We already have a liquor license. They don't give out "Sexually Oriented Business" licenses anymore, that's a thing of the past. We have a liquor license so we CAN open a "bikini bar" and we WILL. What if the raid happens? Just follow the rules and you'll be ok.
I went to the TABC offices myself, I know their laws...and their laws have loopholes. Trust me the city is trying their best to change the laws in THEIR favor and take out as many strip clubs as they can in the process. Here's a link to an article on the current "war" going on. http://vasthead.com/Topless/topless.htm
We do have investors that want to branch out into the Austin/Dallas scene, but honestly the strip clubs over there are ran differently. So me and Joe need to go over there and spy on them and learn their game before we decide to go against them. We have club owners that come over here from the Dallas scene, trying to open strip clubs over here and they fail miserably because they don't know the City of Houston like we do. So I prefer to build our name and reputation over here before going to another City.
What's the difference between a bikini bar and a strip club? Since you are opening a bikini bar with an existing liquor license, what's the harm in mentioning the name?
We have competitors and haters so....I'm not saying where and when yet. Bikini bars are restricted by laws, like the girls can't be topless or show their breasts. Strip club owners countered that with the latex...problem solved. Also girls can't be on the floor without "full bottoms" or bikini bottoms and they must wear a thong underneath. Plus the 3 foot rule and the "no touching" girls on stage rule, also no closed doors for vip rooms, and many other stupid little rules. But there are ways around ALL of them. Many "bikini bars" ignore them, and that's why they get raided or shut down. Bigger clubs like Treasures and Men's Club know the laws and rules and enforce them to the max and only cater to the upper class customer, that's why they are so successful. Smaller clubs try to cut corners and be less strict in hopes to attract more customers, and sell liquor past 2 to make more money but they only last a couple months before something inevitably goes wrong and they are forced to give up their liquor license or close down. This strip club business is a different monster. I had a meeting with an owner attempting to hire me for his club, he wants to turn a "black club" into a Latin club. I told him give me 30% ownership and I'll do it. You know how hard it is to "flip" a club like that? It'll take about a year. I'm not gonna slave away for some measly paycheck. So negotiations have started and we'll see what happens.
I drove by that place and the grand opening sign today, and immediately thought about this thread. I'm not going to read back through the whole thing, but I thought he said that he was going to open one in the Southwest.