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minnow

Any place that interests me.

When I returned to Tampa for a brief vacation in early 2001 after a ~ 9 month hiatus from Tampa visits, it was as though I'd just awakened from a Rip Van Winkle slumber into a different world. The 6 foot rule was being adhered to by most clubs. Stage areas had tape denoting 6' clearance from patrons. Where in earlier years one could get a Stevie, and deposit tips in cleavage on naked dancers, now just put tips on stage. That's how it was like in nude clubs like 2001, Deja Vu, and Tanga Lounge. (Anybody remember that club?) Once in the separate private dance areas in back, it was business as usual. But clubs had a subdued air about them compared with earlier days, with fewer dancers and crowds. Not dead, but not quite as hopping as before.

The exception to the "most clubs" caveat was none other than Mons Venus. The Mons openly defied the 6' rule, no tape there, stage side Stevies were the rule as was open contact in the open lap dance areas along both walls. Although I never witnessed any raids, and gladly purchased several dances, I got the feeling of looking over my shoulder throughout my visits to the Mons. With the raids, dancer quality and quantity slipped a notch. There were no fuglies, but more of the dancers were merely "lapable" versus the hotties one would go out their way to see them.
I managed just 2 more Tampa visits between winter vacation and 911. I've heard people say that even when Mons visit is subpar, it's still good. I'd agree with that in light of my dry spell. As we shall see later, the toll taken by being the brunt of the raids resulted in a ratcheting down of raunchiness. Moving on..........

POST 911 - SUPER BOWL 2009 YEARS

Shortly after 911, I guess the Tampa Police Department had better things to do than hassle strip club dancers and patrons. Some of you may recall shortly after 911 a young student pilot flew around the Tampa area for a while before crashing his light single engine aircraft rental into a downtown Tampa bank building. It barely made a dent in the bank building, the plane and pilot didn't fare so well.
By late 2001, the 6' tape came away from other clubs, and things returned to business as usual. That being high mileage 2 way contact with hot naked women. That part didn't change.

It was then (or shortly later) that some noticeable changes came over the Mons Venus. The long time price structure from the 90's was $20 per dance, or 3 for $50. That changed to dances being "$20 - $30, Negotiable". Prices were over the map, but a common point was 1 dance would be $30, 2 dances $50, with 3 dances or more offered at $20 per dance price point. At one extreme, a few GPS Princesses would stick to $30 price point (mostly peak weekend nights), while some would do $20 price point. The later were more prevalent, IME.

More attractive dancers filtered back in, returning club to 90's glory years. Well, not quite, because club tightened down on mileage, with the both feet on the floor rule. That eliminated the straddling that many prior patrons favored. Although not that common in the 90's, some dancers could (and would) stand up on the couch, and hover over you with her goods (the South Pole kind) just inches from your face. Post 911, no Mons dancer would dare think of doing that. Maybe wink a little on both feet rule, but nothing that blatant.

POST 2009 WEBCAM , ETC

I'm not sure which club came first, but about late 2009, I became aware of 2001 live.com with live stage and dressing room feeds. Additional chat capability with dancers was also available. Anyway, LV Networks had 2001, Mons Venus, and about 6 or so other clubs got on board with live club feeds. Mons Venus wasn't quite involved to the same extent 2001 was. The stage and dressing room cams were there, but little,or no dancer chat available. A few Mons dancers made some videos for sale. Irregardless, Mons Venus made a foray into the Internet Age. The stage cams probably induced several tourists to include Mons Venus visits into their Tampa vacation plans. As to how much additional revenue web exposure generate is something I don't know. Mons Venus management thought otherwise, as they shut down website around 2015ish or so.

ICONIC CLUB, EQUALLY ICONIC OWNER

No article on Mons Venus would be complete without at least a few words about it's equally iconic owner, Joe Redner. My intent in this article is not to regurgitate Wikepedia, newspaper articles, or other media material on him, but to give my impression of him based upon my visits to club.
Quick cliff notes version of Joe Redner for those too lazy to use search engine: Born in early 1940's, opened Mons Venus in early 1980's, has ran for various offices (generally as Independent) ranging from city council to State Senator, all unsuccessful campaigns.

Over the course of many visits, I saw his campaign posters. I also saw him (Joe Redner) personally visit the club. Yet for someone wearing at least 2 hats (all time club owner, sometime running for office), Mr. Redner never struck me as a glad handing type of guy. ("Hey, I'm Joe Redner, glad to meet you, please vote for me", etc). He did, however, strike me as a hands on owner of the club. Hands on as in keep tabs on his business vs micromanaging club. He was there mainly to observe. I did take some occasions to initiate conversation with him complimenting him on the club. Each time, he did thank me for patronizing his club. In short, he wasn't a glad hander, but neither was he aloof.
I was in club as a customer with hot babes as focal point, not as a journalist, or a self appointed business consultant. I never thought to suggest that he build separate VIP rooms, or any number of other things. Maybe I recognized that at the end of the day (or night), Joe Redner is the type of man who does things his way.

WHAT OF THE FUTURE OF MONS VENUS

I feel sure about 2 things: 1) Joe Redner isn't getting any younger . 2) The areas near club have undergone many changes since my first visit there in the early 90's. Both of these factors raise the question on how much longer Mons Venus can continue, or when (if ever) it will bite the dust and become merely another memory.
I'm hoping that doesn't happen, but one cannot ignore the disdain that society at large still harbors against the strip club industry, (Even as many customers drop millions, if not billions of dollars patronizing clubs).

I won't belabor the first point too much except to say that once original owner passes, subsequent management doesn't always share founders passion, commitment, and vision for club. Club becomes a shell of it's former self, new owners sell out to moneyed interests, or club just bites the dust.

As for second point, I've noticed more gentrified forces moving in on area surrounding club. Consider Kash N' Carry grocery store across the street becomes more gourmet oriented Sweetbay, International Plaza is built a mile or so from club featuring tenants such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Capital Grille, etc. Long time Waffle House just north of club becomes a Subway, (Ever hear of anybody losing 100 lbs on a Waffle House diet ?). ABC liquor sore across the street south of club gets demolished with a Chase Bank built in it's place. Days Inn (a budget hotel north of club) is bought out and shut down in mid 2012. It is eventually demolished with a Honda dealership built on it's former grounds. Along Boy Scout Blvd between Dale Mabry Blvd, and airport entry turnoff, numerous business oriented hotels and multistory office buildings have been built. Shall I go on.....

I've seen occasions where strip clubs get nudged out by commercial interests. The iconic Century Nudes near LAX being demolished for an airport parking garage comes to mind as one example. After a long interval, I finally put Part 2 together.Whatever Mons Venus future holds, many club enthusiasts have fond memories of Mons Venus, and would hate to see it go. More than a few vocal Tuscl members would like to see Mons change it's business model, and/or remodel club. But not to see it fade away.

Adjudicators

shadowcat

Good job.

BabyDoc

sinclair

Papi_Chulo

reverendhornibastard

Great summary of the Mons Venus history!