Strip Club Reports

[Mr Charmo]

I'm thinking of checking out polekatz tomorrow. They have dance specials, figure it's a good night to get a good sample of the girls. Anyone down to go?

[Jc2490]

So, of course you are all correct. Its a shame a person can't find a way to open a business like this. There are (at least) two questions (1) can such a business be started? (2) is this the person to do it? I mentor people with dreams but also try to steer them away from disaster. Mostly by asking questions. The forum is an interesting place to have the conversation since it has potential customers, potential investors, and subject-matter experts. It has always been curious how Chicago has such terrible clubs compared to so many other places.

Chicagoland is terrible place to try to open up a strip club. You start out behind the 8 ball. First you have to deal with all the crooked politicians that are on the take. Then you still have to deal with the Outfit.

[Bob521]

So, of course you are all correct. Its a shame a person can't find a way to open a business like this. There are (at least) two questions (1) can such a business be started? (2) is this the person to do it? I mentor people with dreams but also try to steer them away from disaster. Mostly by asking questions. The forum is an interesting place to have the conversation since it has potential customers, potential investors, and subject-matter experts. It has always been curious how Chicago has such terrible clubs compared to so many other places.

This is one of the silliest conversations I have read in a while. Does anyone really think some random dancer is going to be able to open a strip club anywhere where there is the most modest mob influence without just being a figurehead? Couple that with the fact that no municipalities in the area want any part of a new strip club in their jurisdiction. The best chance for something to happen would be for her to open her own bar and do the old "fashion show" thing on the lam until she gets busted by the cops or blown up for not paying a street tax.

[Moejoo]

This is one of the silliest conversations I have read in a while. Does anyone really think some random dancer is going to be able to open a strip club anywhere where there is the most modest mob influence without just being a figurehead? Couple that with the fact that no municipalities in the area want any part of a new strip club in their jurisdiction. The best chance for something to happen would be for her to open her own bar and do the old "fashion show" thing on the lam until she gets busted by the cops or blown up for not paying a street tax.

[CocoBolo8]

Her idea was an industrial area near downtown. I know the area pretty well, given my affection for Chinese girls.

If the area / lot were fenced and well lit I would go there, and she could probably find a suitable building. The trouble is still going to be the city of Chicago. No many how many alderman you pay off it seems to me you are still starting behind the eight ball.

[StanleyStankas]

Her idea was an industrial area near downtown. I know the area pretty well, given my affection for Chinese girls.

like anything it can be done, however given our state and especially chi proper she or you or both need to have more connections than the electric company! back of the yards has plenty of empty lots and buildings, however what tourista or business man would venture down. i do because i know the terrain and am a local yokel, however getting me down there at night is not going to happen. i know a guy that came from a well to do family and suburb that i met when i lived in my little well to do suburb. he opened up a club on the near south side. he did it. problems? many, however he is still in business and thrives as he found his niche. not an adult business, however a rock club, record store and head shop of sorts. he lives there just to keep an eye on things. so it can be done with money, drive and again having the right people in ones corner to get it done. chi town is the city that works! it works for a reason! grease the right squeaky wheels with the right cash!

[Kellster]

Her idea was an industrial area near downtown. I know the area pretty well, given my affection for Chinese girls.

Your welcome Bob. I agree with the other poster Chicago proper will be tough with all of the laws & lack of parking. Lake County wants nothing to do with strip clubs. Chinatown is too far for me to try it. Anything downtown isn't convenient to customers in the suburbs at all and vice versa. The owner really needs the backing of the town & county to have any chance. Another thing to consider- I read somewhere one of the owners of a strip club avoided a plan by thugs to kidnap him and sell them his business against his will.

[Bob521]

Her idea was an industrial area near downtown. I know the area pretty well, given my affection for Chinese girls.

A near to chi suburb might work better as I know the restrictions in chi proper are stiff. Finding a collar burb that will attract the airport business guy with time to kill is essential. I mean some of the better clubs are as mentioned here in indiana or the far south burbs. Someone from out of town is not going to wander out so they wind up at pink monkey or the admiral and go back to their room blue balled. I have had some experience on the talent side as when I opened my entertainment business back in '96 in the northwest burbs I did book strippers and cocktail waitresses for parties. Golf outings, association meetings, bachelor parties, divorce parties. My issue was it became 90% of my bs and 10% of my business. By the time a quality girl is found one could and I did go through 20 nut jobs. Also what I found is one has to know the talent. I had booked some ladies on big events and then found out that certain girls would not work with others. It all comes down to a club that draws everyone and where everyone can feel comfortable and not be pressured. Again if one does not have the township behind them one should not even consider opening up a place. I do know that in my little village a mayor allowed it and then lost the election over it and the place never opened!

