When the Spearmint Rhino name is...

When the Spearmint Rhino name is mentioned, most people naturally associate it with Vegas or Southern California. But the brand also operates clubs in some seemingly random locations, including Lexington, KY. When my travels brought me through the Thoroughbred City, checking out the Rhino wasn’t on the top of my list [see review of Cowboy’s for local flavor]. When I headed out on Sunday afternoon my first choice was actually Platinum Plus, but upon arrival about 30 minutes after opening the door girl told me there were no dancers working yet. Between that ominous warning and the vibrations of bass tones reminding me of PP’s corporate policy to deafen every one of their customers, I decided it was a good time to see how the Rhino looked in Bluegrass style.

Lexington’s Spearmint Rhino is on the outskirts of town, sharing an interstate exit with a couple of motels and the ubiquitous Waffle House. Entering the large, nondescript building you pass through the usual entry foyer (no cover on Sunday afternoon) and bear left into the main floor. The Rhino’s corporate style seems to be consistent for design and décor – the Lexington club is mostly open from front to back, with tiered seating levels to give customers good sightlines to the stage from almost any spot on the floor. Large main stage is to the right, with the bar running down the left side of the room. Lap dances happen on benches in screened alcoves just off the main floor, with VIP areas in the back for the requisite privacy.

Unlike PP there was already a dancer on stage and a couple more milling around by the bar when I arrived – not the only customer, but one of very few at that hour. I opted to get my first drink at the bar but settle into a table near the stage and watch the show for a while, tipping occasionally and settling in to watch how things flowed. Standard three-song sets were the norm, most dancers going topless at the start of the second song and nude for the third.