The Ritz is one of the...

The Ritz is one of the 16 Houston clubs that signed a deal with the city to chip in $1 million per year to a policing fund, in exchange for going topless and G-string again. Girls no longer require licenses or to wear latex on their nipples, or full bottoms. Additionally, lap dances are fully legal again, and there is no 3 foot rule. In exchange, the club had to do away with its VIP areas. This means that downstairs the champagne rooms that were private little rooms with doors have been removed. In its place is a single room with some couches around the perimeter. However, everything is out in the open and there is no privacy. In the upstairs VIP area, the sofas have been rearranged so that they are against the walls and areas are wide open and visible from anywhere in the room. Additionally, managers are continually on the prowl and girls have been told that they will be fired for any extras.

What this has done to this club which was well-known for extra activity, is to totally kill its business. On a Wednesday night, which is usually one of their busier nights, there were only about 10 girls. The girls however were mostly fairly attractive white girls, about 6 and 7's. There were almost no customers, and the usual packed VIP areas were almost totally empty. I got some good dances from a couple of girls. They were appreciative of the business and both tried to pitch meeting outside of the club instead for some more fun. Apparently, it's pretty easy to make arrangements to hook up outside now. Looks like this is the modus operandi now. The managers told me they hoped things would pick up after they hired some better looking dancers, and customers got used to the idea that the club was just for eye candy and lap dances, and no extras.