[Bob521]

Great post and great advice.
I agree, I can never understand how good places always seem to shoot themselves in the foot. My client says many of her friends (dancers) are mistreated by management and as a result they can never earn any real money. Her idea was to open a place where the girls can make a decent living.

God I'm in the wrong field- I should be a consultant. I agree with the other poster the club needs full contact lap dances and hot women (thin and fit- not fat and overweight) who wear bikini's and g-strings at the most- none of this evening gown crap. If it doesn't offer full contact lap dances I don't care how hot they are I'm not going. And all dancers should know what a full contact lap dance is that a guy wants before they start working. No air dances. It's not rocket science they need to grind on a certain part of our laps. If the women aren't thin or fit (as in they workout regularly or are at least skinny- I'm not going. It also needs to be affordable. Heavenly Bodies lost sight of this and so did another club that used to be my favorite- State Street Station in Rockford. State Street Station raised dance prices- customers left, then hot dancers left and the death spiral continued until they eventually closed. It also needs to be in a safe neighborhood. I love hot women, but I'm not getting shot or carjacked to see some tail. Low cover charge, cheap dances, bouncers who aren't thugs, hot women, full contact lap dances, safe neighborhood, don't overcharge me on dances or short me on them, full songs, good lighting (I hate real dark clubs) value regular customers, no gang attire, and a low house fee to keep the hot dancers is the secret to success. At State Street Station you could also grab the dancers ass during the dances. Not sure if that's possible with the laws around here, but that was a plus too. The negative was the bikini tops stayed on. Heavenly Bodies offers topless lap dances which is better, but you can't grab the dancers ass which is worse.

Also as a customer I don't like being hassled to get dances, drinks, or shots. I can see how dancers asking guys can make the club more cash though, but speaking as a customer it gets annoying when you want to talk to other dancers and keep hearing the same bs sales pitch from women you don't like- however if you hire all hot, thin chicks then this wouldn't bug me so much. So baby What's your name? What brings you in tonight? What do you do for a living?- Ugh! At State Street the dancers went down to the VIP Room after they were done- you could tip them on stage and ask for them to stop by and get some dances too. Multiple stages is good so you can check out different women. A separate VIP Room is good too.

Advertising- sports radio station make sense, hotel brochures in the rooms, billboards, cabs, social media presence, have their own website, pictures of dancers helps, but at the end of the day word of mouth is the best advertising for any business imo. If you provide a good experience and value your customers and they'll come back. However if you treat them like crap, raise prices, insult them, then forget it. Just read the forum on our experiences, but it applies to most businesses.

Of all the clubs I went to Spearmint Rhino in Vegas had the biggest selection of hot women (it was heaven), but it was so damn expensive most guys can only afford it on vacation. Chicago doesn't need another overpriced priced club. Heavenly Bodies has a great location near the airport and in the suburbs- but their idiotic decision to raise the cover & house fees has alienated both hot dancers and customers so much that they're leaving and it's heading down a similar path as State Street did. State Street Station in it's heyday in the mid-late 90's was the best imo. Beautiful women. Cheap full contact lap dances, nice, clean place safe area, cool bouncers- the location was just a little far (1 hour away) and when they raised prices it killed them. Heavenly Bodies had some hotties, topless dances, and was affordable and nearby so that used to be awesome too, but they've gotten away from what got them there. Those were my two favorites because it didn't cost an arm and a leg to have fun. Now I rarely go because it seems like every place is such a rip off and I hate being nickel and dimed. Get the customer in the door & then treat them right- low cover charge, cheap dance prices, safe area hot, scantily clad women and great full contact laps. That's the key. Anyway that's my advice.

[Bob521]

I agree with your points.

