Impressed with the Updated Penthouse Club

Was staying near the Airport in Tampa on a Monday night, so I decided to check out Penthouse. I walked there from my hotel, but it looked like required valet for $5, $10 for VIP valet. Got there about 8:30 (stayed until 11) and entrance fee was $5. Learned that the club had recently been renovated, and that it was still a "soft opening", getting ready for the grand opening at the end of the week.

I had never been to this club before, and my first impression as I walked in was that it was really nice! Upscale contemporary vibe, but not overdone. Everything was new and looked to be good quality. Walking in, you are on the right side of the club. There is a small bar to the right, and a fairly open concept opens up to the left. There is a main stage in the middle with two poles, and seating for about 20 wraps around the stage. If you walk past the stage to the right, there is a two step elevated area to the right that is the dining area. Seats maybe a dozen people. If you walk past the stage to the left, there are the VIP and lap dance areas to the left in another elevated area. Around the stage are some spread out tables (maybe 10) that seat four each. There is also some cushioned bench seating beyond the back of the stage that serves as the front of the elevated areas. The two side elevated areas connect in the back of the club, which has another bar, along with a tiny one pole stage that backs up to the bar. There are also another 6 or so spread out tables, and these tables are reserved for VIP bottle service. There are maybe a dozen TVs spread out in the club, as well as a nice flat panel type lighting above the stage. There was no smoking, but they were running a smoke machine.

Since it was a soft opening, I was given the tour of the VIP and lap dance areas. Heading up the stairs, there is a manager/hostess station where they collect money for the VIP areas, and have you sign a COVID waiver. No masks or temp checks to get into the club, but you need a waiver for the lap dances. To the right of the station was the single lap dance area, which was a small long room with 8 or so 3-foot cushioned bench seats on one wall, separated by 6 foot dividers. So you had privacy to the left and right, but someone could walk past the front of you as you were sitting. To the left of the station was a hallway with the VIP rooms and time-based lap dance areas, which varied in size and price. The right side of the hallway had three or four larger rooms that had TVs and couches, and the largest one had a nice brick wall and was getting a small stage installed as well. The left side of the hallway had smaller rooms that had loveseats in them. None of the rooms had doors, but had curtains to block the doorway.