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There are not very many strip clubs in Portland that are part of a national chain. Three in fact: Gold Club, Spearmint Rhino, and Sin Rock. All of which have opened their Portland locations in the just the last three years or so. Sin Rock is the newest of these clubs, having opened about a year ago in the former Jody's Bar and Grill. With clubs already well established in Seattle, Anchorage and Juneau, I had high expectations that Sin Rock would deliver a different type of strip club experience not typical from the Portland style.

I've been to this club about five or six times. The first time was on opening night. Initially upon walking in it had a compelling vibe. The cage hanging about the two stages that dominated a large portion of the center of the club was interesting. They use a certain lighting technique that I had for a time been considering using in the plans for the club I was going to own. But if you sit there a little bit and look around, you quickly get the feeling that the entire club was designed by the owner of Hot Topic (that store in the mall) with decorations and building supplies he bought from a seasonal Spirit Halloween Superstore that was going out of business the week after Halloween. I just wasn't buying into it.

I'd gone back a few times since then, trying to give the place a fair shake, hoping that it would find out the type of club that it is, but each time I went, I left with an unremarkable impression.