Will There be Enough "Rain" in Tampa?



Posted Jan 24, 2008 8:19 AM By Bobby Spalasso

While it did rain during the Big Game the last time the Super Bowl came to Florida, the question on our minds today was, in light of the economy will people still followin the footsteps of Adam "Pac Man" Jones and "make it rain" cash bills on the stages of Gentlemen's Clubs throughout this year's host city. As some may know, Chris Rock once called Tampa the "strip club capital of of the world." Previously, when Tampa hosted the Super Bowl between the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants, dancers and club owners alike rejoiced as they raked in unprecedented amounts of cash. Now, let's see how the establishments are preparing for their big payday.

So how will the Bay's 30-plus "gentlemen’s clubs" prepare for the big Super Bowl push this year, especially in light of the economy and Tampa's notorious 6-foot rule? We talked to the clubs and also investigated the history of this infamous ordinance to give certain male visitors an idea of what to expect during Super Bowl Week.

You can't talk about Tampa strip clubs without talking about the "six foot rule." This 1999 ordinance, prohibiting both customers and nude dancers from getting "too close," is still in the books. The good news, for interested patrons, is that, two weeks after it was enacted, one judge actually refused to uphold the rule, claiming it was unconsitutionally overbroad. The ordinance reads as follows:

Sec. 14-148.  Prohibited activities.
(a)   No person within an adult use shall, within six (6) feet of another person, display or expose any specified anatomical area or engage in any specified sexual activity, provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to prevent:
(1)   Adult use employees or entertainers at an adult use from using dressing room facilities that are not accessible or viewable by patrons or the public and so long as such use does not include the intentional touching of the specified anatomical area of another person or such persons engaging in any specified sexual activity; or
(2)   Any person from using bathroom facilities within an adult use so long as such use does not include the intentional touching of the specified anatomical areas of another person or such persons engaging in any specified sexual activity.
(b)   No person who owns or operates an adult use shall knowingly, or with reason to know, permit, suffer or allow any violation of subsection (a) above.

Tony Hernandez, General Manager of Tampa’s Gold Club recollects, “Last Super Bowl, Tampa vigorously enforced the 6 foot rule which meant dancers had to be 6 feet from customers, which kind of hurt because it scared away some customers…now it is different” One of Tampa's Finest actually admitted that the rule "is still enforceable and still in the books, but I have not seen or heard it enforced in a while.”

What we do know is that, the last time the Big Game came to town, the rule didn’t stop Jenna Jameson and other adult film stars from attending Tampa’s 2001 Odyssey.  Nick Polefrone, General Manager of 2001 Odyssey, said “Since older clubs in Tampa are non conforming, we can’t make our buildings bigger. So for the 2001 Super Bowl, we had to pack them in…we had to raise admission just to keep people out but they kept paying.”  "Ice," the suavely-named General Manager of Tampa’s Déjà Vu, describes “In 2001, we were packed to capacity…  people from Super Bowl parties, celebs…we had lines out the door, it was a crazy time back then.”

So will this economy keep customers from "making it rain?" How will these controversial establishments prepare for the onslaught of frenzied football fans? What makes these clubs so special? We went straight to the source, and got a sampling of quotes to give readers a better idea of what to expect when thousands descend upon these infamous adult playgrounds.

 Tampa’s Mons Venus Manager Laurie Kasner:

“Admission might be $50”
“We will have three to four times the dancers we usually have, 500-600 girls maybe more”
“We are going to stay open a lot later than usual, as late as we can, depending on the crowd…staff will be on duty for 24 hours”
“We are getting call after call after call from women everywhere in the world wanting to work”
“A couple of calls were from girls that said they have been featured in film, e.g. Nadia an adult film star will be definitely dancing all that weekend”
“We were probably ranked eight on askmen.com, in terms of quality, because we are very selective and have such a flexible schedule for the girls and they are not locked down”

Tampa’s 2001 Odyssey General Manager  Nick Polefrone:

