I give the block ten more years.
As for gangs. It's not that it's really dangerous (though I don't stay till closing), but lots of thug type hang around entrances (some selling, some not) which has clearly had impact on foot traffic; which in turn has driven away most good looking dancers.
That statement is so true. The block is in its last phase. It will never recover. Most decent dancers and decent patrons will not go where they do not think that they are safe. The block owners do not understand that the well to do patrons with money are not going to go there and spend money. Look at the proliferation and success of the strip clubs in the suburbs. Also the greediness and pushiness of the bartenders are pushing guys away. The girl sets down beside you and he bartender immediately zooms over. You have not even had the time to say hello and to get the girl's name. If you do buy the girl a drink at that time. Then she has to leave. Bartenders, you have got to give the patrons a few minutes to get to know an unknown girl. Unless the girl is super hot, a patron is not going to buy a 25.00 drink for a girl he does not know. I guess the bartenders don't care because the girls are not paid a check by the club. The dancers are paid just by the drinks that they sale and tips that they get.
The thugs selling and the thugs running for the girls have ruined the block. I overheard one girl asking a runner to get her dope for her because she needed it to finish her shift. I had an incident at a club with a big black bartender who wanted to fight me. It started when I said to a dancer that he was too pushy and that I was leaving to go to another club. He started cursing at me and I started cursing back at him as I was heading out the door. This argument continued out onto the sidewalk. He stepped toward me and I did "the reach". He stopped in his tracks. He had to make a quick decision if I was actually carrying because they do not have metal detectors at the doors of the clubs. It was the right decision on his part. Baltimore is a dangerous city and I don't condone doing what I did. I just keep I mind that would rather be judged by twelve instead of being carried by six.
Propilot-Always check your six.