I'm mostly a lurker here but have also visited many clubs. I agree ideally you want to combine alcohol and full nude, which may be tough in Chicago proper. Given that I would look for a municipality that is strip club friendly, which probably isn't Chicago. After that ideally you want a relatively safe parking lot in a reasonable neighborhood, reasonable admission fees, drink prices, and dance prices. Club 390 has been my go-to club lately and that would be my model. Also it has to cater both to guys who just want to drink and watch, and guys that want high contact. For advertising I hear a lot of clubs advertising on sports radio which probably targets the clientele you want. Good luck.

[StanleyStankas]

This is going to be a weird post, and I have to maintain some confidentiality. By way of background, many of you know I have three "jobs". (1) My day job is in finance, raising capital, investing, etc, relatively large corporate deals. (2) the Massage Parlor with Mei, (3) I do pro-bono business consulting for folks that want to start their own businesses. I do it for the good Karma.

So I get a consulting request today and had a half hour phone conversation. My new client, a woman, wants to open a strip club in Chicago. It will be fully legal compliant. Alcohol. And the main goal is to attract better talent by giving the girls a better deal than they usually get. So my task now is to put together a capital plan, site strategy, operating plan, capital-raising, find talent, and find customers. I'll be interested in hearing your input and ideas. Strictly legal. Strictly business. My role here is a business advisor, not a monger. My thought is what better way to fix the lousy state of Strip Clubs in Chicago than to listen to the customers.

Thanks in advance.

Bob.

A near to chi suburb might work better as I know the restrictions in chi proper are stiff. Finding a collar burb that will attract the airport business guy with time to kill is essential. I mean some of the better clubs are as mentioned here in indiana or the far south burbs. Someone from out of town is not going to wander out so they wind up at pink monkey or the admiral and go back to their room blue balled. I have had some experience on the talent side as when I opened my entertainment business back in '96 in the northwest burbs I did book strippers and cocktail waitresses for parties. Golf outings, association meetings, bachelor parties, divorce parties. My issue was it became 90% of my bs and 10% of my business. By the time a quality girl is found one could and I did go through 20 nut jobs. Also what I found is one has to know the talent. I had booked some ladies on big events and then found out that certain girls would not work with others. It all comes down to a club that draws everyone and where everyone can feel comfortable and not be pressured. Again if one does not have the township behind them one should not even consider opening up a place. I do know that in my little village a mayor allowed it and then lost the election over it and the place never opened!

[Kellster]

This is going to be a weird post, and I have to maintain some confidentiality. By way of background, many of you know I have three "jobs". (1) My day job is in finance, raising capital, investing, etc, relatively large corporate deals. (2) the Massage Parlor with Mei, (3) I do pro-bono business consulting for folks that want to start their own businesses. I do it for the good Karma.

So I get a consulting request today and had a half hour phone conversation. My new client, a woman, wants to open a strip club in Chicago. It will be fully legal compliant. Alcohol. And the main goal is to attract better talent by giving the girls a better deal than they usually get. So my task now is to put together a capital plan, site strategy, operating plan, capital-raising, find talent, and find customers. I'll be interested in hearing your input and ideas. Strictly legal. Strictly business. My role here is a business advisor, not a monger. My thought is what better way to fix the lousy state of Strip Clubs in Chicago than to listen to the customers.

Thanks in advance.

Bob.

God I'm in the wrong field- I should be a consultant. I agree with the other poster the club needs full contact lap dances and hot women (thin and fit- not fat and overweight) who wear bikini's and g-strings at the most- none of this evening gown crap. If it doesn't offer full contact lap dances I don't care how hot they are I'm not going. And all dancers should know what a full contact lap dance is that a guy wants before they start working. No air dances. It's not rocket science they need to grind on a certain part of our laps. If the women aren't thin or fit (as in they workout regularly or are at least skinny- I'm not going. It also needs to be affordable. Heavenly Bodies lost sight of this and so did another club that used to be my favorite- State Street Station in Rockford. State Street Station raised dance prices- customers left, then hot dancers left and the death spiral continued until they eventually closed. It also needs to be in a safe neighborhood. I love hot women, but I'm not getting shot or carjacked to see some tail. Low cover charge, cheap dances, bouncers who aren't thugs, hot women, full contact lap dances, safe neighborhood, don't overcharge me on dances or short me on them, full songs, good lighting (I hate real dark clubs) value regular customers, no gang attire, and a low house fee to keep the hot dancers is the secret to success. At State Street Station you could also grab the dancers ass during the dances. Not sure if that's possible with the laws around here, but that was a plus too. The negative was the bikini tops stayed on. Heavenly Bodies offers topless lap dances which is better, but you can't grab the dancers ass which is worse.