“For Super Bowl week there will be more talent coming, a few hundred girls”
“Just added big screen TVs, a new light show, more champagne rooms, women of course!”
“We are hooked up by all the magazines around here so we will have adult filmstars stopping by doing all sorts of crazy stuff”
“Local sports players from the Lightning and other teams frequent here”

Tampa’s Gold Club General Manager Tony Hernandez:

“Adult film stars always come out for the Super Bowl”
“A few adult film stars are coming to town to work as our house girls”
“Girls calling and coming from all over the country, from California to Canada”
“We got girls that is our main thing right now”
“We have Prime rib for $15.95, people won’t believe in a strip club you can have fine dining”

Tampa’s Foxy’s Show Bar Owner/Corp Pres. Joseph Lopez:

“Yes we are trying to beef up our amount of dancers”
“We will have enough staff to handle the clientele”
“I got a lot of calls from out of state girls that want to work that week”
“They are independent contractors that come and go as they please”
“We are a clean and upscale place”
“I don’t agree with the raising of prices just because the Super Bowl is in town. Super bowl is great and we will attract more business, but we are not trying to rip people off; that’s bull”


General Manager Eric Terrell, "Ice" of Deja Vu:

“We have a featured guest dancer Carmen Hart with Wicked Pictures, she just won Entertainer of the Year…she will be here on 29th, 30th , and 31st for Super Bowl weekend”
-“Rick Fox’s entourage called shopping around, no confirmations as of yet”
-“Admission price will be the same for Super Bowl week, we are not changing our prices.
-“We are extending our hours from 12pm-8am , we may open for 24 hours like last Super   Bowl”
-“If we have the customers and if we have the girls we will stay open for 24 hours”
-“If I have enough girls to cover 3 shifts, we will stay open 24 hours”

Finally, here is some info that turned up from our scouting report. Keep in mind that the following information may not be 100% accurate so please use it as a general guide, but you should double-check everything with the clubs, as everything is always subject to change.

2001 Odyssey
2309 N Dale Mabry Hwy
Tampa FL 33607
(813) 877-6406
From Hard Rock Hotel:
12 MIN
9.64 MILES
-18 and over
-$25 a song plus $5 booth rental
-Full contact/Full nude
-IN and OUTS Yes…get stamped that day and come back later but u have to buy another drink $6 at night
-Regular hours Sun-Wed 12pm-4am, Thur-Sat 12pm-5am
-Voted Best Nude Club 2003-2007
-40 years in existence
-Walking distance from Raymond James Stadium
-Just min from Tampa Int. Airport and Hard Rock Hotel
-300 exotic entertainers
-Featured in 2007 Maxim Magazine
-Featured in the movie The Punisher, starring John Travolta
-Featured in Tony Hawk’s Underground
-Featured in Tampa Tribune as “7 wonders of Tampa”
-Website coupon/ free admission w/ drink purchase 12pm-8pm or $5 cover 8pm-5am
-No alcohol, Tampa nudity=no alcohol, topless/bikini=alcohol
-One drink fountain min. drinks $4-$8
-6,000 sqft
-Couple hundred dancers a night
-3 stages 50 dance rooms
-Offers and promotions such as merchandise specials and dollar dances
-Minimum dance $20 nude dance, $15 topless dance, champagne room $400 half hour
-Adult store cross the street
-Super Bowl week times 11am-7am, 20 hours a day open
Typically no charge for parking Super Bowl week yes couple dollars a car
Typical admission $10 to $15 at night
-Super bowl week look for higher prices depending on demand and how packed the club gets
-Dress code: no flip flops, wife beaters, ball caps

