New York’s jiggle-joint owners are shaking in their boots that the number of strip clubs in town could contract from about 20 to less than eight if the city starts enforcing a ruling made last year that the clubs can’t be in residential areas.
After a years-long court battle, a Manhattan judge ruled last year that strip clubs can no longer operate under the so-called 60-40 rule, which allowed the mammary meccas to keep on shimmying in otherwise restricted zones as long as 60 percent of the club was used for “non-adult” entertainment, such as a restaurant. Explained one top club owner: “Last year was the last hurrah. That’s the end of 60-40.”
But he said that the city has not been enforcing the zoning code — until now. “The hammer is coming down on this; it’s only weeks or months away. There are 20, give or take, clubs acting in New York — this law could get them down to between four and eight.” That has left some clubs scrambling to expand to new locations not in residential areas.
Sources exclusively told Page Six that glitzy Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club on East 60th Street is taking over the lease at the Times Square institution FlashDancers, the city’s longest-running club.
There are rumors among club kingpins that the lease at the space is $170,000 per month.
“It’s been very successful,” said a source of the location.
“Unlike other clubs [that have moved to more industrial parts of town], they’re on Broadway and get the tourists and business people passing by.”
Other major clubs that are not in residential areas and will keep on dancing include Scores and Executive Club.
A rep for Sapphire had no comment.
Sapphire’s Sunday party has been known to attract DJs including Lil Jon and Questlove, plus VIPs like Dennis Rodman and various Jets.
The controversy is just the latest to rock the stripper world. We reported last year that there was a “stripper strike” at the clubs when scantily clad bartenders were allegedly earning more than the dancers themselves. Even Cardi B and La La Anthony weighed in.