the ultimate strip club list

a guy's guide to strip clubs

July 9, 2008  •  Vol. 15, Issue 190

About 5 months ago, around 7pm on a weekday evening, I passed through San Bernadino. It was the first chance I'd had to go to Flesh in almost 5 years. I had fond memories of Flesh, as perhaps the best club I had ever been to.

Unfortunately, at 7pm they had 0 dancers. A woman drove up as I was leaving, and assured me "at least 3 dancers" would arrive by 8pm, and gave me free passes. I did not feel like waiting, so I left.

Last night (5/25) I went back, and found that the club was entirely closed. A sign posted on the door stated that there was a transfer of ownership in progress (that had begun on 4/1/08), but for now it is 100% closed. If it does come back, it will be under new ownership with new girls, etc, so it's unlikely that it will be as good as it used to be anyway.

A 1 is the only rating I could think of, since 'not applicable' isn't an option. Was staying at a nearby hotel and decided to stop by on an early afternoon either Mon or Tues last. No cars in the lot. There was no sign indicating the place was closed, but the doors were locked. Also the phone # given is still operating, but the mailbox is full indicating no one is picking up the messages. Has the feel of a place hoping to reopen in whatever guise the local authorities allow.

Made a visit here on the last day just before it shut down for the next few months due to court orders. Arrived at around 2:00 and the place wasn't overly busy at all. I spoke with a few of the girls and they didn't seem really sad that the place was shutting down. Most of them had other gigs already lined up at the local clubs in the Inland Empire. I did speak with one dancer who said that this was a good way for her to finally get out of the industry and find something else to do. Hmmm, I believe that I have heard that one before. Not many of them plan to be back when the club re-opens in a few months as a topless-only establishment. Hey, at least they can finally serve alcohol in the place.

It was pretty uneventful all around for me. I received a few laps from a girl who escapes my memory. Of the three sister clubs, this was my least favorite anyway and the closing will not affect my visits. I look forward to the reviews when this club does re-open though.

AN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) - A San Bernardino strip club has been shut down by a judge who also slapped the Flesh Club owner with a $25,000 fine for allowing sex acts in private VIP rooms.

Superior Court Judge Donald Alvarez has ordered the club closed for eight months beginning Nov. 14. The delay gives Hospitality Lane strip club owner Ryan Welty a chance to appeal.

Flesh Club lawyer Roger Jon Diamond argued unsuccessfully that only a portion of the business should be shuttered because striptease dancing is a First Amendment-protected activity.

The city has battled the strip club for a decade, claiming it's a house of prostitution.

City Attorney James Penman says he's pleased with the judge's decision.