Déjà vu
6805 Adamo Dr.
Tampa, FL 33619
(813) 664-8784
From Hard Rock Hotel:
8 MIN
5.03 MILES
-Full contact/Full Nude
-Private Rooms
-Free parking
-30-50 dancers
-Juice Bar
-Drinks $8
-18 and over
-Featured acts
-Regular Admission Mon-Thur $5 from 12pm-7pm, $20 from 9pm-6am, Sun 15 all day
-Website coupon valid til 9pm, drink prices not included
-Table dances $10, Couch dance $25, VIP 15min $150, 30min $300, 1 hour $600
-Regular hours Mon-Thur 12pm-5am, Fri Sat 12pm-6am, Sun 7pm-5am
-No charge for parking
-Super Bowl weekend extended times 12pm-8am
-13 years established
-No alcohol
-Bottomless drinks with admission
-20,000sqft
-Normally 50 dancers for Super Bowl week 200 girls
-1 main stage, 3 champagne rooms, 13 VIP rooms
-Promotions dollar lap dances 3 for $60, hats clothes giveaway
-Adult store annex
-In and Outs. Yes but subject to volume of people to accommodate others that want to get in
-Dress Code for Super Bowl ..No tank tops, wife beaters, ball caps ok

Gold Club
6222 E. Adamo Dr.
Tampa, FL 33619
(813) 622-7673
From Hard Rock Hotel:
9 MIN
6.19 MILES
-Open 11am-3am every day Super Bowl week $15 cover at night could go up
-15,000sqft
- lot 4 1/2 acres
-Private dance area, side bar, zebra seating, ultra skybox suite, Private VIP club within the club, reservations for sky box suite available for Super Bowl weekend
-Extensive gourmet menu , $15.95 prime rib dinner
-Regular price $10 during the week $15 weekend
-Parking charge yes for valet
-11 years established
-Topless/Full liquor full contact
-No drink minimum
-100-150 dancers a night
-4 stages on main floor a couple other stages, 21 VIP rooms, 8 champagne rooms
-No promotional giveaways
-Dance minimum $25-champagne room paid by hour
-Adult store behind venue
-IN AND OUTS-No, once you are in you are in
-Dress code casual, no wife beaters or tank tops
-21 and up
-Voted best Topless club 4 years straight
-Party Bowl packages ranging from $1500 -$20,000 for the King Midas” package, check website for package details.

Mons Venus
2040 N Dale Mabry Hwy
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 875-2762
From Hard Rock Hotel:
12 MIN
9.55 MILES
-Admission $20-$50
-No charge for parking as of now
-At location for about 29 years
-No alcohol
-No drink minimum
-Medium size club
-Totally Nude
-600 or more girls coming and going during Super Bowl weekend
-1 giant room with couches all around
-No promotions
-Bachelor dances $100
-$20 min dance
-In and Out-ok
-No dress code
-18 and older
-Completely nude / full contact
-No VIP
-Will be opened regularly 12pm-5am ….will be extended Super Bowl week
-Ranked 8 in askmen.com’s top ten gentlemen’s club

Foxy’s Show Bar
13415 N Nebraska Ave
Tampa, Fl 33612
(813) 978-3691
From Hard Rock Hotel:
15 MIN
10.36 MILES
-Independently run by Cathy and Jody Lopez
-Has a hometown feel and flavor
-Opened since 2003
-2004-2005 winner best bikini bar
-Has some ladies recruited from USF
-14 import draft beer, wine and full liquor bar
-Full food menu/recognized for its wings in particular
-450 sqft stage/3 poles/ cage
-Dances at table or Private VIP area
-Shares a wall with a large 25 year old adult store
-Has voucher for admission on website
-Shot and Dance specials hourly
-Themed Champagne rooms: Shower room, Tropical beach room, Library room, Jungle room, big city skyline room etc…
-Times Mon-Sat 2pm-3am, Sun 1pm- 3am (subject to change during super bowl week)
-Admission $5 after 7pm Free before
-Parking free
-One drink minimum from Domestics $3.75 and Well $3.50
-5,700sqft
-Bikini Bar, private dances , no full contact
-Averages 25 girls on stage
-No stamped In and Out Privileges
-No featured adult film dancers during super bowl week
-21 and over
-NO: wife beaters, tank tops, pants off the ass, caps ok

Bare Assets
1406 US Highway 19
Holiday, FL 34691
(727 )937-9333
45 MIN
31.89 MILES
(Far away but still worth mentioning)