deferred ruling on the constitutionality of the ordinance adopted in April, 2006, until later this fall.

Mark London filed suit against the city of Grand Rapids to prevent the new ordinance from taking effect alleging the new ordinances violate his constitutional rights. London owns one strip club in the city and had planned to open another until the new ordinance was enacted.

Among the restrictions placed on clubs in the city is that all dancers must wear pasties and G-strings, stay at least six feet away from patrons, and must dance on a stage elevated above the floor.

Unfortunately for strip club owners and patrons alike, the new clothing requirements for dancers are nothing more than one can see at a public beach.

News reports indicate that a grassroots citizens’ group has donated $100,000 to the city to help defray legal costs incurred in their battle to eliminate nudity in strip clubs.

This latest battle in Michigan is typical of what is happening in communities all across America. Cities in numerous states like California, Washington, Utah, and Minnesota have enacted or are considering laws prohibiting full nudity and female toplessness in strip clubs. Apparently the rights of the patrons, owners, and dancers do not matter.
Strippers Rally To Protest Proposed Ban On Private Rooms
2006-08-19 - San Francisco, CA

Strippers in San Francisco rallied to voice their opposition to a proposed ban on private rooms in city gentlemen’s clubs.

About 50 dancers got together to protest outside of city hall as the San Francisco Entertainment Commission held a public hearing about a proposed ban.

The dancers are opposed to a ban on private rooms because many of them derive a significant portion of their income from work in these rooms.

The city is considering a ban to prevent sexual assaults against dancers and prostitution.

Rick’s Cabaret International, Inc., announced that it has added another gentleman’s club to its portfolio.

The company acquired Centerfolds Gentleman’s Club in San Antonio, Texas, for a total of $2.9 million. Centerfold’s is a topless club that serves alcohol.

Rick’s already owns two adult nightclubs in the San Antonio market, XTC Cabaret and Club Onyx.

Rick’s, based in Houston, Texas, is a publically traded company (NASDAQ symbol: RICK) with 13 gentlemen’s clubs across the United States. As of this writing Rick’s has a market capitalization of aproximately $33 million dollars. In fiscal year 2005 Rick’s lost $215 thousand on gross revenue of $14.8 million.

Frank Boussad is planning to open Presley’s Playhouse Cabaret in the southern part of Salem and some residents are furious. A group of residents is threatening to fight the new club all the way to the state supreme court.

One woman quoted by salem-news.com claims that she and others are upset because of the message such an establishment sends to young women and because they find it degrading to women. “Using young girls to strip and dance around naked is degrading to all women,” the woman said.

There are a number of parks and day-care centers nearby which residents will use as ammunition in their fight to try to prevent the club from opening. Residents most likely will use the old, unproven argument that naked women somehow lead to an increase in crime.

There are currently 7 strip clubs in the Salem area. It is unclear at this time how one more gentleman’s club in the Salem area is going to lead to the downfall of society.

In Sept. of 2006 the Missouri Supreme Court will hear the state’s appeal of a 2005 lower court ruling striking down a 2005 restriction on strip clubs. The law prohibited full nudity, required dancers to stay at least 10 feet from customers, and required all dancers and customers to be at least 21 years of age. The lower court invalidated the law saying that the age restriction is unconstitutional because it violates free speech rights of dancers and customers. The state is arguing that the age restriction is valid because it attempts to deal with “adverse effects” (whatever those are) of sexually oriented businesses.

The Albert Lea city council has postponed enacting a new ordinance regarding strip clubs in the city pending the outcome of lawsuits challenging a new state law allowing cities to put tough restrictions on sexually-themed businesses. The proposed Albert Lea law would put the city in full compliance with maximum restrictions allowed under state law.

In 2006 Minnesota passed a law enabling cities to make it harder for any business that features live nude performances or depictions of sexually-oriented material to operate. In particular, the new powers granted to municipalities are:

* Local governments are not required to zone for adult establishments if there already is one within 50 miles

* Adult entertainment establisments are prohibited from operating with 1,500 feet of another adult establishment, within 500 feet of residential property, or within 2800 feet of a school or place of worship

* Such businesses may not open before 10 AM and may not stay open after 10 PM

* Local governments can enact more restrictive laws if they choose

There are currently lawsuits challenging the new state law.

Minnesota State Legislature Article

The Whisper Exotic Dancing club and Magic Moments strip clubs in the Delco area are currently under assault by religious fanatics who want them shut down for good. Both clubs are currently in court because of a county ordinance prohibiting such establishments within a certain distance of churches. The clubs were shut down by the sheriff’s office for being in violation of the ordinance. Both clubs are to remain closed pending hearings in the near future.