Also as a customer I don't like being hassled to get dances, drinks, or shots. I can see how dancers asking guys can make the club more cash though, but speaking as a customer it gets annoying when you want to talk to other dancers and keep hearing the same bs sales pitch from women you don't like- however if you hire all hot, thin chicks then this wouldn't bug me so much. So baby What's your name? What brings you in tonight? What do you do for a living?- Ugh! At State Street the dancers went down to the VIP Room after they were done- you could tip them on stage and ask for them to stop by and get some dances too. Multiple stages is good so you can check out different women. A separate VIP Room is good too.

Advertising- sports radio station make sense, hotel brochures in the rooms, billboards, cabs, social media presence, have their own website, pictures of dancers helps, but at the end of the day word of mouth is the best advertising for any business imo. If you provide a good experience and value your customers and they'll come back. However if you treat them like crap, raise prices, insult them, then forget it. Just read the forum on our experiences, but it applies to most businesses.

Of all the clubs I went to Spearmint Rhino in Vegas had the biggest selection of hot women (it was heaven), but it was so damn expensive most guys can only afford it on vacation. Chicago doesn't need another overpriced priced club. Heavenly Bodies has a great location near the airport and in the suburbs- but their idiotic decision to raise the cover & house fees has alienated both hot dancers and customers so much that they're leaving and it's heading down a similar path as State Street did. State Street Station in it's heyday in the mid-late 90's was the best imo. Beautiful women. Cheap full contact lap dances, nice, clean place safe area, cool bouncers- the location was just a little far (1 hour away) and when they raised prices it killed them. Heavenly Bodies had some hotties, topless dances, and was affordable and nearby so that used to be awesome too, but they've gotten away from what got them there. Those were my two favorites because it didn't cost an arm and a leg to have fun. Now I rarely go because it seems like every place is such a rip off and I hate being nickel and dimed. Get the customer in the door & then treat them right- low cover charge, cheap dance prices, safe area hot, scantily clad women and great full contact laps. That's the key. Anyway that's my advice.

[Want Blow Jobs]

Maybe you can get around the alcohol restriction by making it a private club. That may also get around the very stringent zoning restrictions for adult entertainment in Chicago. And; please, don't forget to tip your alderman.

[CocoBolo8]

I usually drink $3 beers. Never ever bought a Champagne drink for a dancer. I'm still trying to get a fix on the client's strategy. I believe she wants to emulate the successful Clubs in the South. I have not done my homework yet, but I think part of the problem is the legal restrictions in Chicago. If you serve alcohol, you are limited on the level of nudity. Maybe I'm wrong. But to me its an interesting question as to what it would take to have a great club in Chicago. But I've been to some good clubs in a dozen cities. Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Palm Beach.

Bob.

I'm mostly a lurker here but have also visited many clubs. I agree ideally you want to combine alcohol and full nude, which may be tough in Chicago proper. Given that I would look for a municipality that is strip club friendly, which probably isn't Chicago. After that ideally you want a relatively safe parking lot in a reasonable neighborhood, reasonable admission fees, drink prices, and dance prices. Club 390 has been my go-to club lately and that would be my model. Also it has to cater both to guys who just want to drink and watch, and guys that want high contact. For advertising I hear a lot of clubs advertising on sports radio which probably targets the clientele you want. Good luck.

[Bob521]

I usually drink $3 beers. Never ever bought a Champagne drink for a dancer. I'm still trying to get a fix on the client's strategy. I believe she wants to emulate the successful Clubs in the South. I have not done my homework yet, but I think part of the problem is the legal restrictions in Chicago. If you serve alcohol, you are limited on the level of nudity. Maybe I'm wrong. But to me its an interesting question as to what it would take to have a great club in Chicago. But I've been to some good clubs in a dozen cities. Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Palm Beach.

Bob.

I don't know about others but I have no interest in the "high end" clubs with expensive drinks and Hot girls that you can only look but not touch. Just my opinion.